 is a prescription medication used to treat conditions caused by the herpes virus including cold sores, shingles, genital herpes outbreaks, and chicken pox. Valtrex belongs to a group of drugs called antivirals which work by preventing the virus from multiplying.This medication comes in caplet form and is taken one to three times daily, with or without food.Common side effects of Valtrex include headaches, nausea, stomach pains, and dizziness. "Pin It")
Valtrex Overview
Valtrex (generic: valacyclovir) is a prescription medication used to treat conditions caused by the herpes virus including cold sores, shingles, genital herpes outbreaks, and chicken pox. Valtrex belongs to a group of drugs called antivirals which work by preventing the virus from multiplying.
This medication comes in caplet form and is taken one to three times daily, with or without food.
Common side effects of Valtrex include headaches, nausea, stomach pains, and dizziness.
Uses of Valtrex
Valtrex is a prescription medicine used in adults:
- to treat cold sores (also called fever blisters or herpes labialis)
- to treat shingles (also called herpes zoster)
- to treat or control genital herpes outbreaks in adults with normal immune systems
- to control genital herpes outbreaks in adults infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with CD4+ cell count greater than 100 cells/mm3
- with safer sex practices to lower the chances of spreading genital herpes to others. Even with safer sex practices, it is still possible to spread genital herpes.
Valtrex is used in children:
- to treat cold sores (for children aged greater than or equal to 12 years)
- to treat chickenpox (for children aged 2 to less than 18 years).
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Side Effects of Valtrex
Kidney failure and nervous system problems are not common, but can be serious in some patients taking Valtrex. Nervous system problems include aggressive behavior, unsteady movement, shaky movements, confusion, speech problems, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are really not there), seizures, and coma. Kidney failure and nervous system problems have happened in patients who already have kidney disease and in elderly patients whose kidneys do not work well due to age. Always tell your healthcare provider if you have kidney problems before taking Valtrex. Call your doctor right away if you get a nervous system problem while you are taking Valtrex.
Common side effects of Valtrex in adults include headache, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and dizziness. Side effects in HIV-1-infected adults include headache, tiredness, and rash. These side effects usually are mild and do not cause patients to stop taking Valtrex.
Other less common side effects in adults include painful periods in women, joint pain, depression, low blood cell counts, and changes in tests that measure how well the liver and kidneys work.
The most common side effect seen in children aged less than 18 years was headache.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you develop any side effects that concern you.
These are not all the side effects of Valtrex. For more information ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Valtrex Interactions
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Valtrex may affect other medicines, and other medicines may affect Valtrex. However, at this time no clinically significant drug-drug or drug-food interactions with Valtrex are known. It is a good idea to keep a complete list of all the medicines you take. Show this list to your healthcare provider and pharmacist any time you get a new medicine.
Valtrex Precautions
Do not take Valtrex if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or to acyclovir. The active ingredient is valacyclovir. The inactive Ingredients are: carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, FD&C Blue No. 2 Lake, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, povidone, and titanium dioxide.
Valtrex Food Interactions
Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Valtrex there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Valtrex.
Inform MD
Before taking Valtrex, tell your healthcare provider:
About all your medical conditions, including:
- if you have had a bone marrow transplant or kidney transplant, or if you have advanced HIV-1 disease or "AIDS".Patients with these conditions may have a higher chance for getting a blood disorder called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS). TTP/HUS can result in death.
- if you have kidney problems. Patients with kidney problems may have a higher chance for getting side effects or more kidney problems with Valtrex. Your healthcare provider may give you a lower dose of Valtrex.
- if you are aged 65 years or older. Elderly patients have a higher chance of certain side effects. Also, elderly patients are more likely to have kidney problems. Your healthcare provider may give you a lower dose of Valtrex.
- if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of taking prescription drugs (including Valtrex) during pregnancy.
- if you are breastfeeding. Valtrex may pass into your milk and it may harm your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking Valtrex.
- about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Valtrex may affect other medicines, and other medicines may affect Valtrex. It is a good idea to keep a complete list of all the medicines you take. Show this list to your healthcare provider and pharmacist any time you get a new medicine.
Valtrex and Pregnancy
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of taking prescription drugs (including Valtrex) during pregnancy.
Valtrex and Lactation
Tell your doctorif you are breastfeeding. Valtrex may pass into your milk and it may harm your baby. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking Valtrex.
Valtrex Usage
Take Valtrex exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Your dose of Valtrex and length of treatment will depend on the type of herpes infection that you have and any other medical problems that you have.
- Do not stop Valtrex or change your treatment without talking to your healthcare provider.
- Valtrex can be taken with or without food.
- If you are taking Valtrex to treat cold sores, chickenpox, shingles, or genital herpes, you should start treatment as soon as possible after your symptoms start. Valtrex may not help you if you start treatment too late.
- If you miss a dose of Valtrex, take it as soon as you remember and then take your next dose at its regular time. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Wait and take the next dose at the regular time.
- Do not take more than the prescribed number of Valtrex Caplets each day. Call your healthcare provider right away if you take too much Valtrex.
Valtrex used daily with the following safer sex practices can lower the chances of passing genital herpes to your partner.
- Do not have sexual contact with your partner when you have any symptom or outbreak of genital herpes.
- Use a condom made of latex or polyurethane whenever you have sexual contact.
Valtrex Dosage
Take Valtrex exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you.
Adult Dosing Recommendations:
Cold Sores (Herpes Labialis): The recommended dosage of Valtrex for treatment of cold sores is 2 grams twice daily for 1 day taken 12 hours apart. Therapy should be initiated at the earliest symptom of a cold sore (e.g., tingling, itching, or burning).
Genital Herpes: Initial Episode: The recommended dosage of Valtrex for treatment of initial genital herpes is 1 gram twice daily for 10 days. Therapy was most effective when administered within 48 hours of the onset of signs and symptoms.
Recurrent Episodes: The recommended dosage of Valtrex for treatment of recurrent genital herpes is 500 mg twice daily for 3 days. Initiate treatment at the first sign or symptom of an episode.
Suppressive Therapy: The recommended dosage of Valtrex for chronic suppressive therapy of recurrent genital herpes is 1 gram once daily in patients with normal immune function. In patients with a history of 9 or fewer recurrences per year, an alternative dose is 500 mg once daily.
In HIV-1 infected patients with a CD4+ cell count greater than or equal to 100 cells/mm3, the recommended dosage of Valtrex for chronic suppressive therapy of recurrent genital herpes is 500 mg twice daily.
Reduction of Transmission: The recommended dosage of Valtrex for reduction of transmission of genital herpes in patients with a history of 9 or fewer recurrences per year is 500 mg once daily for the source partner.
Herpes Zoster: The recommended dosage of Valtrex for treatment of herpes zoster is 1 gram 3 times daily for 7 days. Therapy should be initiated at the earliest sign or symptom of herpes zoster and is most effective when started within 48 hours of the onset of rash.
Pediatric Dosing Recommendations:
Cold Sores (Herpes Labialis): The recommended dosage of Valtrex for the treatment of cold sores in pediatric patients aged greater than or equal to 12 years is 2 grams twice daily for 1 day taken 12 hours apart. Therapy should be initiated at the earliest symptom of a cold sore (e.g., tingling, itching, or burning).
Chickenpox: The recommended dosage of Valtrex for treatment of chickenpox in immunocompetent pediatric patients aged 2 to less than 18 years is 20 mg/kg administered 3 times daily for 5 days. The total dose should not exceed 1 gram 3 times daily. Therapy should be initiated at the earliest sign or symptom.
Valtrex Overdose
If you take too much Valtrex, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.
Forms of Valtrex
Valtrex is available in 500 mg and 1.0 gm tablets.
Active Ingredient: valacyclovir hydrochloride
Inactive Ingredients: carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, FD&C Blue No. 2 Lake, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, povidone, and titanium dioxide.
Other Requirements
- Store Valtrex Caplets at room temperature, 59° to 77°F (15° to 25°C).
- Store Valtrex suspension between 2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F) in a refrigerator. Discard after 28 days.
- Keep Valtrex in a tightly closed container.
- Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need.
- Keep Valtrex and all medicines out of the reach of children.
