Valacyclovir treats conditions such as herpes virus infections, these include herpes labialis (a.k.a. cold sores), herpes zoster (a.k.a. shingles), and herpes simplex (a.k.a. genital herpes) in adults. The same treatment is also used for treating chickenpox and cold sores in children. Within the body, valacyclovir becomes the anti-herpes medicine, acyclovir. Valacyclovir can relieve pain and discomfort as well as help sores to heal faster. You may only get access to use Valacyclovir with a doctor's prescription.
Valacyclovir works best if used within 48hours after the onset of initial symptoms which may include burning, pain, or blisters start appearing. You may take Valacyclovir with meals or on empty stomach. You should drink more fluids to pass more urine while using this medicine. This can help keep your kidneys functioning properly and prevent development of kidney problems. Take valacyclovir for the whole duration of your treatment in order to help clear up your infection, even if symptoms begin to clear up only after a few days. Do not miss any doses. Just follow what is prescribed and make sure to not use this medicine more often than recommended, or for a much longer period of time than what the doctor ordered.
Oral Dosage Form (tablets)
Children < 12 years old —Usage and dosage to be determined by the doctor.
Adults—2000 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours for 1 day.
Treatment of Cold Sores
Should you miss a dose of your medicine, you must take it as soon as possible. But, if it is almost time for your next dose, just skip the dose you missed and return to your regular dosing schedule. Avoid taking double doses.
Store the medicine within a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, or direct light. Keep it from freezing. Keep out of reach of children. Be sure not to keep outdated medicine or any medicine that’s no longer needed. Ask your healthcare provider how to dispose of medicine that you no longer use.
Before taking any medication, potential risks of taking the medicine is weighed against any benefit it will bring. This decision is made by your doctor. For this treatment, the following must be considered:
Inform your doctor in case you have any unusual or allergic reaction to this treatment or other medicines. And if you have any other types of allergies, such as foods, preservatives, dyes, or animals. For non-prescription products, always read the label and package ingredients carefully.
There are no studies demonstrating the effects of valacyclovir among children with cold sores who are < 12 years old, and children with chickenpox who are < 2 years old. Therefore, safety and efficacy of this medicine for use by children have not been established.
Any studies conducted have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems to limit the usage of valacyclovir to the elderly. However, since older adults are more likely to have age-related kidney conditions, adjusting the dose for older patients receiving valacyclovir may be required.
