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The Kitchen Table

Acyclovir Side Effects, Anyone?

7 years ago

I had no side effects the first two months I was on Velcade (chemo for multiple myeloma). Then, by August, my hair started to fall out. I had blurry vision. I became unsteady walking. I developed exquisitely sensitive skin across my midriff and my breasts (over more than one quadrant, so not true Shingles). My oncologist said these are not side effects of Velcade.

Ah, but I was also prescribed 800 mg of Acyclovir with the Velcade, and I've now taken both medicines for almost seven months. Acyclovir is an anti-herpes drug. It's also prescribed to prevent Shingles, a common side effect of Velcade. I've just realized that my four problems are among the most likely side effects of the Acyclovir.

Has anyone taken Acyclovir? Has anyone had side effects like these?

My oncologist halved my dose of Acyclovir last week; no side effect improvement yet. Also, my MM has improved enough that I may be close to remission, when I could be prescribed Revlimid instead of Velcade. Revlimid doesn't carry the same risk of Shingles.

lukkiirish -- You've said your DH has taken Revlimid. What do I need to know about that? The expensive Velcade ($8K per weekly shot) is given at the hospital and is covered by Medicare Part B. Revlimid is an oral med. Do you have more out-of-pocket cost because it would be under Medicare Part D? The Revlimid looks like it puts the patient into 'Catastrophic' by the third month.

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Comments (4)

patriciae_gw
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Individual reactions are so well individual. I just came off of Acyclovir which I had been on for over a year to prevent shingles while my white count was very low due to treatment for CLL. I would just look up the possible side effects and see if they fit what you are having. I cant say for sure which of my side effects were one or the other. I have a sister with MM and she had similar side effects from Velcade. It was very hard on her to tolerate and she feels better on Revlimid. She had vision problems, dizzyness and shingles amongst other problems. Read up on possible side effects.

Shingles is Herpes. It is an after effect of having chicken pox at some time. The virus stays in our bodies and can erupt at any time as the nasty rash we call Shingles. Your super sensitive shin is the lightest form of the disease. Your nerve cells are affected.
ldstarr
7 years ago
Chisue - I took Acyclovir for about 3 months when I had my stem cell transplant. I had no side effects from it. My dosage was 400 mg twice a day.
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chisue
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for the input. I suppose this could be due to my body being overwhelmed with toxic poisons after seven months of chemo.

Doctors started prescribing the anti-herpes Acyclovir years ago, once they saw a 30% and greater incidence of Shingles in patients getting Velcade. I'm told that what I have cannot be Shingles because that is always limited to one quadrant of the body. This sensitivity is across my entire midriff in a 4 - 6 inch band from side to side under my breasts. There is no rash.

I don't know of any help for Shingles. My oncologist has prescribed gabapentin. I'm waiting a week to see if halving the Acyclovir to 400 mg will help. (OTOH, I sure don't want to *Get Shingles* because I didn't have enough Acyclovir!)

patriciae -- I did look up the side effects. As I said, my four are among the top side effects for Acyclovir -- and none are in the list for Velcade. Yes, *I* too think it IS Shingles, but the MD's say it *can't be*, citing the 'quadrant' rule.

I think the best move will be to get off both Velcade and Acyclovir! Evidently that can't happen until I'm seen by the top MM doctor at Northwestern Memorial, who diagnosed the MM in May. My appointment is Feb. 18.
PRO
Anglophilia
7 years ago
I've only taken Acyclovir for about 10 days for shingles, and also when exposed to flu or at beginning of flu - again, for a short time. I had no side effects, thank goodness, as I'm kind of the poster child for adverse reactions to drugs.

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