Effects of daily valacyclovir doses on immune system

[pikoflife]

My Question: Are you aware of any reported studies discussing the effects of valacyclovir on the immune system’s response to HSV2, especially when taken daily and/or early after diagnosis?

Explanation for My Question: I am hesitant to start taking valacyclovir daily because I am concerned that doing so will weaken my immune reaction (and I have heard conflicting theories). I also may have heard you say at a recent “town hall” on zoom that it can help the immune system when taken early (but I was not sure if you meant early after diagnosis, or early before an outbreak, the later of which is obviously more widely known). I’m just confused about whether the immune system is more able or less able to handle this in the long term if valacyclovir is taken daily.

My Background: I am a healthy and athletic male in my 30s. I was diagnosed with HSV2 in November 2022 (via a swab test). My dermatologist prescribed valacyclovir but suggested I not use it daily unless I’m having severe and recurring outbreaks. I obtained more tests through Planned Parenhood to confirm I had no other infections. A Planned Parenthood nurse suggested I take one 500mg valtrex daily, or 500mg 2x a day during outbreaks. I have only taken valacyclovir during outbreaks, as instructed by my dermatologist. (I had 3 minor pimple / blister outbreaks since then (Dec 2022, Feb 2023, and May 2023) each the size of a dime, and they disappear in a week.)

Thank you for your time.

[Terri Warren]

Taking Valtrex daily will have no impact whatsoever on your immune system.
I think what I was talking about was this: if people do not have a lab test diagnosis of herpes, but think they have it or someone visually diagnoses them, Valtrex, taken daily, can impact the ability the immune system to see the virus because the antiviral is keeping viral replication down so the immune system cannot see it. And therefore, antibody development will be delayed. That’s not a bad thing, except when you don’t have a lab diagnosis, the diagnosis could be wrong and taking antivirals daily can complicate that. Does that make sense?

TErri

[Author]

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