Valtrex side effects? Hair loss?

[JayHoops]

Mid twenties male who has hsv2. I got questions about being on valtrex daily. Does it cause hair loss? What else? 

Also, just want friends to talk to about this. 

[mr_hopp]

Hey @JayHoops! The Mayo Clinic doesn't have conclusive evidence of that — https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/valacyclovir-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20066635?p=1 — but there are many people who claim that the hair loss is due to the medication itself. It may be that the hair loss is less the side effect of medication and more a side effect of the stress that can come with having a new herpes diagnosis. Overall, the side effects of all the herpes medication (acyclovir, famciclovir, valacyclovir) are minimal and very well tolerated over the long term as far as the studies suggest. 

[JayHoops]

I think stress, the virus itself, and the meds all contribute honestly. Maybe the meds the least.