Acyclovir and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Dad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 3, 2015

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "It is an effective remedy, but the side effects in my case were worse than the problem. There was a point after about a week on the drug that I thought I was going to die. Daily it got worse, and I felt very tired all the time. It caused severe dizziness, trouble breathing, and while I was lying in bed, I woke up with a terrible feeling that I was passing out and could not go back to sleep and just lay there with the feeling of my head swirling."

• pop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2022

For Herpes Zoster "I have been taking acyclovir 800 mg 5 times per day for 8 days for shingles (2 days more to go). I had a headache and nausea for the first couple of days taking this. The headache went away, but I still feel nauseated most of the time. I am also lightheaded, and the dizziness increases when I walk around at all. I feel very fatigued. Sometimes I have felt really agitated, like I wanted to crawl out of my skin. It has caused frequent bowel movements and some diarrhea. Between the shingles pain and the side effects, I am nearly housebound. I've been sick for a month (the rash didn't appear for 3 weeks). I'm at the end of my rope and cannot wait to get off this drug. I had shingles 8 months ago and couldn't tolerate the valacyclovir then - now that it's returned, my doctor insists I must take this to get the virus out of my system. I pray that it works. I am 64 and small build (110 pounds). I do tend to be sensitive to drug side effects."

• Anonymous
• October 19, 2011

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I'm 25, and I've always had cold sores in my mouth since I was 4, and it can happen with sun or eating citrus. It's only getting worse now that I have braces, so my orthodontist told me about this pill and my doctor gave it to me, and I love it, EXCEPT I get a headache, fatigue, dizziness, and joint pain... but it's totally worth it!"

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2020

For Herpes Zoster "I took Acyclovir because of shingles. I had to take 800 mg 5x a day for 7 days. On the first day, I was okay, second day, I felt dizzy and a little nauseous, third day, I had severe nausea, which was horrible. Other symptoms included feeling spaced out, stomach cramping, headache, and sweating when I was asleep. It’s better to finish the course, which I managed to do-thank God! However, it did clear my rash away."