Meena Patel Meena Patel Asked 7 months ago

Can acyclovir cause weight gain?

I've been taking acyclovir for a while now for a viral infection. Lately, I've noticed I'm gaining some weight, and I'm a bit concerned. Is weight gain a common side effect of this medicine?

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8 answers

Rahul Verma Rahul Verma Joined Jan 2026 7 months ago
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Honestly, I am too tired to even look at the weighing scale these days, but when I was on acyclovir I didn't notice any sudden weight gain. If you are gaining weight, it is probably just bloating or maybe you're eating more comfort food because you are unwell. Go sleep it off, illness recovery is tiring anyway!

Drisha Ganguly Drisha Ganguly Joined Mar 2026 7 months ago

Actually, weight gain is not listed as a common side effect of acyclovir. When I took it for my shingles, I asked my dermatologist about it, and she said it is very unlikely to directly cause fat gain. Sometimes, temporary water retention or just being less active while sick can make you feel a bit heavier.

Abhishek Joshi Abhishek Joshi Joined Jan 2026 7 months ago

Same here, I took acyclovir last year and experienced zero weight gain. It's usually not a side effect of this drug.

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Sneha Fernandes Sneha Fernandes Joined Feb 2026 7 months ago

Nope, acyclovir doesn't directly cause weight gain. I took a full course recently and my weight stayed exactly the same. If you are seeing a change, it might just be because you're resting more and not moving around as much. Don't stress, just complete your dose.

Meera Sen Meera Sen Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

I totally get it, worrying about weight gain when you are already dealing with an infection is so stressful. But don't worry, acyclovir is highly unlikely to cause any real weight gain. Focus on healing right now, your health is the top priority!

Venkatesh Prasad Venkatesh Prasad Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

In my experience, antiviral medications like acyclovir don't cause weight changes. I have high BP and keep a strict watch on my weight and lifestyle daily. If you are noticing a sudden weight jump, it could be water retention, so better get your kidney function and BP checked by your doctor.

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Ramesh Yadav Ramesh Yadav Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

Nahi bhai, maine bhi yeh dava li thi par vajan badhne jaisa kuch nahi hua. Jab hum bimar hote hain na, toh sharir thoda thak jata hai aur sujan lagti hai. Aap dhyan se dawa poori karo, thode din mein sab theek ho jayega.

Saraswathi Amma Saraswathi Amma Joined May 2026 5 months ago

Acyclovir generally does not affect the body weight, my dear. When we are recovering from viral infections, the body sometimes retains a little fluid, which can feel like weight gain. Try gentle stretching and drinking warm water throughout the day to feel lighter.

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