As with any type of pharmaceutical either prescription or over the counter, there are certain side effects from taking valacyclovir. There are also certain risks factors involved with taking the medication as well. It is very important that before you take valacyclovir, you speak with your health care provider and discuss your medical history and also any medications you may be currently taking.

Valacyclovir Effects

Valacyclovir is a drug used to treat different kinds of the herpes virus. Valacyclovir treats genital herpes, oral herpes, neonatal herpes, ocular herpes, herpes whitlow, herpes gladiatorum, herpes simplex encephalitis, and also helps with transference and recurrences of breakouts. Valacyclovir works by helping the body fight the virus and attacks the virus so the infection will not multiply and spread to others during sexual contact or skin to skin contact. Valacyclovir is not a cure for herpes and should not be used as protection against spreading to a partner. Using a condom will help protect your partner from getting the disease but it is not guaranteed.

Most common Valacyclovir side effects

• Headache occurs in about 38 percent of people on valacyclovir
• Nausea and upset stomach and stomach pain
• Painful menstrual periods
• Depression
• Vomiting
• Joint pain
• Increased liver enzymes
• Dizziness

These side effects are usually mild; report them to your health care provider if they become persistent or bothersome. People with HIV and take valacyclovir may experience additional side effects or side effects that occur more frequently. Other common side effects include rash, fatigue, and decreased blood counts.

Potential Serious Valaciclovir side effects

If you experience any of the serious side effects you should report them immediately to your health care provider. These side effects include but are not limited to:

• Decreased urination
• Vision changes including blurred or double vision
• Unexplained skin rash
• Unexplained blisters or peeling of the skin
• Itching
• Hives
• Unexplained swelling
• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unexplained fever
• Hallucinations
• Aggressive behavior
• Unsteady or shaky movements
• Confusion
• Speech problems
• Seizures
• Tremors

These side effects are potentially dangerous and should always be reported to your doctor immediately.

Rare Valacyclovir side effects

Very few people experience the rare side effects of valacyclovir, since they are so rare, it is often difficult to know if they are caused by valacyclovir or something else.

These side effects include but are not limited to:

• Low blood counts, including low white blood cells, low platelets, or low red blood cells.
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
• Behavioral or mental changes
• Diarrhea
• Vision changes
• Hair loss
• Hepatitis (liver inflammation)
• Kidney failure

You may experience some or none of these side effects and it is impossible for your healthcare provider to know if you will experience them beforehand. It is very important to discuss the side effects with your doctor and even if they are not caused by valacyclovir, your doctor can diagnose and treat them.

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In addition to side effects, there are certain risk factors and warnings associated with taking any type of pharmaceutical. It is important to familiarize yourself with all the risk factors and discuss them with your doctor before you start taking valacyclovir.

You should talk to your health care provider if you have the following:

• Kidney disease or kidney failure
• Had a bone marrow or kidney transplant
• HIV or AIDS
• Depression
• Problems with you immune system or if you have immune system disorders, such as cancer
• Any and all allergies you may have including those to foods, dyes and preservatives.

Always tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before you start taking valacyclovir. Always tell your doctor about all of the medicines you are taking including prescriptions and over the counter medications including vitamins and herbal supplements.

Warning and precautions

• Valacyclovir has the potential to interact with other medications
• Valacyclovir is a pregnancy category B medication, meaning that it is probably safe for a pregnant woman to take during pregnancy. It has not been studied in pregnant woman and the risks of taking valacyclovir while pregnant are not known. Pregnant woman should only take the drug if the benefits outweigh the risks to the fetus. Always discuss this with your doctor before using valacyclovir if you are pregnant.
• Valacyclovir is passed through breast milk. If you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, you will need to discuss this with your doctor first. Only your doctor can decide if you can take valacyclovir while breastfeeding is okay for your particular situation.
• For people with poor kidney function will have a lower dose of valacyclovir. People taking valacyclovir at a normal dosage with poor kidney function are at increased risk for serious kidney problems.
• A condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome or TTP/HUS has developed in some patients taking valacyclovir. TTP/HUS is a conditions involving low red blood cell and platelet counts. The body will also form many small blood clots. The condition most occurred in patients with HIV and others that have had a kidney transplant.
• People 65 years of age and older have a higher risk of certain side effects. Your doctor can give a lower dose of valacyclovir to avoid this.
• When used for cold sores, valacyclovir should not be taken for more than one day. If you do take it longer than this it will not increase the effectiveness of the drug but could cause side effects.
• Valacyclovir has not been studied in people with HIV that have a CD4 cell count of less than 100 cells/mm.
• Valacyclovir has not been studied in people with poorly functioning immune systems such as people with cancer and people taking immune suppressing medications such as after a transplant.
• Valacyclovir has not been studied in the prevention of spreading herpes in people with multiple sex partners or in non-heterosexual couples.
• Valacyclovir should be started as soon as possible.
• It is important to understand that valacyclovir will not cure herpes or fully prevent you from spreading herpes to your partner. You should always wear a condom during sexual activity.

Valacyclovir is a very effective drug in treating and preventing the spread of the herpes simplex virus. There are some risk factors involved with taking the drug and you should always discuss these with your doctor before taking the drug.

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As with any medication prescription or over the counter, there are different dosages for different people. Dosage may depend on age, risk factors and medical history. It is important to discuss medical history with your doctor before taking Valaciclovir.

Dosage depends on a few different factors including:

• Your age
• Your weight, for children
• The medical condition you are being treated for
• Any other types of medical conditions you may have
• Other medication currently being taken

Valaciclovir Adult dosage:

• Cold sores: The recommended dosage of valacyclovir for treatment of cold sores is 2 grams twice daily, taken 12 hours apart. Valacyclovir should be taken as soon as the first symptom is noticeable.
• Genital Herpes: initial episode: One gram twice daily for ten days. For best results take valacyclovir within 48 hours of the onset of signs and symptoms.
• Recurrent Episodes: For people that experience recurrent episodes of genital herpes, the recommended dosage of valacyclovir is 500 mg twice daily for three days. Take valacyclovir at first sign or symptom of an onset.
• Suppressive Therapy: For chronic suppressive therapy of recurrent genital herpes, the dosage recommendation is one gram once daily in patients with a normal immune function. In patients with a history of nine or fewer recurrences per year should take 500 mg once daily. For patients with HIV and a CD4+ cell count should take valacyclovir twice daily at 500 mg.
• Reduction of Transmission: For reduction of transmission of genital herpes in patients with a history of nine or fewer recurrences per year should take 500 mg once daily for the source partner.
• Herpes Zoster: The recommended dosage of valacyclovir for treatment of herpes zoster is 1 gram three times daily for seven days. Valacyclovir should be taken at the first sign of herpes zoster and is most effective when started within 48 hours of the onset of the rash.
• Shingles: The recommended dosage of valacyclovir is 1 gram taken three times daily for seven days.

Valacyclovir dosage for Children

• Cold Sores: The recommended dosage of valacyclovir for treatment of cold sores in pediatric patients 12 years of age is 2 grams twice daily for one day taken 12 hours apart.
• Chickenpox: For treatment of chickenpox in pediatric patients 2 to 18 years of age, the dosage recommendation is 20 mg taken three times daily for five days. Valacyclovir should be administered at the first signs of chickenpox.
  Other dosage information
• Valacyclovir should be taken at the first sign of an outbreak. It works best if taken as early as possible; the medication may not work if taken too late.
• Take valacyclovir at the same time every day.
• If you do not take the medication as scheduled, take your next dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
• Valacyclovir can be taken with or without food. If stomach irritation occurs, try taking valacyclovir with food.
• For valacyclovir to work correctly, you must take it as prescribed. Valacyclovir will not work if you take if differently than how your doctor recommends.

Dosage varies from person to person and it is very important to discuss all medical history and medications you are taking before starting valacyclovir or any other type of drug.

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Neonatal herpes is rare but extremely dangerous, the infection is passed from mother to baby when the child is born and comes in contact with infected genital secretions. In the United States about 1 in 3,000 children are infected with neonatal herpes and 1 in 20,000 live births. The risk of transition from mother to newborn is 30-57%.

Neonatal Herpes Treatment – Valacyclovir

Valacyclovir is a nucleoside analog that only inhibit viral replication, they reduce the duration of the painful vesicular lesions and the duration of symptomatic and asymptomatic shedding of the virus. Valacyclovir has a high bioavailability with greater absorption which results in higher plasma levels; valacyclovir has one of the highest bioavailability compared to other herpes medications.

Neonatal Herpes simplex

Neonatal HSV infection is usually caused by vertical transmission of HSV from mother to newborn. 85% of cases occur during birth when the baby comes into contact with infected genital secretions in the birth canal. About 5% are infected in utero and about 10% of cases are acquired postnatally.

Symptoms are vesicles on the body usually on the chest and usually appear in the first or second week of life and even as late as the fourth week.

Neonatal herpes simplex can be fatal to infants infected with the disease and it is very important to treat it at the first sign of the infection.

Neonatal herpes comes in three different forms: skin, eyes and mouth herpes sometimes referred to as localized or SEM. There is also disseminated herpes or DIS, and central nervous system herpes (CNS).
SEM herpes is characterized by external lesions such as bumps and blisters but no internal organ involvement. The lesions most likely appear on trauma sites such as the attachment site of fetal scalp electrodes, forceps or vacuum extractors that are used during delivery.

DIS herpes affect internal organs, the liver in particular. CNS herpes infects the nervous system and the brain and can lead to encephalitis. Symptoms of CNS in infants are seizures, tremors, lethargy and irritability, they also don’t eat well, have unstable temperatures and the soft spot in the skull may bulge.
CNS herpes has the highest morbidity rate and DIS herpes has the highest mortality rate. SEM herpes has the best prognosis of the three infections. If SEM is left untreated it can progress to disseminated or CNS herpes.

Death from neonatal herpes has gone down to 25% in the last few decades as compared to 85% before more medical discoveries. Most infants with neonatal herpes are premature with a gestation less than 38 weeks.

Valacyclovir has been given to infants with neonatal herpes and it seems to help the breakouts occur less often letting the child live a healthy normal life.

Herpes, Valacyclovir

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When you hear the word herpes, most of us automatically think of the genital kind and associate it with unprotected sex with many partners. This isn’t true, there are many different kinds of herpes and one can get infected without have sexual intercourse with the infection.

Oral Herpes infections

Herpes simplex is more commonly known as cold sores. Inflammation of the cheeks and gums can occur while the most common symptom is painful blisters that form on the mouth and face. This infection occurs when the virus herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2, comes into contact with abraded skin in the oral mucosa. Infection by the type 1 strain of herpes simplex virus is the most common cause of oral herpes, though infections by the type 2 strain are not uncommon.

When symptoms do appear, they will usually go away within two weeks, inflammation of the cheek and gums usually form about 5-10 days into the infection. Other symptoms include painful ulcers, fever and sore throat. Some people suffering from the virus may also experience difficulty swallowing and swollen lymph nodes.

Vardenafil can treat this by helping the body fight the infection and attacking the virus so it won’t spread as easy and making breakouts less frequent.

Symptoms usually begin with itching or tingling, and reddening of the skin around the infected site. Fluid filled blisters will then form on the lip tissue and the area between the lip and skin.

Genital Herpes infections

Genital herpes transmit by skin to skin contact and most commonly through sexual intercourse. When one comes in contact with the infected area and the fluid it secrets, one will usually get genital herpes.
Valacyclovir is most commonly prescribed to patients with genital herpes and works the same way it does to treat oral infections. It helps the body fight the infection and keeps it from multiplying and it also makes breakouts less frequent.

Valacyclovir is not a cure for herpes, currently there is no vaccine or cure available but, valacyclovir will help you manage it.

Herpes Whitlow

Herpes whitlow or herpetic whitlow, is a painful infection that affects the fingers or thumbs although infection can occur in the toes or on the nail cuticle. Herpes whitlow can be caused by infection HSV 1 or HSV 2. Most common sufferers of herpes whitlow are health care providers that come in contact with the virus, most commonly dental workers and medical workers exposed to the oral secretions.

Symptoms of herpes whitlow include swelling, reddening and tenderness of the skin of the infected finger or toe. Other less common symptoms include fever and swollen lymph nodes. Small clear blisters form individually then merge and become cloudy. The physical symptom is pain, the blisters usually clear up in two to three weeks.

Herpes gladiatorum

People that participate in any contact sport such as wrestling, soccer and rugby are at risk of acquiring herpes gladiatorum sometimes called wrestler’s herpes or mat herpes, herpes gladiatorum is caused by HSV 1 virus.

Abraded skin provides an area of entry for the HSV 1 virus, when participating in said sports, one is likely to get skin abrasions, if the skin then touches the skin of a person infected with herpes, it will transmit to that person.

Symptoms include ulceration of the face, ears, and neck, also fever, headache, sore throat and swollen glands. It even sometimes affects the eyes and eye lids.

Valacyclovir can help treat these many different types of herpes infections by helping the body fight off the infection and keeping it from spreading to another person or multiplying. People taking valacyclovir will also experience less breakouts, but be aware that valacyclovir does not protect against herpes nor will it protect against any other type of STD.

Herpes, Valacyclovir

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STD’s are among the most common diseases that exist today, there are many medicines available to help treat STD’s such as valacyclovir for herpes, but there is no cure for most of the STD’s that exist today.

Herpes simplex

Herpes simplex is a viral disease caused by herpes simplex viruses; there are two types of herpes viruses: herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2. Both types of viruses cause herpes simplex. Infection with the herpes virus is categorized into one of various disorders based on the site of the infection such as oral herpes, genital herpes, herpetic whitlow, herpes gladiatorum, ocular herpes, cerebral herpes infection encephalitis, Mollaret’s meningitis, neonatal herpes and even Bell’s palsy are all caused by the herpes simplex viruses.

The most common herpes infection is oral herpes, or cold sores, it infects the face and mouth and has visible symptoms they are blisters on and around the mouth area. The other most common type of herpes is genital herpes; this infects the genitals and also has visible symptoms such as blisters on and around the genital area.

Herpes viruses

Herpes can be active and inactive, during active periods, a patient will have visible blisters on their mouth or genitals depending on which disease they have. During inactive periods, no blisters are visible and this is often called remission. During remission, it is still possible to transmit the disease to a sexual partner.
Herpes multiply by viral shedding; after the initial infection the viruses move to the sensory nerves where they will stay for the rest of the patient’s life, though herpes is asymptomatic, viral shedding can still occur.

How Herpes is transmitted

Herpes simplex is most easily transmitted by having direct contact with body fluid of an infected person, most likely during sexual intercourse. Transmission can also occur from skin to skin contact during periods of viral shedding. Valacylovir works to treat herpes by reducing the blisters on the skin, valacyclovir does not protect against the virus and it is recommended that people with herpes always use protection when participating in a sexual activity.

Children with Herpes

There are many different factors that can cause herpes infection in a child such as birth, if the mother is infected with the herpes virus she can pass it on to her child at birth.

There is no cure or vaccine for herpes available at this time. There is no way to eliminate the herpes virus, but there is treatment available to reduce viral reproduction and shedding, which will in turn prevent the virus from entering the skin, and also relieve symptoms such as blisters.

Valacyclovir Herpes treatment

Valacyclovir has been approved to treat shingles, chickenpox in children, cold sores, and genital herpes which are all caused by a virus. Once a person has been infected with the virus, it never goes away. It stays in the body and remains inactive in certain nerve cells in the body; it waits to become active again.
Valacylovir is an antiviral medication that helps the body fight the infection by preventing the virus from multiplying. When used to treat genital herpes, valacyclovir helps prevent breakouts from recurring and can also help prevent the spreading of the virus to other people.

Valacyclovir can produce great results in patients with genital herpes when prescribed by a doctor and used correctly.

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Valacyclovir is an antiviral drug used for the treatment and prevention of the herpes virus. It is a very popular drug and also goes by the name Valtrex. This pill is most commonly known to treat herpes but has a variety of other uses as well.

FDA approved uses of Valacyclovir

• Treating chicken pox in children
• Treating shingles in adults
• Treating cold sores in adults and children
• Treating genital herpes in adults
• Preventing recurrent genital herpes outbreaks in adults
• Decreasing the spread of herpes to sexual partners in adults.

NON FDA approved uses of Valaciclovir

• Bell’s palsy
• Cytomegalovirus
• Cytomegalovirus infection prophylaxis
• Epstein-Barr Virus infection prophylaxis
• Herpes simplex infection prophylaxis

Chicken Pox

Chicken pox is a very contagious illness that is caused by the varicella zoster virus. It begins with skin rashes usually on the body and head and not hands, they become itchy raw pockmarks with small open sores which usually heal without scarring.

Chicken pox is spread easily through direct contact with the secretions from the rash. Many people do not get chicken pox more than once in their lifetime.

Valacyclovir is an antiviral medication that helps the body fight the virus and prevents it from spreading. Valacyclovir was approved for the use in children suffering from chicken pox.

Shingles

Also know as herpes zoster (or just zoster), shingles is a viral disease that causes a painful skin rash to occur with blisters in a limited area on one side of the body, often in a stripe pattern. The same virus that causes chicken pox, varicella zoster virus, causes shingles. Once a person gets over chicken pox, it is not eliminated from the body completely and can go on and develop into shingles, usually many years after the initial infection.

Cold Sores

Cold sores or herpes simplex is also a viral disease that is caused by the herpes simplex viruses, both herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2. This is the most common form of infection; causing blistering on the face and mouth.

Genital herpes

Genital herpes is transmitted through sexual intercourse and sometimes from skin to skin contact. Like oral herpes, large painful blisters appear but on the genitals. Women with genital herpes often experience symptoms such as painful urination and cercvitis.

In males the blisters usually form on the shaft of the penis but can also form on the buttocks, anus and the inner thigh. In females the blisters form on the labia, clitoris, vulva, pubis, and sometimes on the buttocks and anus.

Symptoms usually are pain, itching, and burning. Less frequent but still common symptoms include discharge from the penis or vagina, fever, headache, muscle pain, swollen and enlarged lymph nodes and malaise.
Valacyclovir can be helpful for patients with these viruses and can be prescribed by a doctor. Always tell your doctor of any medical problems you are experiencing and your medical history. There are certain risks and side effects associated with taking valacyclovir and it is important to discuss these with your health care provider.

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