If you type “Ryan Braun Herpes” into your favorite search enging, you’ll presented with no shortage of theories behind the reigning NL MVP’s pending 50 game suspension for the use of performance enhancing drugs. Alas, if Braun hoped to employ a somewhat unique alibi (ie. that his elevated testosterone levels were the result of herpes medication), JournalWatch’s Dr. Paul E. Sax, Clinical Director of the HIV Program and Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, has some bad news, despite being an avowed “huge fan” (“he bears an uncanny resemblance to my nephew”).
A quick search of “acyclovir” and “testosterone”, plus a perusal of an actual book — irreplaceable ‘The Use of Antibiotics’ – finds that there are some obscure animal studies suggesting that anti-herpes drugs could do the reverse, i.e., lower testosterone levels.
Dose-related testicular atrophy and abnormalities of spermatogenesis were noted in mice, rats and dogs treated on repeated occasions with either famciclovir or penciclovir …
All of which leads me to the very speculative conclusion that some doctors could be providing testosterone supplementation to their patients receiving anti-herpes therapy.
Which is, frankly, a completely bogus indication, way more “out there” as a practice than the typical off-label use of approved medications.