Valacyclovir is an antiviral indicated for the treatment of cold sores or initial or recurrent genital herpes, which cause symptoms such as burning or blistering of the skin or mucous membranes, or treatment of herpes zoster, for example.
This medicine works by reducing the multiplication of the virus Herpes simplexpreventing the infection of new cells and reducing the duration of symptoms of genital or labial herpes, in addition to reducing acute pain and post-herpetic pain caused by herpes zoster.
Valacyclovir can be found in pharmacies or drugstores, in the form of tablets containing 500 mg of valacyclovir hydrochloride, as a generic or under the trade names Valtrex, Herpstal or Denpryx, and should only be used under medical advice.
What is it for
Valacyclovir is indicated for the treatment of:
- Herpes-zosterto help reduce acute pain, post-herpetic neuralgia and shorten the duration of pain;
- Herpes labialand can be used from the beginning of symptoms to prevent the development of injuries;
- Herpes genital initial and recurring.
In addition, valacyclovir may be indicated for the prevention of infection or disease caused by cytomegalovirus in people after organ transplantation, helping to reduce acute rejection, opportunistic infections or other infections caused by herpes simplex, or varicella zoster.
Don’t ignore the signs your body is giving you!
Does valacyclovir cure herpes?
Valacyclovir, like other antivirals, does not cure herpes, be it labial, genital or zoster herpes, as it does not eliminate the virus from the body, only acting by reducing the multiplication of the virus, reducing the duration of symptoms and preventing the infection of new cells. on body.
There is no cure for herpes simplex or herpes zoster infection, as the virus is capable of remaining inactive in the body and can be reactivated when the immune system is weakened.
How to drink
The valacyclovir hydrochloride tablet should be taken orally, with a glass of water, before or after a meal, at the times and for the duration of treatment advised by the doctor.
It is important to drink plenty of water while using valacyclovir to keep your kidneys functioning properly.
Valacyclovir dosage
The dosage of valacyclovir varies according to the condition being treated and includes:
1. Herpes genital
For the treatment of genital herpes in adults, the normally recommended doses are:
- Treatment of initial infection (first episode of genital herpes): 1 tablet of valacyclovir 500 mg, twice a day, that is, every 12 hours, for 7 to 10 days of treatment. Alternatively, the doctor may also recommend a dose of 1g of valacyclovir, every 12 hours, for 5 days;
- Treatment of recurrent infection: 1 tablet of valacyclovir 500 mg, twice a day, that is, every 12 hours, for 3 to 5 days. The ideal is to use valacyclovir immediately as soon as the first signs or symptoms of genital herpes appear.
Furthermore, valacyclovir for genital herpes can be used as suppressive therapy, when a person has more than 6 episodes of genital herpes in 1 year, with a dose of 250 mg to 500 mg of valacyclovir, once a day, being normally indicated. 6 to 12 months of treatment.
In this case, it is important to undergo regular medical monitoring and liver function tests, at least every 6 months, to assess liver function, as treatment with valacyclovir is prolonged and can cause liver damage. See the main tests that evaluate liver function.
In addition to valacyclovir tablets, your doctor may also recommend the use of antiviral ointments to be used along with tablet treatment. See the main ointments for genital herpes.
2. Herpes labial
For the treatment of cold sores in adults or children over 12 years of age, the normally recommended doses of valacyclovir are:
- Initial treatment (first episode of cold sores): 1 tablet of valacyclovir 500 mg, twice a day, for 5 to 10 days of treatment, as per medical advice;
- Treatment of recurrent infection: 1 tablet of valacyclovir 500 mg, twice a day, for 3 to 5 days, as per medical advice, used from the first signs or symptoms of cold sores. Check out the main symptoms of cold sores.
As an alternative for the treatment of recurrent cold sores, the doctor may recommend a dose of 2 g of valacyclovir (4 tablets), twice a day, that is, every 12 hours, for just 1 day of treatment. It is important that the time between the 1st and 2nd dose of valacyclovir is 12 hours, and treatment should not last longer than 1 day.
3. Herpes-zoster
For the treatment of herpes zoster in adults, the normally recommended dose is 1g of valacyclovir (2 tablets), 3 times a day, that is, every 8 hours, for 7 days of treatment.
The use of valacyclovir for herpes zoster helps to reduce the intensity of acute pain, post-herpetic pain and shorten the duration of the pain. In addition, there is also a shingles vaccine indicated to prevent the development of shingles, reduce pain or prevent post-herpetic neuralgia. See when the shingles vaccine is indicated and doses.
4. Cytomegalovirus
For the prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus infection or disease in adults or children over 12 years of age, the recommended dose of valacyclovir is 2 g (4 tablets of 500 mg valacyclovir, 4 times a day, i.e. every 6 hours, started as soon as possible after transplantation.
This dose can be reduced by the doctor, according to creatinine clearance. Understand what creatinine clearance is.
The treatment time in this case is generally 90 days. However, the doctor may recommend treatment with valacyclovir for a longer period of time in high-risk cases.
Possible side effects
The most common side effects that may occur during treatment with valacyclovir are nausea, stomach pain or headache.
Furthermore, although they are less common, side effects may occur that must be reported to the doctor immediately, such as mental confusion, dizziness, hallucinations, aggression, difficulty speaking, vomiting, diarrhea or convulsions.
It is also important to inform the doctor if the person has symptoms of kidney problems, such as little or no urine, pain when urinating, swelling in the feet or ankles, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or excessive tiredness.
Who shouldn’t take
Valacyclovir should not be used by people who are allergic to valacyclovir or acyclovir, or any of the components of the tablet.
During pregnancy or breastfeeding, valacyclovir should only be used if indicated by the doctor, after evaluating the benefits of the treatment for the woman and potential risks for the baby.
What is the difference between valacyclovir and acyclovir?
Both valacyclovir and acyclovir are antivirals indicated for the treatment of initial or recurrent labial or genital herpes.
The difference is that valacyclovir is a pro-drug, that is, it is a medicine that only becomes active after being absorbed by the intestine and metabolized by the liver, transforming into acyclovir in the body, to exert its antiviral action.
