The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
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. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. If you or your child's symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
The areas affected by genital herpes, chickenpox, or shingles should be kept as clean and dry as possible. Also, wear loose-fitting clothing to avoid irritating the sores blisters. It is important to remember that this medicine will not keep you from spreading herpes to others. Herpes infection of the genitals can be caught from or spread to your partner during any sexual activity.
Even though you may get herpes if your partner has no symptoms, the infection is more likely to be spread if sores are present. This is true until the sores are completely healed and the scabs have fallen off. Therefore, it is best to avoid any sexual activity if either you or your sexual partner has any symptoms of herpes. However, spermicidal sperm-killing jelly or a diaphragm will probably not help.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:. Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Talk with your doctor for more information about how to have safer sex. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works.
This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help prevent interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully.
However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. Taking it again could be fatal cause death. For people with kidney problems: Your kidneys clear this drug from your body. If you have kidney problems or a history of kidney disease, you may not be able to clear it from your body. This may increase the levels of the drug in your body and cause more side effects.
This drug can also make your kidney function worse. To help prevent these problems, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of this drug for you.
For people with advanced HIV or a history of transplant: If you have advanced HIV or a history of bone marrow or kidney transplant, you may be at a higher risk of certain blood disorders. They can result in severely low red blood cells and platelets in your body. For pregnant women: This drug is a category B pregnancy drug. That means two things:.
Animal studies do not always predict the way humans would respond. Therefore, this drug should only be used in pregnancy if clearly needed.
For women who are breastfeeding: This drug may pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication. For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly.
As a result, a higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. For children: This drug has not been studied for use in treatment or prevention of herpes simplex virus HSV infection in newborn babies.
The following are other age limitations for use of this drug:. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:. The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a different treatment schedule.
This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body. This drug has not been studied for the treatment of genital herpes in children younger than 18 years.
This drug has not been studied or approved for treatment of chickenpox in children younger than two years. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Valacyclovir oral tablet is used for short-term treatment of oral herpes, genital herpes, shingles, or chickenpox.
You should not stop taking this drug unless your doctor tells you to stop. If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include more severe side effects, such as:.
But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. What to do if you miss a dose: Take your dose as soon as you remember. But if you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, take only one dose.
Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once. This could result in dangerous side effects. Valtrex should be taken at the first signs of a cold sore tingling, itching, burning to prevent them from worsening and keep other cold sores from developing.
However, it is not a cure for cold sores. It only treats them as a symptom of a viral infection. This could cause serious side effects or health problems.
This is not a complete list of side effects. Other side effects may occur. Consult your healthcare provider if you have questions about side effects of Valtrex. A frequently asked question about Valtrex is whether it will make you urinate more often.
Therefore, this extra hydration can result in frequent urination. If you have any signs of an allergic reaction like difficulty breathing, hives, or swelling of the face, mouth, or throat, you should seek immediate emergency medical treatment. Other serious side effects that could potentially occur when taking Valtrex include:.
Some patients are more susceptible to these serious side effects than others. These side effects are very rare. Antiviral medicines are effective at treating viral infections, but after long-term use, they can eventually weaken the immune system by affecting immune cells.
This is typically only an issue for seniors and people with weakened immune systems. Some studies have even shown that the long-term use of Valtrex is well-tolerated for healthy individuals. If you start to have side effects from Valtrex and are thinking about stopping the medication, you should call your doctor before doing so. Abruptly stopping Valtrex can cause new side effects or worsen symptoms. You should talk with your doctor before taking Valtrex if you have any of the following medical conditions:.
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