I am desparate! My father (LBD) is in hosp. with UTI/ blood infection. I THINK he had a bad reaction to Levaquin, because he slept an entire night and the next day, wouldn't eat, wouldn't talk.... he was just "out to lunch." Within 24 hrs. of taking the levaquin, he started to break out around his mouth. The doctor and nurses blamed it on shaving. The sores got progressively worse, have blistered and are draining. In the meantime, it has moved to his lips and to the his nasal membranes, his tongue is a little swollen, lips are sore, making it hard to eat and drink. Now dermatologist has prescribed VALTREX (VALACYCLOVIR HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET). Her cultures have not come back yet, but she is treating for herpes/ shingles. I am afraid to let him take valtrex because of the possible side effects. HELP!!! Does anyone know about Valtrex??? Is it "safe?"

I have checked all the drug lists on this site; the valtrex website, the wallet card....

Thanks everyone if you can give me quick imput!!!!

My husband had urosepsis in January of 2009 and he almost died. It's a life-threatening disease. What a nightmare to get shingles on top of it! If, in fact, it is shingles. I've never run across any reference to problems with antivirals and LBD. My nursing drug handbook does not indicate any particular risks for dementia. In my opinion, the danger of not treating it is a greater risk. You will be in my thoughts and prayers! --Pat

It could be that the "reaction" to Levaquin was a "reaction" to the UTI/blood infection?? Are they treating the UTI/blood infection with any antibiotic?

The post on Valtrex that Leone mentions is here:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=817

It sounds like he's on Levaquin. My husband was on IV Levaquin in the ICU for about a week.

I don't know anything about Valtrex, but Frank was put on Levaquin for the possible start of a lung infection. He was wiped out for days, he wasn't able to have PT and he was there for rehab. The NH had another patient on Levaquin with the same results. Once he was off it he gradually got back to "normal". Good Luck, Gerry

Been taking it myself for years, since I got a "cold sore" virus from a friend's child. My dr. said it was a particularly wicked strain of herpes, and I need to take Valtrex when it flairs up. Never had any side effects, know lots of people who take it and nothing bad has happened to anyone so far. Good luck! Lynn

Thanks everyone for your quick response and feedback. We were ok with the valtrex, did not seem to have any really bad side effects, and after taking it 3 times a day for a week, most of the "infection" is gone and we (I) should be able to resume shaving my father's face by next week.
That Levaquin almost did him in. No thanks to the dr. in the hospital.... but that's another story for a different day.
Thank you... thank you....Thank you all so much.