Valtrex is the brand name for valaciclovir, which is an antiviral medication closely related to aciclovir. It’s used to treat viral infections caused by the herpes family of viruses.
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What is Valtrex?
Valtrex is an antiviral medicine, that works to stop infections such as herpes (genital or otherwise).
How does Valtrex work?
This medication works by stopping the infecting virus from reproducing. This process starts very early after being infected so Valtrex works best when taken as soon as possible once symptoms begin to appear.
What are the benefits of taking Valtrex?
Part of a group of sexually transmitted infections, Genital herpes is a viral infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2. The symptoms can be painful and uncomfortable, as the virus causes blisters and burning or itching around the genitals. Treating genital herpes with Valtrex not only clears symptoms, but also stops the disease from being passed onto anyone else.
Valtrex contains the active ingredient of valaciclovir (as valaciclovir hydrochloride monohydrate), with tablets coming in 250mg and 500mg doses.
Your doctor will know which dose is suitable for the condition you are trying to treat, and can advise you.
When treating genital herpes, the recommended dose is 500mg taken twice a day. For the first infection, you should take the tablets for 5-10 days (to be decided by your doctor).
If you’ve had an outbreak before and are treating a further one then treatment normally lasts for 3-5 days.
For prevention of any further outbreaks, the normal dose is 500mg once a day for as long as your doctor decides.
Side effects
As with all medicines, Valtrex should only be taken after carefully weighing the potential positives and negatives in conjunction with a qualified healthcare professional. The most common adverse reactions (ARs) reported by patients treated with Valtrex were headache and nausea.
The following side effects have also been reported:
Common (affects less than 1 in 10 patients receiving the medicine):
Active ingredients
Valaciclovir (as valaciclovir hydrochloride)
Inactive ingredients
Microcrystalline cellulose, Crospovidone, Povidone, Magnesium stearate, Silica colloidal anhydrous
Patient Information Leaflet
Always read the patient information leaflet before commencing treatment.
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