Valtrex dosage genital HSV-1 question

[Sadbutokay]

Okay i know you’re likely all going to reply (or think) talk to a dr. And I have and he wasn’t that helpful. But didn’t mind what i was doing and told me if it worked to keep doing it.

I have discovered after nearly 2 years of this little monster in my body that any multiple sexual encounters in a day or even in a week i get the “tingle”. In the near exact same location as my first breakout. So i have discovered a solution that usually reverses the possibility of a break out in less than 48 hours.

my solution is taking a or more valtrex than is recommended. Example - had sex with my partner. Master-bated a few times before that while we were apart. Right after sex i felt the tingle - and dropped 4000gs, as well as 4000g’s before. Do that for two days and the problem usually disappears for me. Conversely, whenever I do not, I usually end up in a breakout.But even after a breakout when I upped my dosage to a large amount like I’ve written above, it goes away much quicker.

** also when i get the tingle I usually also have tiny little dots that look like freckles appear at the head of my penis. Not full-blown sores, just tiny freckles. these freckles usually go away after 48 hours of my above regimen. 

question 1. Has anyone else experience this warning symptom?

question 2. has anyone else played with their dosage like this?

Sincerely,

sbo

[mr_hopp]

Hey @Sadbutokay,

It’s totally common to feel tingling or discomfort in the same spot where your first outbreak happened. Many people experience this as a warning sign before an outbreak (called prodrome symptoms).

For dosage, I'd stick with what is suggested by the professionals. Taking higher doses than recommended can be risky, so it’s best to stick to the guidelines. And consider taking daily suppressive therapy instead of treating it episodically so you don't feel the need to overload your system with meds all at once. 

For recurrent clinical episodes (episodic therapy):

• Acyclovir: 400 mg orally thrice daily for 5 days, 800 mg twice daily for 5 days, or 800 mg thrice daily for 2 days.

• Valacyclovir: 500 mg orally twice daily for 3 days.

• Famciclovir: 250 mg orally twice daily for 5 days.

For daily suppressive therapy:

• Acyclovir: 400 mg orally twice daily.

• Valacyclovir: 500 mg orally once daily.

• Famciclovir: 250 mg orally twice daily.

Here is a helpful clinical article that goes into all of this in more detail:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK396233/

[ash128083]

@Sadbutokay Hi, yes I also play with my dosing. Im on 1g of valacyclovir for supression (started on 200 mg 2x a day on acyclovir, then 400 mg 2x a day) I was diagnosed 15 years ago, had typical outbreaks for a year then started suppression. Worked well for 8 years, no outbreaks, then all of a sudden, with no rhyme or reason, constant outbreaks with zero relief from the meds. And the manifestation of the outbreaks don’t exhibit sores, just extreme itch, redness, irritation and swelling (I’m also a female). After 2 years of dealing with absolute hell things started to calm down but I noticed every month during ovulation I would start to get the tingle, I started increasing my daily dose to 2 grams a day for that week and it seemed to keep a full outbreak at bay. I got pregnant in Feb 2021 and the whole pregnancy and a year after the baby was born I had zero outbreaks, then started getting them sometimes every four months, sometimes every month, sometimes every 2 to 3 months and again cannot pinpoint why it keeps happening because I’m on the medication daily. It’s very frustrating when I do start to feel it happening. I will increase the dose again for a week and eight times out of 10 will keep everything at bay. I also have been to the doctor and there are zero help. Because I’m not “immune compromised” and “resistance isn’t common” they have no answer. Sometimes we need to listen to our bodies and do what helps us.

[Sadbutokay]

4 hours ago, mr_hopp said:

Hey @Sadbutokay,

It’s totally common to feel tingling or discomfort in the same spot where your first outbreak happened. Many people experience this as a warning sign before an outbreak (called prodrome symptoms).

For dosage, I'd stick with what is suggested by the professionals. Taking higher doses than recommended can be risky, so it’s best to stick to the guidelines. And consider taking daily suppressive therapy instead of treating it episodically so you don't feel the need to overload your system with meds all at once. 

For recurrent clinical episodes (episodic therapy):

• Acyclovir: 400 mg orally thrice daily for 5 days, 800 mg twice daily for 5 days, or 800 mg thrice daily for 2 days.

• Valacyclovir: 500 mg orally twice daily for 3 days.

• Famciclovir: 250 mg orally twice daily for 5 days.

For daily suppressive therapy:

• Acyclovir: 400 mg orally twice daily.

• Valacyclovir: 500 mg orally once daily.

• Famciclovir: 250 mg orally twice daily.

Here is a helpful clinical article that goes into all of this in more detail:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK396233/

Appreciate the info here but i have told my dr about my approach and as i wrote he replied - if it’s working for you fine. Then, fine.

 

each time i have had the prodrome symptoms and haven’t upped my dosage i ended up with a breakout. Each time i have my symptoms clear in a day. My first question was asking if others here had the same experience or anything similar.

 

also to be clear this also isn’t really my second question: “It’s totally common to feel tingling or discomfort in the same spot where your first outbreak happened. Many people experience this as a warning sign before an outbreak (called prodrome symptoms).” 

My second question was: ** “also when i get the tingle I usually also have tiny little dots that look like freckles appear at the head of my penis. Not full-blown sores, just tiny freckles. these freckles usually go away after 48 hours of my above regimen. “ - i wanted to know if anyone else was getting these freckles.

 

thanks for the reply and link it was good to read though, appreciate it sincerely.

[mr_hopp]

Sorry for missing that @Sadbutokay! I haven't heard of freckles like you mention nor have I had them myself; really the only way to know whether those are herpes-related or not would be to get them swabbed when they first pop up, which I know is a hassle! But you're doing good in assuming they are herpes and taking the necessary precautions. 

[Sadbutokay]

12 minutes ago, mr_hopp said:

Sorry for missing that @Sadbutokay! I haven't heard of freckles like you mention nor have I had them myself; really the only way to know whether those are herpes-related or not would be to get them swabbed when they first pop up, which I know is a hassle! But you're doing good in assuming they are herpes and taking the necessary precautions. 

Also forgot to say! Yes i’m taking 500g daily for suppressive therapy as well. Again all through my Dr.