Precautions
How long should valacyclovir be taken for 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 long should you take antiviral medication for shingles?
Antiviral drugs These ease symptoms, speed up recovery, and may prevent complications. A course of antiviral medications is usually prescribed for 7 to 10 days. Options include: acyclovir (Zovirax)
How long should you take valacyclovir for an outbreak?
For treatment of genital herpes, first outbreak:Adults—1000 milligrams (mg) two times a day for ten days.Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
When should I stop taking acyclovir for shingles?
To help clear up your herpes infection, chickenpox, or shingles, keep taking acyclovir for the full time of treatment, even if your symptoms begin to clear up after a few days. Do not miss any doses. However, do not use this medicine more often or for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
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 I know when my shingles are over?
Somewhere between one and five days after the tingling or burning feeling on the skin, a red rash will appear. A few days later, the rash will turn into fluid-filled blisters. About one week to 10 days after that, the blisters dry up and crust over. A couple of weeks later, the scabs clear up.
Can you still have an outbreak on valacyclovir?
Yes, while daily Valtrex has been shown to reduce genital herpes outbreaks by 70% to 80%, it is still possible to have an outbreak while taking the medication. However, the frequency of outbreaks tends to go down over time for a lot of people.
What happens if you take valacyclovir everyday?
A new study shows that daily therapy with the antiviral drug Valtrex significantly lowers the risk of transmitting genital herpes among heterosexual couples in which one partner is infected with the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).
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.
What happens when you stop taking acyclovir?
Take or use acyclovir until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. If you stop taking acyclovir too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated or may become more difficult to treat. The delayed-release buccal tablet is applied as a one-time dose.
How effective is valacyclovir for shingles?
It is also used to treat chickenpox and cold sores in children. 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.
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.
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to valacyclovir or acyclovir (Zovirax).To make sure valacyclovir is safe for you, tell your do...
How Should I Take Valacyclovir?
Take valacyclovir exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or sm...
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 Valacyclovir?
Taking this medicine will not prevent you from passing genital herpes to other people. Herpes infections are contagious and you can infect other pe...
Valacyclovir Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to valacyclovir: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tong...
Valacyclovir Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose of Valacyclovir for Herpes Simplex Labialis:2 g orally every 12 hours for a total of 2 doses (4 g)Therapy should be started at the...
What Other Drugs Will Affect Valacyclovir?
Valacyclovir can harm your kidneys. This effect is increased when you also use certain other medicines, including: antivirals, chemotherapy, inject...