Additional Information
* The online pharmacies to which you may be referred from this website will only dispense a controlled substance to a person who has a valid prescription issued for a legitimate medical purpose based upon a medical relationship with the prescribing practitioner. This includes at least one prior in-person medical evaluation or medical evaluation via telemedicine in accordance with applicable requirements of section 309 of the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Act.
Why is this medication prescribed
Valacyclovir is used to treat herpes zoster (shingles) and genital herpes. It does not cure herpes infections but decreases pain and itching, helps sores to heal, and prevents new ones from forming.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Proper Use of This Medicine
Valacyclovir works best if it is used within 48 hours after the first symptoms of shingles or genital herpes (for example, pain, burning, or blisters) begin to appear. For recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes, valacyclovir works best if it is used within 24 hours after the symptoms begin to appear.
Valacyclovir may be taken with meals.
Keep taking valacyclovir for the full time of treatment , even if your symptoms begin to clear up after a few days. Do not miss any doses. However, do not use this medicine more often or for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
Dosing
The dose of valacyclovir will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of valacyclovir. Your dose may be different if you have kidney disease. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For treatment of genital herpes, first outbreak:
- Adults 1 gram two times a day for ten days.
- Children Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For treatment of genital herpes, recurrent outbreaks:
- Adults 500 milligrams (mg) two times a day for three days.
- Children Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- To prevent recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes:
- Adults 500 mg or 1 gram once a day.
- Children Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For treatment of shingles:
- Adults 1 gram three times a day for seven days.
- Children Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store the tablets in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
What other information should I know
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to valacyclovir.
Do not have sexual intercourse when you can see the genital herpes lesions. However, genital herpes can be spread even when there are no symptoms.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish the valacyclovir, call your doctor.
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For valacyclovir, the following should be considered:
Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to valacyclovir or acyclovir. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, sulfites or other preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy Adequate and well-controlled studies in humans have not been done with valacyclovir or acyclovir. However, acyclovir has been used in pregnant women and has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems.
Breast-feeding It is not known whether valacyclovir passes into breast milk. However, acyclovir does pass into breast milk but has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
Children Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients. There is no specific information comparing use of valacyclovir in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults Valacyclovir has been used in elderly patients and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults. Elderly patients are at a high risk for dehydration and should drink plenty of fluids.
Other medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change your dose or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of valacyclovir. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or
- Bone marrow transplantation or
- Kidney transplantation Patients with these medical problems may have an increased risk of severe side effects
- Kidney disease Kidney disease may increase blood levels of this medicine, increasing the chance of side effects
In case of emergency overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
Search by category
