How long does it take Valtrex to clear up shingles?
Valacyclovir is usually prescribed for seven days for shingles, with a typical dosage of 1,000 mg three times per day. Just like with HSV-1 and HSV-2, it's important to start treatment as soon as you notice shingles symptoms.
How does Valtrex work for shingles?
Valacyclovir decreases the severity and length of these outbreaks. It helps the sores heal faster, keeps new sores from forming, and decreases pain/itching. This medication may also help reduce how long pain remains after the sores heal.
How many rounds of Valtrex should I take for shingles?
For treatment of shingles: Adults—1000 milligrams (mg) three times a day for seven days.
Is Valtrex the best treatment for shingles?
In your body, valacyclovir becomes the anti-herpes medicine, acyclovir. Although valacyclovir will not cure shingles or genital herpes, it does help relieve the pain and discomfort and helps the sores heal faster.
Is 7 days of Valtrex enough for shingles?
For treatment of shingles: Adults—1000 milligrams (mg) three times a day for seven days. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
How do you know shingles are healing?
The blisters will scab over and begin to heal, which takes from 1 to 3 weeks, unless the rash is on your scalp in which case it can take several months. As they heal, the blisters become smaller and less painful, generally over a period of 3 to 5 weeks.
How long do you feel unwell with shingles?
How long does shingles last? Most cases of shingles last three to five weeks. The first sign is often burning or tingling pain; sometimes it includes numbness or itching on one side of the body. Somewhere between one and five days after the tingling or burning feeling on the skin, a red rash will appear.
What should I avoid while taking valacyclovir?
What drugs and food should I avoid while taking Valtrex (Valacyclovir)? Avoid sexual intercourse or use a latex condom to help keep you from spreading the herpes virus to others. Avoid letting infected areas come into contact with other people. Avoid touching an infected area and then touching your eyes.
How do you know if Valtrex is working?
It can take up to seven to 10 days for Valtrex to start working for some people, while others may feel relief from their symptoms after a day or two. The amount of time it takes your symptoms to go away will depend on your age, the severity of your symptoms, and your metabolism.
What is the most painful stage of shingles?
Typically, the peak pain of shingles is felt within 4 or 5 days after the first symptoms develop, and it comes along with a blistering rash. As the blisters scab over, the pain usually starts to disappear. In some cases, the pain does not go away. This is known as a condition called postherpetic neuralgia.
What causes shingles to activate?
Shingles occurs when the varicella-zoster virus is reactivated due to a weakened immune system. This can create a painful, blistering rash. The risk of getting shingles goes up with age, with increased likelihood after age 50.
What are the side effects of Valtrex?
Valtrex (valacyclovir) is an antiviral medication used to treat infections with: herpes zoster (shingles), herpes simplex genitalis (genital herpes), and herpes labialis (cold sores)....Side effects of Valtrex include:headache,dizziness,tired feeling,depression,nausea,vomiting,stomach pain,joint pain,More items...
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use Valtrex if you are allergic to valacyclovir or acyclovir (Zovirax).To make sure Valtrex is safe for you, tell your doctor if you...
How Should I Take Valtrex?
Take Valtrex exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller...
Valtrex Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose of Valtrex for Herpes Simplex Labialis:2 g orally every 12 hours for a total of 2 doses (4 g)Therapy should be started at the earl...
What Happens If I Miss A Dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to...
What Should I Avoid While Taking Valtrex?
Taking this medicine will not prevent you from passing genital herpes to other people. Herpes infections are contagious and you can infect other pe...
What Other Drugs Will Affect Valtrex?
Valtrex can harm your kidneys. This effect is increased when you also use certain other medicines, including: antivirals, chemotherapy, injected an...
Indications and Usage For Valtrex
- Adult Patients
Cold Sores (Herpes Labialis) Valtrex is indicated for treatment of cold sores (herpes labialis). The efficacy of Valtrex initiated after the development of clinical signs of a cold sore (e.g., papule, vesicle, or ulcer) has not been established. Genital Herpes Initial Episode:Valtrex is indicated for … - Pediatric Patients
Cold Sores (Herpes Labialis) Valtrex is indicated for the treatment of cold sores (herpes labialis) in pediatric patients aged greater than or equal to 12 years. The efficacy of Valtrex initiated after the development of clinical signs of a cold sore (e.g., papule, vesicle, or ulcer) has not been esta…
Valtrex Dosage and Administration
- •
1. Valtrex may be given without regard to meals. - •
1. Valacyclovir oral suspension (25 mg/mL or 50 mg/mL) may be prepared extemporaneously from 500-mg Valtrex tablets for use in pediatric patients for whom a solid dosage form is not appropriate [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)].
Dosage Forms and Strengths
- Tablets: • 1. 500-mg: Each blue, film‑coated, capsule‑shaped tablet printed with “Valtrex 500 mg” contains 556.2 mg of valacyclovir hydrochloride equivalent to 500 mg of the free base. • 1. 1-gram: Each blue, film‑coated, capsule‑shaped tablet, with a partial scorebar on both sides, printed with “Valtrex 1 gram” contains 1.112 grams of valacyclovir hydrochloride equivalent to 1 gram o…
Contraindications
- Valtrex is contraindicated in patients who have had a demonstrated clinically significant hypersensitivity reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to valacyclovir, acyclovir, or any component of the formulation [see Adverse Reactions (6.3)].
Warnings and Precautions
- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura/Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
TTP/HUS, in some cases resulting in death, has occurred in patients with advanced HIV-1 disease and also in allogeneic bone marrow transplant and renal transplant recipients participating in clinical trials of Valtrex at doses of 8 grams per day. Treatment with Valtrex should be stopped i… - Acute Renal Failure
Cases of acute renal failure have been reported in: • 1. Elderly patients with or without reduced renal function. Caution should be exercised when administering Valtrex to geriatric patients, and dosage reduction is recommended for those with impaired renal function [see Dosage and Admi…
Adverse Reactions
- The following serious adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: • 1. Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura/Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. • 1. Acute Renal Failure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. • 1. Central Nervous System Effects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]. The most common adverse react…
Drug Interactions
- No clinically significant drug-drug or drug-food interactions with Valtrex are known [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Use in Specific Populations
- Pregnancy
Risk Summary Clinical data over several decades with valacyclovir and its metabolite, acyclovir, in pregnant women, have not identified a drug associated risk of major birth defects. There are insufficient data on the use of valacyclovir regarding miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal ou… - Lactation
Risk Summary Although there is no information on the presence of valacyclovir in human milk, its metabolite, acyclovir, is present in human milk following oral administration of valacyclovir. Based on published data, a 500-mg maternal dose of Valtrex twice daily would provide a breastfed chil…
Overdosage
- Caution should be exercised to prevent inadvertent overdose [see Use in Specific Populations (8.5, 8.6)]. Precipitation of acyclovir in renal tubules may occur when the solubility (2.5 mg/mL) is exceeded in the intratubular fluid. In the event of acute renal failure and anuria, the patient may benefit from hemodialysis until renal function is restored [see Dosage and Administration (2.4)].
Valtrex Description
- Valtrex (valacyclovir hydrochloride) is the hydrochloride salt of the L‑valyl ester of the antiviral drug acyclovir. Valtrex tablets are for oral administration. Each tablet contains 556.2 mg or 1.112 grams of valacyclovir hydrochloride equivalent to 500 mg or 1 gram of valacyclovir, respectively, and the inactive ingredients carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, FD&C Blue No…