acyclovir antiviral for long covid?

Posted by bettew @bettew, Jan 10, 2024

I just read some research about using the antiviral acyclovir for the treatment of long covid. Does anyone have any experience with this? (a year ago I had used antiviral Tamiflu because I had the flu. Surprisingly, all of my long covid symptoms resolved for a full month.)

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I’m desperate for answers. I hope you get some responses to this.

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I have been taking Acyclovir daily for years- well before I got Covid and then Long Covid. So in my case, I don’t think it has helped.
But every body is different so it might be worth a try for you. Good luck!

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I had Acyclovir left from a shingles outbreak. When I read this might be helpful, I used the protocol, and tried for a few weeks. It did not make a difference for me. I do wonder if doctors would prescribe Paxlovid for a longer period of time, it might help some of us as it is targeted to this particular virus.
Thus far, most doctors do not seem open to trying out different therapies.
I’m in the “why not?” camp. It might work for some people.

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@celia16

I’m desperate for answers. I hope you get some responses to this.

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There are increasing numbers of case reports and some studies underway with acyclovir and valcyclovir bring symptom relief to Long Covid sufferers. I happened to take 2 doses of Valacyclovir for a cold sore a few months ago and noticed improvement in symptoms especially some clearing of the cob webs of brain fog from Long Covid that I have had for around 11/2 years with the ME/CSF subtype of symptoms. The effect partly lasted and partly declined in time. After discussing with my doctor, elected to go on shingles level treatment plan (Valacyclovir 1,000 mg 3 times a day for 7 days) and then on to a suppression dose. I am early in the suppression dose this time and have gotten substantial decline in symptoms. so far, based on experimenting for myself, the initial 7 days a the higher 3 x per day dose was the most beneficial and lower dosing as suppression was less impactful. When I bumped the suppression dose to 1000 mg about every 12 hours, symptoms improvement returned. This is an early thing for me but is the only thing that has actually had significant impact. Talk with your doctor about it. Do a search "acyclovir and Long Covid" and "Valacyclovir and Long Covid". You will find some of the literature to share with your doctor regarding those case reports and some study results. My Experience is that higher dosing and prolonged dosing are best. Some of the case reports tell similar stories. Side effects are uncommon in this long standing treatment for other viral conditions. I think it is worth a personal trial even without the locked in research available. You just need a doctor who is willing to walk along with you on trying it out.

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@tkinder

There are increasing numbers of case reports and some studies underway with acyclovir and valcyclovir bring symptom relief to Long Covid sufferers. I happened to take 2 doses of Valacyclovir for a cold sore a few months ago and noticed improvement in symptoms especially some clearing of the cob webs of brain fog from Long Covid that I have had for around 11/2 years with the ME/CSF subtype of symptoms. The effect partly lasted and partly declined in time. After discussing with my doctor, elected to go on shingles level treatment plan (Valacyclovir 1,000 mg 3 times a day for 7 days) and then on to a suppression dose. I am early in the suppression dose this time and have gotten substantial decline in symptoms. so far, based on experimenting for myself, the initial 7 days a the higher 3 x per day dose was the most beneficial and lower dosing as suppression was less impactful. When I bumped the suppression dose to 1000 mg about every 12 hours, symptoms improvement returned. This is an early thing for me but is the only thing that has actually had significant impact. Talk with your doctor about it. Do a search "acyclovir and Long Covid" and "Valacyclovir and Long Covid". You will find some of the literature to share with your doctor regarding those case reports and some study results. My Experience is that higher dosing and prolonged dosing are best. Some of the case reports tell similar stories. Side effects are uncommon in this long standing treatment for other viral conditions. I think it is worth a personal trial even without the locked in research available. You just need a doctor who is willing to walk along with you on trying it out.

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@tkinder . So glad you are seeing improvement. I would lean towards it too, except that I have had my own gradual improvement since my post upthread. Not complete recovery, but a lot. Thanks for the update and info. It may be beneficial to many who suffer.

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I wonder whether acyclovir would also help relieve the fatigue symptoms of Long covid?

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@tkinder

There are increasing numbers of case reports and some studies underway with acyclovir and valcyclovir bring symptom relief to Long Covid sufferers. I happened to take 2 doses of Valacyclovir for a cold sore a few months ago and noticed improvement in symptoms especially some clearing of the cob webs of brain fog from Long Covid that I have had for around 11/2 years with the ME/CSF subtype of symptoms. The effect partly lasted and partly declined in time. After discussing with my doctor, elected to go on shingles level treatment plan (Valacyclovir 1,000 mg 3 times a day for 7 days) and then on to a suppression dose. I am early in the suppression dose this time and have gotten substantial decline in symptoms. so far, based on experimenting for myself, the initial 7 days a the higher 3 x per day dose was the most beneficial and lower dosing as suppression was less impactful. When I bumped the suppression dose to 1000 mg about every 12 hours, symptoms improvement returned. This is an early thing for me but is the only thing that has actually had significant impact. Talk with your doctor about it. Do a search "acyclovir and Long Covid" and "Valacyclovir and Long Covid". You will find some of the literature to share with your doctor regarding those case reports and some study results. My Experience is that higher dosing and prolonged dosing are best. Some of the case reports tell similar stories. Side effects are uncommon in this long standing treatment for other viral conditions. I think it is worth a personal trial even without the locked in research available. You just need a doctor who is willing to walk along with you on trying it out.

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I took took acyclovir for 5 days and noticed an improved difference in my symptoms... respiratory, fatigue, brain fog
I mentioned it on my follow up and PA said she would mote it in records.
It is so refreshing to know this actually worked for someone else with LC. I will pursue this accidental find with my doctor, and retry for LC
Thank you for posting...it's so helpful to hear what works from others.

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@celia16

@tkinder . So glad you are seeing improvement. I would lean towards it too, except that I have had my own gradual improvement since my post upthread. Not complete recovery, but a lot. Thanks for the update and info. It may be beneficial to many who suffer.

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I’ve been on acyclovir for ages to treat another issue. Does nothing to touch Long Covid.

sfish

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