Getting off of Valtrex (Valacyclovir)

[kandikid7]

I have simplex one and I've been on the generic for Valtrex for probably a year now. My symptoms have of course completely cleared up although I was getting OB's about every 2 to 3 weeks. I also take 1000mg of lysine daily. I try to stay away from the things that I know trigger OB's for me. However I want to get off of the med's because I don't want to become dependent on them. But i'm worried that ill get constant OB's like I used to get. What should I do?

[raffraff]

I beg to differ with gracefromHHP.  I had been taking 1,000mg of Lysine daily for 20 years.  If I had an outbreak, I would double it up 2-2 x's a day for the first day, then 2 x's a day for a few days, tapered to one a day.  It always worked for me up to this past year when I started to get back to back outbreaks.  I now take Valtrex 500 mg.  When I first started Valtrex I had 3 consecutive breakouts in three months; since then, I haven't had any OBs. I also have noticed that if I do not drink enough water especially if I'm in the sun, it will trigger an OB.
I was wondering if it would help to also continue taking Lysine along with the Valtrex.  I'll have to call my ENT for this answer since all the help sites on the net end up with having to pay $$ for a simple answer.

[gracefromHHP]

tea tree oil is a symptom remedy, it doesn't prevent recurrences.  lysine doesn't help to speed healing of cold sores nor has it been shown to reduce the recurrence of them. we also have no info on if it's helpful for reducing viral shedding or not. it's the valtrex that has been doing all the work at suppressing your hsv1, not the lysine.

[kandikid7]

its oral. and my doctor told me to use it as a natural inhibitor. I thought it was a good herbal remedy just like tea tree oil? thanks for the help.

[gracefromHHP]

lysine doesn't really do anything for herpes. the 1000mg dose does nothing. you are already getting more than enough lysine in your diet naturally to boot.

is your hsv1 oral or genital?

if you got constant ob's prior to starting suppressive therapy, odds are you will return to your previous ob pattern.  suppressive therapy only works while you take it. The virus is still active just as much while you are taking suppressive therapy it's just that the valtrex disrupts the viral replication cycle so that the virus can't replicate to the point of causing as  obvious lesions as often or shedding of the virus reaching the surface of the skin as much.  

grace