valtrex

Valacyclovir is used in children to treat cold sores (herpes labialis) and chickenpox (varicella zoster). It is used in adults to treat cold sores and shingles (herpes zoster). Valacyclovir does not cure these diseases, but it may decrease pain and help sores heal faster. Valacyclovir belongs to a class of medications known as antivirals. Valacyclovir is also used to treat people with genital herpes who are currently having an outbreak. It can also be used to prevent an outbreak (suppressive therapy). This medication helps control symptoms, but does not cure the disease or prevent infection of sexual partners. If you are taking valacyclovir for treatment of genital herpes, it is important to follow safe sex practices to lower the chance of giving herpes to your partner, even if there are no symptoms present. Always use a condom made of latex or polyurethane. When you have symptoms or are experiencing an outbreak, do not have sexual contact with your partner.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Read the Patient Information Leaflet available from your pharmacist. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Take valacyclovir by mouth, with or without food or as directed by your doctor. Drink plenty of fluids while taking this medication. This medication works best if you start taking the medication when you first notice symptoms. This medication may not work as well if you wait to start it. How soon you need to start the medication to get benefit depends on the type of infection. Dosage is based on the type of infection, your medical condition, and response to treatment. To treat chicken pox or shingles, start taking valacyclovir at the first symptom or after the rash first appears. To treat cold sores or genital herpes, start taking this medication at the first sign of symptoms (such as tingling/itching/burning feeling). Continue to take this medication until the full-prescribed amount is finished even if symptoms disappear. When using this drug to suppress/control outbreaks, take exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not skip doses or stop taking this without your doctor's approval. Stopping therapy too soon may result in ineffective treatment. If using this medication to treat an outbreak, tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: cimetidine, probenecid. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are also using other drugs which may be harmful to your kidneys such as: aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin, tobramycin), amphotericin B, cyclosporine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen), tacrolimus, vancomycin. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., kidney function tests, complete blood count) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: change in the amount of urine, sluggishness, loss of consciousness, seizures.

Before taking valacyclovir, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it or to acyclovir; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, blood disorders, immune system problems (e.g., HIV disease, bone marrow transplant, organ transplant). This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Caution is advised when using this drug in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the drug, especially confusion, agitation, and kidney problems. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature between 59-77 degrees F (15-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, dizziness, stomach pain, painful periods may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations), confusion, speech problems, shaky/unsteady movement, vision changes. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: seizures, loss of consciousness, signs of other infections (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat). This medication may rarely cause a blood disorder (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura) or a severe kidney problem (hemolytic uremic syndrome). These problems are more likely to occur if you have HIV disease or if you have had a bone marrow transplant or an organ transplant. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: change in the amount of urine, easy bruising/bleeding, unusual fever. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional. This medication may be used to prevent or treat other types of viral infections (cytomegalovirus) in certain patient populations.