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Here is the list of known side-effects here (sorry about the formatting but i guess carriage returns don't translate well):

Along with its needed effects, valacyclovir (the active ingredient contained in Valtrex) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking valacyclovir:

More common

Discouragement feeling sad or empty irritability lack of appetite loss of interest or pleasure tiredness trouble concentrating trouble sleeping Rare

Black, tarry stools chest pain chills cough decreased frequency or output of urine fever flu-like symptoms headache lower back or side pain reduced mental alertness shortness of breath yellow eyes or skin Incidence not known

Actions that are out of control agitation anxiety back, leg, or stomach pains bleeding gums blood in urine or stools blurred vision change in consciousness change in mental status changes in behavior, especially in interactions with other people changes in patterns and rhythms of speech dark or bloody urine difficult or labored breathing difficulty speaking difficulty swallowing dizziness drowsiness dry mouth fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior feeling that others can hear your thoughts feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there general tiredness and weakness hyperventilation increased thirst itching lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position light-colored stools loss of consciousness mood or mental changes nausea and vomiting nervousness pale color of skin pinpoint red spots on the skin pounding in the ears puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue redness of the skin restlessness seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there seizures severe mood or mental changes shakiness and unsteady walk shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet skin rash slurred speech sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth stiff neck swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs swollen or painful glands talking, feeling, and acting with excitement tightness in the chest trembling or shaking of the hands or feet trouble in speaking troubled breathing unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination unusual behavior unusual bleeding or bruising unusual tiredness or weakness upper right abdominal pain vomiting weight gain wheezing Some side effects of valacyclovir may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Body aches or pain cramps difficulty in moving ear congestion heavy bleeding loss of voice muscle aches muscle pain or stiffness nasal congestion pain pain in joints sneezing sore throat stuffy or runny nose Less common

Constipation diarrhea Incidence not known

Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin hair loss or thinning of the hair hives or welts increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight red, irritated eyes redness or other discoloration of the skin severe sunburn For Healthcare Professionals Applies to valacyclovir: oral tablet

Gastrointestinal Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 16%) Common (1% to 10%): Vomiting, constipation, anorexia, dyspepsia, dry mouth, flatulence Frequency not reported: Tooth disorder Postmarketing reports: Diarrhea[Ref]

Nervous system Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 16%) Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, somnolence Frequency not reported: Migraine Postmarketing reports: Seizures, tremors, ataxia, coma, dysarthria, encephalopathy[Ref]

Neurologic/psychiatric events, sometimes severe, have included confusion, agitation, convulsions, hallucinations, and coma have generally been reversible with discontinuation. These events have mostly been seen in patients with renal impairment or in patients receiving higher doses.[Ref]

Psychiatric Neurologic/psychiatric events, sometimes severe, have included confusion, agitation, convulsions, hallucinations, and coma have generally been reversible with discontinuation. These events have mostly been seen in patients with renal impairment or in patients receiving higher doses.[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Depression, insomnia Postmarketing reports: Aggressive behavior, agitation, confusion, mania, psychosis, auditory and visual hallucinations[Ref]

Renal Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased serum creatinine Frequency not reported: Acute renal failure Postmarketing reports: Renal failure, renal pain[Ref]

Hematologic TTP/HUS, including some fatalities, has been reported during clinical trials in patients with advanced HIV disease and in allogeneic bone marrow transplant and renal transplant recipients, who were receiving 8 g per day.[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Decreased neutrophil counts, decreased platelet counts Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Decreased hemoglobin Frequency not reported: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome Postmarketing reports: Thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, leukocytoclastic vasculitis[Ref]

Hepatic Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal ALT, elevated alkaline phosphatase, elevated AST Postmarketing reports: Hepatitis[Ref]

Hypersensitivity Postmarketing reports: Acute hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, angioedema, dyspnea, pruritus, rash, urticaria[Ref]

Dermatologic Common (1% to 10%): Rash Frequency not reported: Acne, pruritus Postmarketing reports: Facial edema, erythema multiforme, photosensitivity, alopecia[Ref]

Cardiovascular Postmarketing reports: Hypertension, tachycardia[Ref]

Ocular Postmarketing reports: Visual abnormalities[Ref]

Respiratory Common (1% to 10%): Nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, rhinitis, pharyngitis Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspnea Frequency not reported: Sinusitis, bronchitis[Ref]

Musculoskeletal Common (1% to 10%): Arthralgia Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Back pain[Ref]

Genitourinary Frequency not reported: Dysmenorrhea, urinary tract infection[Ref]

Other Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, asthenia, fever, chills[Ref]

General The most commonly reported adverse reactions have been headache, nausea, and abdominal pain.[Ref]

References 1. "Product Information. Valtrex (valacyclovir)." Glaxo Wellcome, Research Triangle Park, NC.

2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0

3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0

There is a saying in medical education that med profs often like to quote: "Half of what we teach you will be wrong in four years, the problem is we don't know which half"

When I was in medical school we were just emerging from the 'fat is bad', towards what I see now as a more 'carbs are bad' (this is a dumb oversimplification but I think sums up the trends). Thumbing through my 2001 copy of 'Harrison's Internal Medicine' there is just a 40 page section on nutrition (out of 2600 pages), and most of that is on various forms of malnourishment (rickets, scurvy, etc...)

The biggest problem with studying what is good nutrition is that it is really hard to control what people eat in a randomized study and there are so many confounders when you try to look at retrospective studies on healthy populations (for example, 7th Day Adventists live longer, is it because of the diet, or because of community, etc...?)

Yes? I don’t understand why you’re being so judgemental considering this is between me and my doctor and Valtrex is an incredibly safe drug. Unless you’ve gotten cold sores like I have (try four at a time), I’m really not interested in what you have to say, which seems to just be a regurgitation of side effects, which I will remind you have to be reported from the experimental group REGARDLESS of whether or not they’re actually caused by the medication (because you really have no way of knowing). Furthermore, I don’t actually experience any of those side effects. The main concern is that Valtrex may cause reversible kidney damage, but they do labs every so often and my kidneys are totally fine.