Aciclovir as prevention for shingles

[RamsesII]

I wish to express my deepest thanks to all fellow members who have responded to my recent enquiry. There has been consensus in all replies confirming that prescribing Aciclovir is standard practice.

[Flipperfeet]

Do you know what the normal daily does is for this as a preventative ? I been told to take 400mg three times a day which I find high so I am not happy taking at this level for years

[Skyshark in reply to Flipperfeet]

400mg twice a day is normal for UK NHS, morning and early evening.

If you actually get shingles the dose is 800 mg 5 times a day for 7 days.

Also antibiotic Co-trimoxazole, 80/400mg once daily, not at same time as Venetoclax. Some parts of NHS use about 2x higher dose 3 times a week, Monday, Tuesday, Friday.

[Flipperfeet in reply to Skyshark]

Thank you I have been told this a few times but hospital say no it is three times. As I am drug sensitive due to also having ME/CFS I only been taking twice a day. Not taking Co-trimoxazole as had bad reaction .

They seem to give high doses of meds . Anyway will continue to take two daily as not happy with three times . Thank you 🙏

[mrsjsmith in reply to Flipperfeet]

I am also on 2 a day.

Colette

[theasavta in reply to Flipperfeet]

I have been on 800 mg twice a day for six years and also received the Shingrix two- dose vaccine a year ago. But this January, three weeks after testing positive for Covid, I suddenly developed shingles and had to go on a ten day intensive course of Valtrex to knock it out. No guarantees for us.

[Doremefasol in reply to Flipperfeet]

I have been taking 1000 mg once a day (two tabs) for years. Hope it helps

[Doremefasol in reply to Doremefasol]

Correction, two tablets of 500mg each, which makes 1000 mg per day

[thompsonellen2]

I've also been taking 1000 mg (for almost 8 years), but just one pill once a day.

[lexie]

2 weeks ago I was put on 1000mg Valacyclovir 1/day by my CLL specialist. I had suddenly started getting lip cold sores constantly for last 2 months after years of none. As soon as one healed another popped up in a different location. Abreva worked wonderfully for me in the past but not any longer. Since I had shingles years ago there is a concern about that now despite completing my Shingrix vaccines last year. I am W&W with stable good labs. Wow. these pills are big! 😱