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Side effect of Herpes medication?
Dear Doctor,
It was a week ago today that I began showing symptoms of what I now know to be genital herpes. I initially thought it was yeast infection or something by the general discomfort and itching, but once the pain really started to get worse I went to the doctor last Thursday and after running lab work on the swap they took I received the clear diagnosis of herpes. She had already suspected that due to the visual exam and immediately put me on 500mg of Valacyclovir.
This is the 5th day of medication and the sores are improving, though have not disappeared entirely. Three days into taking the drug, however, I have begun to feel a lot of itching and sensitivity on the back of both of my thighs and buttocks, as well as shooting pains in my feet and ankles. Is this a side effect of the medication? It keeps me up and wakes me up at night and I feel generally miserable from not sleeping the last nights, as well as having increased paint again in the morning after taking my morning dosage.
I am right in thinking this is a side effect of the drug? Is there something else wrong with me I'm not aware of yet? And will this go away when I stop taking the medicine? If so, should I switch to a different medication?
Thank you for all your help.
It was a week ago today that I began showing symptoms of what I now know to be genital herpes. I initially thought it was yeast infection or something by the general discomfort and itching, but once the pain really started to get worse I went to the doctor last Thursday and after running lab work on the swap they took I received the clear diagnosis of herpes. She had already suspected that due to the visual exam and immediately put me on 500mg of Valacyclovir.
This is the 5th day of medication and the sores are improving, though have not disappeared entirely. Three days into taking the drug, however, I have begun to feel a lot of itching and sensitivity on the back of both of my thighs and buttocks, as well as shooting pains in my feet and ankles. Is this a side effect of the medication? It keeps me up and wakes me up at night and I feel generally miserable from not sleeping the last nights, as well as having increased paint again in the morning after taking my morning dosage.
I am right in thinking this is a side effect of the drug? Is there something else wrong with me I'm not aware of yet? And will this go away when I stop taking the medicine? If so, should I switch to a different medication?
Thank you for all your help.
I'm glad you're feeling better!
I was really suspect that this was the virus itself doing this as it started 3 days after I started on the medication, but my symptoms have realy almost cleared up completely as I continue to take the medication. I am almost done with this week's treatment. Still some tingling and weird shooting in my feet, but really reduced and definitely manageable. Thank you for your help!
And for sure keep taking valacyclovir unless your doctor says otherwise.
Valacyclovir is not known to cause side effects like this. Some people claim herpes itself can cause such symptoms, but most experts disagree -- and anyway such symptoms are not likely to be worsening as the herpes sores themselves are improving with treatment.
You should discuss this with your doctor and follow his or her advice about it. Good luck!
You should discuss this with your doctor and follow his or her advice about it. Good luck!
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
