How long can you take Valtrex daily?
The recommended dosage of VALTREX for treatment of initial genital herpes is 1 gram twice daily for 10 days. Therapy was most effective when administered within 48 hours of the onset of signs and symptoms. The recommended dosage of VALTREX for treatment of recurrent genital herpes is 500 mg twice daily for 3 days.
Is it safe to take Valtrex every day?
It’s safe to take Valtrex every day as long as you’ve been instructed to do so. If you miss a dose of Valtrex, you should take the next dose as soon as possible.
Can you take Valtrex long term?
Taken long term, particularly in people with existing kidney issues and/or inadequate hydration, valacyclovir can lead to renal toxicity and kidney failure. It can also lead to inflammation of the liver in certain people, particularly those with existing liver health issues.
How long can you take valacyclovir?
For adults with shingles, 1,000mg of valacyclovir three times daily, for a total of seven days. It’s recommended to begin treatment within 72 hours of noticing shingles. For adults with cold sores, a dose of 2,000mg of valacyclovir is typically used, with a secondary dose of 2,000mg within 12 hours.
Can Valtrex stop an outbreak?
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.
Does Valtrex weaken immune system?
However, because they suppress the immune system, these medicines also suppress the ability of the body to fight infection. Valaciclovir is therefore given to people who have received an organ transplant, in order to help the body kill off any CMV virus.
Is Valtrex bad for your liver?
In Closing. Valacyclovir is not considered a liver toxic drug. With a Category D rating from LiverTox, it’s well behind common drugs such as aspirin in terms of liver injury risk. When taken at a normal dose, valacyclovir is highly unlikely to cause liver damage in individuals with normal liver health.
Do antivirals weaken immune system?
Whereas AZT, ribavirin, or ganciclovir were antiproliferative, ddI or acyclovir had little, if any, effect on PBMC mitogenesis. The inhibitory effects of antivirals on immune cells may contribute to the immune deterioration observed in patients following prolonged use of the drugs.
What happens when you stop taking Valtrex?
If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don’t take it at all: The symptoms of your viral infection may not get better, or may get worse. If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely.
Can you become resistant to Valtrex?
Resistance usually develops due to mutations in the thymidine kinase pathway that cause patients to become non-sensitive to acyclovir and its pro-drug valacyclovir, according to Dr. Thimons.
Can Valtrex cause kidney failure?
In conclusion, valacyclovir is a drug that should be prescribed with caution in the elderly population, since it can produce acute renal failure that delays its elimination, increasing the risk of adverse effects, such as neurotoxicity.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Valtrex?
Since there are side effects like drowsiness and dizziness possible with Valtrex, if you combine it with alcohol you may also need to avoid doing anything requiring concentration or being clear-minded. If you’re taking Valtrex to treat shingles, you should avoid alcohol altogether.
Is 7 days of Valtrex enough for shingles?
Valacyclovir (Valtrex): Valacyclovir has been studied in people living with HIV and herpes simplex but not shingles, and is a preferred choice of treatment. It is taken three times a day for 7–10 days. Valacyclovir rarely causes side effects, appears safe to use during pregnancy, and offers better dosing.
Can I take 2 Valtrex at once?
The standard valacyclovir dosage for an outbreak of cold sores is the same as the dosage used for a primary oral herpes outbreak — 2,000 mg of valacyclovir taken every 12 hours, for a total of two doses. Taken early in a cold sore outbreak, this can significantly speed up healing.
How much does valtrex reduce risk of transmission 2020?
Once-daily Valtrex cut the chance of the partner getting herpes with no symptoms by 50%. The risk of developing genital herpes with symptoms in the partner dropped by 77%.