Reviewer: Andrew Paderna, 19-24 on Treatment for less than 1 month

Comment:
Please hoping that Acyclovir is been cheaper cost so that we all people helping each other to fight back against virus and live a happy longer life... this is Andrew, saying God Bless Us All ??????

Comment:
Please hoping that Acyclovir is been cheaper cost so that we all people helping each other to fight back against virus and live a happy longer life... this is Andrew, saying God Bless Us All ??????
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Reviewer: R. Mundo, 55-64 Male on Treatment for 6 months to less than 1 year (Patient)

Comment:
July 10, 2020 I reviewed below “Rey Mundo”, but inadvertently hit the wrong level of stars and failed to mention a couple of important points. If you have shingles for longer than expected, there is two ranges of blood tests or alternatively a painless plug style biopsy which is very accurate for diagnosis. I was still positive for the virus after six months and still have shingles going i ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
July 10, 2020 I reviewed below “Rey Mundo”, but inadvertently hit the wrong level of stars and failed to mention a couple of important points. If you have shingles for longer than expected, there is two ranges of blood tests or alternatively a painless plug style biopsy which is very accurate for diagnosis. I was still positive for the virus after six months and still have shingles going into my eight month. It is disappointing to find the lack of articles explaining that the shingles virus can last much longer than the 4-6 weeks, as most articles read, for those of us in that agonizing position, they don’t even allude to the possibility. Acyclovir 800 mg five time per day does work to reduce the rash but not the swelling. When I stop taking the Acyclovir, it returns in a week or two. Overall Acyclovir is well worth it, to help reduce the redness and itching but not so much the pain and swelling. You can slowly reduce the medication to 3 per day, after you are under some control. There is also an Acyclovir ointment, a little expensive not sure it helps as much, one or two times per day. To be clear Acyclovir does significantly help with few limited side effects, the occasional headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision.
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Reviewer: Rey Mundo, 55-64 on Treatment for 6 months to less than 1 year (Patient)

Comment:
I had a nine level spine fusion T10-S2. All 18 screws and two 12" rods had to be removed months later, with screws abutting my spinal cord. I was left with no fusion and no hardware to prevent movement at L5-S1, which is unbearable. A few weeks later I got shingles on the left side adjacent to the bottom half of one of the long incisions. I began with Valacyclovir 500 mg 3 X per day. I went t ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I had a nine level spine fusion T10-S2. All 18 screws and two 12" rods had to be removed months later, with screws abutting my spinal cord. I was left with no fusion and no hardware to prevent movement at L5-S1, which is unbearable. A few weeks later I got shingles on the left side adjacent to the bottom half of one of the long incisions. I began with Valacyclovir 500 mg 3 X per day. I went through five bottles over five months. The doctor put me on Acyclovir 800 mg five per day. I have taken that for the last 2.5. months. It takes the redness down some until I stop and then the shingles returns as if nothing was done. I am now taking four-800mg per day to help, but my side remains very swollen and the pain on top of a spine with no bone union is beyond unbearable. So anyone that is wondering if you can have shingles for months on end, the answer is yes. I am entering the eight month and cannot have my spine surgery hardware put back in until it is gone completely, something that will be very unpleasant in itself. Acyclovir does work, as a maintenance drug to tamp it down, I do recommend it, but it will not kill it, just help. To be clear it is worth taking. You can look and look, you will not find many articles with people suffering from shingles for months on end, I wish I could find some, just for peace of mind
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Reviewer: Chito, 55-64 on Treatment for less than 1 month (Patient)

Comment:
I am 61 years old and have been with shingles the first time. My doctor prescribed me 800mg 3xs a day for 7 days. With my first taking this drug, I felt sleepy, I like to sleep most of the time.I felt light-headedness, seems floating in the air, but I know what I am doing.I hope Acyclovir will work since it is my 2nd day taking it. The pain in my shingles seems reduced. But I am always have this s ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I am 61 years old and have been with shingles the first time. My doctor prescribed me 800mg 3xs a day for 7 days. With my first taking this drug, I felt sleepy, I like to sleep most of the time.I felt light-headedness, seems floating in the air, but I know what I am doing.I hope Acyclovir will work since it is my 2nd day taking it. The pain in my shingles seems reduced. But I am always have this sleepy moments and always like to eat and drink water.
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Reviewer: Sammie, 55-64 on Treatment for less than 1 month (Patient)

Comment:
Shingles outbreak on left calf. Began with sciatica type nerve pain shooting down leg, numbness of foot and feeling of sunburn, followed with blisters in 3 days. No known history of chicken pox, thought it was allergic reaction to plants while gardening, but here it is. After one day of this medicine, the blisters dried up and the swelling decreased. No further noticeable changes for three day ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
Shingles outbreak on left calf. Began with sciatica type nerve pain shooting down leg, numbness of foot and feeling of sunburn, followed with blisters in 3 days. No known history of chicken pox, thought it was allergic reaction to plants while gardening, but here it is. After one day of this medicine, the blisters dried up and the swelling decreased. No further noticeable changes for three days. Entire leg, from hip to toes is painful, a shooting, brief pain that seems to travel around the leg, combined with a deep dull, constant ache which affects the joints and muscles. Definitely painful enough that potent RX pain meds are required. The OTC meds of Tylenol Extra Strength, Advil and Alleve reduced pain by about 30%, not enough for real relief or sleep so I gave in and got the prescription meds. Unable to sit or stand for more than 10 minutes without feeling an intense increase in pain. So, it is this med, pain meds and bed rest. Restless. Grouchy.
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