Doctor put me on Valtrex to treat bad case of shingles. Starting taking Sunday p.m. Bood sugar readings in am have skyrocketed to 1660-165. Anyone else had this experience. How long once meds are stopped will it take readings to come back down? Food intake has not changed

Hi ladylaw,
The higher readings (and 165-166 is not awful) are maybe due to your body fighting the infection, rather than to the meds themselves. If so, they should go down when you sre better.
Frustrating, isn't it to watch bg's go up, even when one is really being disciplined about food...

Take care,
Uhara

I agree with Uhara. It is the infection and your body's reaction to it that is sending the BGL up.

From now on, I am just going to start the Metformin when I have an infection/cold/flu. It is the only way to rapidly get the BG's back to the 80-90's. (Atleast the only way I know of. If there is another way...I am all ears.)

Before the first eruption bg went up but after the actual outbreak of the blisters bg went back to normal. I delayed starting the Valtrex until about 10 days after the blisters appeared because using the symptoms disappear with the blisters. However this time the moving pain continued but bg stayed normal. The bg's only shot up AFTER starting the Valtrex.

Certain antiviral drugs can increase your blood sugars temporarily, but they should return to normal within a few days of discontinuing therapy.
OTOH, pain, inflammation and infection can all have the effect of increasing blood sugars while your body is actively fighting the infection or producing stress hormones due to the pain.
Fasting blood sugars of 160-165 will certainly get your attention, but your doctor may have expected that result. If it's concerning you a great deal, you may want to give them a call and let them know what effect the medication is having on your blood sugars.
Hope you're feeling better soon!

Ask your doctor, but Valtrex needs to be started ASAP (within 48 hours if possible) to have much of a chance at helping, and , most importantly to prevent the post-herptic neuralgia.

Peace,
Jamilah

Jamilah...I wondered about that as well since most antiviral drugs need to be started within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms to have any real impact and it's unknown what help, if any, that they provide when treatment is started later.