Valtrex Treatment Evaluations

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Chispa

Sex: F

Data Quality: 3 stars

Pain: Most

Fatigue: All

Sleep: Most

Stiffness: Most

function: Some

external_stress: Little

Stickman: most
Description:F63y
CFS:2y Dx
FM:?y
by Chispa
See Chispa's full Valacyclovir history

**Purposes:** Burning pain in feet and Shingles rash *(Started Nov 05, 2010)*
Date	Dosage	Burning pain in feet Efficacy	Shingles rash Efficacy	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Jul 24, 2011		Major		None	Never	Not at all
Apr 29, 2011		Major		None	Sometimes	A little
Apr 12, 2011		Moderate		Mild	Sometimes	Not at all
Mar 16, 2011		Major		Mild	Usually	Somewhat
Mar 15, 2011	500 mg Daily	Major		Mild	Usually	A little
Feb 15, 2011	500 mg Daily	Major		Moderate	Sometimes	Somewhat
Feb 12, 2011	500 mg Daily	Major		Moderate	Usually	A little
Feb 04, 2011	500 mg Daily	Major		Moderate	Sometimes	Somewhat
Jan 18, 2011	3 g Daily	Moderate	Major	Mild	Always	Somewhat
Nov 15, 2010	3 g Daily		Major	Mild	Always	A little

Side effects:: Decreased urine output (oliguria), Pain in lower back, Lower back pain on waking, Urinary frequency

Date: Jul 24, 2011
Advice & Tips: I put no adherence above as I am not taking valtrex right now but wanted to document the return of my foot burning pain. I had stopped valtrex as my feet felt better. I had to toss out my slippers worn in the house all the time (flea infestation) and began wearing plastic teva clogs instead on 07/09/2011. About a week later, my feet began to burn hurt as before taking valtrex and I thought whatever caused it had returned. Then I remembered my switch in slippers and wondered if it was my footwear so I wore my best (most comfortable) shoes (Birkenstocks) in the house instead of the Teva plastic clogs for several days. Foot pain vanished but because I have to bend over to put the Birks on and off (as when sitting with footstool), my back began hurting from all the bending. Solution is to buy new slippers similar to those I had to throw out that give good cushioning but slip on and off without me bending over and using my hands. I haven't done this yet and went back to the Teva clogs for ease of use but the foot pain has returned. I won't be certain this is the reason for the pain until I get new, good slippers I am sure give good support and cushioning.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Apr 29, 2011
Advice & Tips: I stopped taking Valtrex in early april when the Rx ran out and I decided to wait and see if the pain would return if I ceased the drug. Now about 25 days later, I am beginning to notice the foot pain returning in both feet. So far it is mild and intermittant but frequent. The pain is moderate on sole of feet and arch in muscles and joints (left foot) but occasionally high pain in ball of foot and joints there (right foot). The burning stabbing nerve pain is mild, but stronger than the best times when taking valtrex. Not sure if the increased pain is due to drug cessation or walking more in different shoes due to winter's end and not wearing the boots with special inserts.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Apr 12, 2011
Advice & Tips: I stopped valtrex for a week and the burning pains are coming back but less severely and intend to re-start the meds. What I noticed, tho, is that I have foot pain I didn't know about and believe it was present all along but obscured by the more intense and attention-grabbing burning pain. Now, I notice that after a day when I walk on pavement more than usual (that's about 30 minutes as in shopping), my feet ache - the major muscles on bottom of foot ache and throb. And all the time now I notice a strong throbbing pain at the base of my right big toe and on the ball of that foot and between my big toe and the next one. Also have noticed increased (or just more attention paid to it?) pain in my ankles, as if I had been hiking uphill alot, but haven't been. Sometimes I wake up in the morning with ankle pain that wasn't there when I went to bed the night before. This is baffling. It is keeping me from taking a walk just for pleasure - and spring is blooming so the desire is strong. I'm wondering if my shoes and slippers (worn constantly indoors) need replacement and aren't giving me the same support and cushioning. I read about gout, plantar fasciatis and Morton's neuroma and asked my doc and none of those apply. Doc has no answers. Said I could go to foot specialist if I want, but likely will just get instructed to purchase specially-made shoe inserts that might not change the condition at all. I'm exploring reflexology, myofascial foot pain and other alternative treatments. It is as if the over-riding pain has been diminished enough that other, pre-existing pain is now being noticed and taking center stage as the pain that catches my attention. Self-massage and cold packs help the ball of foot pain a bit. numbs it.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Mar 16, 2011
Advice & Tips: I have been doing 500mg daily with good help in reducing burning nerve pain in my feet. But yesterday(15 march 2011) the full on burning pain returned even tho I still was taking the same dose. And today that pain is gone. Why? Should I be taking a higher dose? Was something else causing the pain? Mystery.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Mar 15, 2011
Advice & Tips: I finally got down to 500 mg per day after original dose of 1g 3Xday. The higher dose caused me reduced urine output and lower back pain on kidney area so I decided to cut back to a dose that still maintained my reduction in burning foot pain. The 3 week supply (at 1g 3Xday but taken as 500mg/day after the first week) lasted about 2 months. I went to the doc for my usual 2-3 month check up and told him what I did and he asked if my foot pain was still improved. I said yes and he said he'd give me more Rx if the pain returned. It hasn't - except when I am on my feet too long (which is not all that long - 1/2 hour in perfect shoes on level surface). But the intense burning pain is generally gone and even when I stand on my feet too long it never gets to the level that was my 24/7 pain for years before taking Valtrex. I was a bit worried about kidney problems, tho, and am glad I am not needing to keep taking it for foot pain. Originally was prescribed for a one time only shingles out break and I noticed the reduced foot pain as a side-effect (or apparent one) of the one week 3g/day treatment for shingles. I told my doc and he said I should try taking it longer for the foot pain. Don't know why it helped - must have had some virus affecting my peripheral nerves to my feet as I still have peripheral neuropathy in feet, hands (motor nerves), whole body (sensory nerves), GI system (autonomic nerves). I don't understand why the valtrex had this result but am soooo pleased to not constantly have burning foot pain so bad I have to put my feet inside pillows to sit with my leg weight resting on my feet.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Feb 15, 2011
Advice & Tips: stopped a few days due to worry over kidney issues (reduced urine output/lower back ache over kidneys) and today the burning pain returned full force. Took 500 mg valtrex today hoping the benefits will happen fast. weather changed from sunny 60s to rainy 40-50s so all of me feels worse. Can't seem to find a dose that doesn't give scary kidney side-effects but still helps foot pain. need smaller pills (have 1g)
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Feb 12, 2011
Advice & Tips: Seem to have the labelled side-effect on volume of urine produced (lower than usual) and I've stopped taking it for a day, and will stop for a few more, and see if the foot pain comes back and I pee more. Don't want to hurt my kidneys. Massage reflexology on foot points for kidneys/liver on 10 feb 11 were good - low pain at those points.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Feb 04, 2011
Advice & Tips: I had back and abdominal pain over my kidneys on the 3g/day dose, so I fiddled with the dose and ended up now on just 500 mg/day and so far the improvement in my feet has continued and the pain over kidneys has ceased. The 3g/day dose was too much to take, and hard to take it spread out over a long period of time each day due to my sleep schedule. I may be able to do ok on less but the 1g pill only cuts in half.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Jan 18, 2011
Advice & Tips: Started Rx again just for trial on foot pain due to the reduced foot pain when I took this for shingles. Don't have shingles now and am taking it to see if my PN foot pain improves. After 3-4 days of trtmt, my burning foot pain has reduced from moderate/severe normally to mild/moderate today. I still have some stabbing foot pain and a muscular type foot pain maybe plantar fasciatis that was covered up by the intense burning foot pain I've had for years. On a 20 day trial to see if it gives more and lasting relief from foot pain.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Nov 15, 2010
Advice & Tips: weirly seemed my foot burning pain was relieved enough that I felt my toes for 1st time in years
Cost: $25-49 monthly

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