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Aciclovir in the treatment of Menieres

Posted , 12 users are following.

tim63896
tim63896

Has anyone here tried the anti-viral Aciclovir? There is an ent specialist in the States; DR Richard Gacek who proposed that md is caused by the  virus that causes chicken pox and shingles. The theory being that the virus can reside in the inner ear. In most people the virus remains dormant and in a few of us it becomes active and thus causes menieres disease. Although still a controversial idea, Dr. Gacek  carried out a trial of the antiviral at a high initial dose for a period of around 3 months, with a lower maintenance dose being administered thereafter. He had a large degree of success in that most of his patients became free of vertigo attacks. He postulates that if caught early enough, it may help to preserve hearing. I got in touch with Dr Gacek some 3 years ago and he suggested I ask my GP to prescribe Aciclovir. Just before the treatment \I was getting attacks on a daily basis and nearly lost my business because of it. The first 3 months of treatment showed little change but after that, I was free from attacks for 1 week, then 2 weeks, and then (and so far) 3 years. My hearing in my affected ear is terrible and has worsened over time. Tinitis is another prevailing problem. But at least I can work and do things that other human beings do. It took a great deal of persuation to get my GP to prescribe. In fact he recently tried to take me off it, but I persuaded him to give me a private prescription. The local NHS do not believe that I shopuld have this medication as Aciclovir is not licensed for use in menieres disease. Although the drug is pretty harmless and used long term fot the treatment of Herpes and as a cream for shingles. The NHS seem to be very out of date when it comes to research into MD and would rather I was disabled with MD rather than spend the £10.00 per Month to keep me spin free. Please explore this avenue. There is a pub med article http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19142031

You will find lots of info if you google Gacek Menieres.

Tim

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • tina27382
    tina27382 tim63896

    Posted

    Hi, I have just read this and will defanatly be asking my gp for some of this, I have had 8 months of nothing and it has now come back with at least 3 attacks a week, which is really getting me down, the question I have is how is the tinnitus ?????and do u take these everyday
    • tim63896
      tim63896 tina27382

      Posted

      Hi Tina. I take this all the time. My tinnitus and hearing in the affected ear is still very bad but no attacks for a long time now. 
  • jackie72283
    jackie72283 tim63896

    Posted

    Hi this is interesting. I have had shines for more than 10 years, and 18 months ago the hearing went in my right ear. Shinles affects the right side. I have been on aciclovir since diagnosis of shingles and am on the low dose which I need to keep the shingles away. I now plan to increase the dose to see if it helps with my ear. I have had bouts of vertigo in the last few months but have not had one for 3 weeks. Stress seems to be a trigger for vertigo for me.

    i haven't found betahistine helps. 

    • tim63896
      tim63896 jackie72283

      Posted

      Hi Jackie. Sorry to hear about your shingles. Have you been diagnosed with MD? I used to take beta histine and found it totally ineffective. GP's seem to love it probably because it is cheap but I've not met many fellow sufferers who get much benefit from it. Hope your vertigo improves
    • jackie72283
      jackie72283 tim63896

      Posted

      I have more or less been diagnosed with MD - but I feel sure it is this anyway (whatever it is!) - all the descriptions fit anyway. No vertigo now for nearly a month.
  • simonek
    simonek tim63896

    Posted

    How interesting.. I am not diagnosed with MD but I have a constant and loud ringing in my left year ever since my bout of meningitis last Summer. 

    About six months ago I was diagnosed and hospitalized with viral meningitis caused by VZV (same virus that causes chicken pox and shingles). I'm 26 (25 then) years old female with no underlying health condition, very fit and active. I was a fairly mild case and there were no signs to indicate the virus had entered the brain. I was given acyclovir intravenously during the first week (administered every 8hrs) and switched to a different med once I was discharged from the hospital. On the third evening (while on acyclovir) I heard a distinctive pop in my left ear and ever since I've been suffering from high pitched tinnitus. My neurologist at the time told me that it will improve over time but half a year later, I've noticed it's actually gotten worse. My (sense of) hearing is fine, I think... it's just so loud, even to the point where I would be talking to people but completely aware of the ringing in my ear the entire time, quite distracting actually. I thought my tinnitus might have been a side effect of taking acyclovir but after reading this thread, I'm starting to wonder if it's an indication of MD. In any case, no further speculation until I get a professional opinion and further test results confirm.. I've called my GP to schedule an appointment, I'll see what he has to say about my condition.. t may not be related to MD but this was an interesting read. Thanks for sharing.

  • jackie72283
    jackie72283 tim63896

    Posted

    I have had shingles for over 10 years and still take aciclovir to prevent symptoms. About 3 years ago I got menieres. The doctors don't believe there is a connection. I am not so sure.
  • Aspasia
    Aspasia tim63896

    Posted

    just ran across this i was a patient of Dr Gacek's and he saved my life with this treatment

    After exhausting all other ENT's locally ( i live in western MA he was eastern MA), i was referred to him at UMAss medical

    most caring Dr i ever met

    I went from multiple drop attacks a day multiple times a week. After treatment zero attacks and its been almost ten years.. hes retired now but I owe him for saving me

  • jenn34106
    jenn34106 tim63896

    Edited

    do you maintain a low sodium diet ? or has the valtrax "cured" the problems? and any side effects while on high dose valtrax?

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