famvir and shingles

I hope someone can help. I've had horrible recurring pain in my right eye for over a year. Went to Optho. multiple times and was told it was an infected oil gland. I was put on low dose antibiotics for over 6 months and told to apply warm compresses and scrub eye with a baby shampoo/water solution. I developed a rash on my buttocks months into this that my GP diagnosed as shingles and prescribed Famvir.

Suddenly I began to have recurrences at more frequent intervals. The signs are classic to shingles and I can tell when it is coming most of the time. I must also state that I had a severe case of chicken pox as a child. There was no vaccine at that time. Any ideas?

Antiviral prescription medications such as FAMVIR® (famciclovir) can help reduce your symptoms and help shingles blisters heal faster. However, the medication should be started within 72 hours (3 days) after the rash of shingles appears, so it is important to see your doctor right away. Without treatment, the symptoms of shingles (eg, rash, blisters, and pain) usually go away in about 3 to 5 weeks.

I had shingles, and it is extremely painful. I do not think burning at the penis is typical for shingles. I had shingles across my torso, and it was the most painful feeling I have ever endured. (I had the pain in my side several days before the lesions appeared) I went to the doctor immediately after seeing lesions (only 2 or three popped up) He gave me famvir which haulted them in their tracks, and they went away a week or so later never to return Thank GOD!

I am 59yo and was diagnosed today (Tuesday) with shingles. I have had Crohn's for the last 5yrs and am on 5mg of Prednisone/day as well just being switched to Lialda 2.4gms/day (from Pentasa 4gms/day) one month ago. I was started on Famvir today-500mg tid. I am leaving for Hawaii on Wednesday and am scheduled to swim with the dolphins on Thursday. I have completed my first full day's dose of medicine and will continue until the prescription is completed.

MY SECONDSURGERY WAS NOT AS SUCESSFULL AS THE FIRST, AND I HAVE HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS AND HIGH PAIN LEVELS. I SUFFER FROM BLADDER URGENCY AND HAVE TO MANAGE MY PAIN ON A COTAIL OF MEDS, THE MEDS IM CURRENTLY TAKEING DAILY ARE OXYCONTIN, TEGRETOL AND ENDEP, THIS IS TO MANAGE MY PAIN. I WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATIVE IF SOMEONE COULD LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MY DISC PROBLEM AND MY CONSTANT OUTBRAKE OF SHINGLES. THANKS.

I have Multiple Myeloma (similar rare cancer) as part of my treatment I was taking Famvir to both prevent herpes outbreaks, and also shingles. He may be already on an anti viral, it's part of the cocktail of meds given in support of chemo.

You were right Doc. I went to the doctor today and he said it was Shingles. He prescribed 500mg Famvir 3x a day for 7 days. That sound reasonable? Thanks so much for your help.

Back in March I had my first case of shingles on the right side of my head. My ear hurt to the touch and I had a terrible headache and earache, along with pain on the right side of my throat (like a sore throat but more "stabby"). I initially thought it was just a bad ear infection and even my doctor thought the same and prescribed antibiotics. Nearly a week later I wasn't any better, and NOW could see inflammation and a rash on my ear.

My phys assistant says herpes over the phone, told me to increase famvir and use an acyclovir cream. I am still waiting to see if there is a result.

My question is about shingles and the eye. I have shingles on my middle left back. The Blisters have appeared ,a nd they are very itchy. I also went to the eye docter 3 days ago, complaining of a irrated Right eye. they docter did a full workup and said t looks like i had allregies, and gave me eye drops. I wear gas permeable Contact lenses. So, no my right eye is VERY itchy, but nothing else worth noting.

I know this could be caused by herpes virus as I have spoke with many people on similar sites suffering from what is described as post herpetic neuralgia. I have been on famvir suppressively and the symptoms have subsided, since my test results have been negative I stopped the famvir and the symptoms returned. My question is what other virus can cause these symptoms and is famvir effective against any other viruses other than herpes?

I went to a dermatologist and had a biopsy and I was diagnosed as having Herpes Simplex 2. I was shocked and horrified. How can one get herpes and not have sex? She gave me a cream to apply to the area. I still kept getting the outbreaks so I went to a Infectious disease doctor and he prescribed Famvir 500mg 2 x a day while I had a break out and 500 mg every day for the rest of my life! It has helped some but I still get some break outs. Does this virus stay with you forever? I am so confused.

I have had two outbreaks of Shingles, herpes zoster. My first was when I was in my early 20s and was on my stomach and back on my right side. The second case was last year, age 42, and was on my shoulder, neck, and face right side. This was very uncomfortable and lasted for about 6 months. I did some research and found out about the immunization, zostavax, for shingles. My question - 1) The handbook said zostavax is for people over age 60.

I just remember vaguely that nerves are where the shingles are, and it can goof them up. If your shingles goes away and you've tried various means of getting your digestion going, but it's still a problem, I agree with the poster Mammo about going to the ER, or go to a Gastoenterologist, or possibly even a Neurologist if it comes down to nobody having any answers, in case that paralysis thing with the shingles would affect your digestion.

Two weeks ago, I felt and saw redness, lumpiness and then a whitish sore that I associate with cold sores and hurriedly bolted down 1500mg of Famvir. But the sore/lesion seems to have been on the inside of my lip (the moist inner mouth), and not on my skin. Stupidly I didn't think of this til later. I think, in my panic, I just went for the meds as the easy solution without thinking.

But in more severe cases of shingles–– particularly in outbreaks that occur on the face––the prescription antiviral medications Zovirax, Famvir, and Valtrex can shorten the disease course and reduce symptoms. Valtrex can take effect within two or three days. Believe it or not, the over-the-counter heartburn medicine cimetidine (which you probably know as Tagamet) can also help lessen the pain and intensity of the rash. Take 200 mg three times a day with meals, plus 400 mg at bedtime.

Dear Dr, In late october i had unprotected vag sex with a woman I know from work. Also about 5-6 times oral sex done on my penis. End of Dec Had oral sex done on my penis. Had a HIV Test done at 3mos past the oct and six weeks past the late dec. Test was Neg. Iv had a cough for over a month as well as haven't slept at all I also had shingles in the beginning of Jan and took famvir for that. Also took penicillin for a soar throat mid jan. Im so scared my heart rate is High around 100 always.

This time, the doctor told me that he has NOW found some scars on my cornea and that is definitely not due to zoster virus, and Shingles had nothing to do with it since they had already checked my cornea earlier when the virus was active. I was also being asked to start wearing glasses if my blurriness became bothersome. And was giving those OTC “blink” tear drops again, saying that this is temporary blurriness due to dry eyes.

lysine and arginine. Since lysine inhibits the reproduction of the shingles virus, you should be sure to include plenty of high-lysine foods in your diet. These include meat (such as beef, poultry, and pork), fish (such as cod), and eggs, just to name a few. The amino acid arginine helps to reduce blood pressure and is good for the heart. Unfortunately, the shingles virus uses this particular amino acid to survive. So, although it’s good to have arginine in your diet, don’t overdo it.

I'm not sure why you are either, and you're on the highest dose possible of Valtrex. It an be rough at first, but if you've already tested positive on a blood test, that means your body has made antibodies already, and that should help calm things down (obviously, that isn't happening). There is another antiviral, Famvir. It's more expensive, and it's usually used more for shingles than hsv, but it's worth a try. Maybe you'll respond better to that.

I was on valtrex for awhile and my hair was thinning so now I am on Famvir I was wondering if anyone has noticed hair loss with this drug? And is hair loss common with antivirals?

Famvir and shingles

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