Posted by SLS on March 30, 2018, at 23:29:17
In reply to Valganciclovir (Valcyte) questions » Prefect, posted by ed_uk2010 on March 30, 2018, at 16:34:36
Hi, Ed.
Thanks for posting this.
- Scott> >My doctos says I have an active HHV 6 infection that may be causing my neuropsychiatric illness.
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> HHV-6 is really common, so most people have probably been infected with it at some point. In general, infections are mild and not diagnosed so antivirals aren't prescribed. Occasionally, people have a serious infection needing treatment, often because they are immuno-compromised, but not always. Some people think HHV-6 has a role in certain forms of chronic fatigue.
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> Unfortunately, the common and relatively safe antivirals acyclovir (Zovirax tablets) and valacyclovir (Valtrex) aren't very effective against HHV-6 at all, whereas more problematic antivirals such as valganciclovir (Valcyte) are active.
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> I must admit, I'd be a bit concerned if he wants to use something like valganciclovir (Valcyte). In the body, valganciclovir is converted to ganciclovir, which is the active drug. Ganciclovir and valganciclovir are potentially toxic drugs, which are mainly use for serious viral illness in people with a weakened immune system due to advanced HIV infection, or after an organ transplantation. Side effects can include bone marrow depression leading to low white blood cell counts. In animal studies, ganciclovir appears to be carcinogenic and impairs male fertility.
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> I think there needs to be a clear reason to use this medication. So, it would normally only be used by a specialist in infectious disease. Have you seen a doctor like this?
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> I'd also wonder about payment or insurance issues for non-approved uses. How would this work if something like Valcyte was used? The full cost of this med is very high.
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Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1097758
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20180212/msgs/1097858.html