How often can you take valacyclovir?

Adults—2000 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours for one day. Children 12 years of age and above—2000 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours for one day. Children below 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Can you take valacyclovir regularly?

Treatment with suppressive therapy

The PDR states that for suppressive therapy of recurrent herpes genitalis in all patients valacyclovir 1 gram (1000 mg) should be taken once daily.

Can you take valacyclovir two days in a row?

To treat a recurrent outbreak, the FDA recommends using 500 mg of valacyclovir twice daily for 3 days starting at the first sign or symptom of lesions—preferably within 24 hours of onset.

How far apart should Valtrex be taken?

Adult Dosing Recommendations

The recommended dosage of VALTREX for treatment of cold sores is 2 grams twice daily for 1 day taken 12 hours apart. Therapy should be initiated at the earliest symptom of a cold sore (e.g., tingling, itching, or burning).

Can you take two doses of valacyclovir?

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.

Valtrex

How quickly does valacyclovir work?

For most initial herpes outbreaks and cases of recurring herpes, valacyclovir takes effect very quickly and provides some level of relief in as little as two to three days. Generally, the sooner you take valacyclovir after noticing symptoms, the faster it will be to provide relief.

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 often can I take valacyclovir for cold sores?

For treatment of cold sores: Adults—2000 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours for one day. Children 12 years of age and above—2000 milligrams (mg) every 12 hours for one day. Children below 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

How do I stop getting cold sores?

How much valacyclovir can I take in a day?

The usual dose is 20 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight, taken three times a day for 5 days. However, the dose is usually not more than 1000 mg three times a day.

Does Valtrex work if you already have blisters?

There is no clinical data to indicate that Valtrex will have any effect if a person starts taking it after blisters have formed. A person should not take more than 1 day (2 doses) of Valtrex when treating cold sores. Take the two doses 12 hours apart.

Can taking valacyclovir cause an outbreak?

Even if you're taking Valtrex, it's still possible to have an outbreak. If you're taking Valtrex for recurrent genital herpes and have an outbreak, it's important to avoid sexual contact with your partner to keep the virus from spreading to them.

Why do I keep getting cold sores?

What causes cold sores? Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Once this virus is in you, it can cause outbreaks of cold sores. Cold sore outbreaks are often triggered by exposure to hot sun, cold wind, a cold or other illness, a weak immune system, changing hormone levels, or even stress.

What are the long term side effects of valacyclovir?

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.

Can you take valacyclovir everyday for cold sores?

Antiviral creams are less effective and need to be applied several times daily for five days. To prevent cold sores, valacyclovir or another antiviral drug, acyclovir (Zovirax), can be taken daily. This reduces the chance of a cold sore coming back by about one-third.

Is there a vitamin to prevent cold sores?

Vitamin C plus flavonoids may help speed cold sore healing. Vitamin C has been shown to inactivate herpes viruses in the test tube. In one study, people with herpes infections received either a placebo or 200 mg of vitamin C plus 200 mg of flavonoids, each taken three to five times per day.

What gets rid of cold sores overnight?

Unfortunately, you can't get rid of a cold sore in 24 hours, but you can shorten cold sore healing time and cut down the duration of painful cold sore symptoms. Just because there isn't a cure for cold sores, doesn't mean you have to suffer patiently until it clears up on its own.

Can you stop cold sores forever?

There's no cure for cold sores. Once you have the virus, it stays in your body. The sores themselves usually heal on their own in 1 or 2 weeks. Antiviral medications can speed healing, especially if you take them at the first sign of an outbreak.

How long is a cold sore contagious when you are taking valacyclovir?

Cold sores are contagious until they go away completely, which usually takes about two weeks. This means the common belief that cold sores aren't contagious once they've scabbed over isn't true. Keep reading to learn more about how cold sores spread and how you can protect those around you when you have one.

Can I take more Valtrex for cold sore?

The recommended dosage is 2 grams twice daily, taken 12 hours apart, for one day. Valtrex should be started at the earliest signs of a cold sore.

How effective is valacyclovir for cold sores?

Luckily, cold sores are relatively easy to treat. Antiviral medication like valacyclovir (Valtrex) is highly effective against cold sores, helping to speed up healing and—if taken early enough in the development of a cold sore—potentially halt it in its tracks.

Do antivirals weaken your immune system?

The inhibitory effects of antivirals on immune cells may contribute to the immune deterioration observed in patients following prolonged use of the drugs.

What vitamin deficiency causes cold sores?

Vitamin B deficiency has been linked with cold sore outbreaks. There are actually eight distinct vitamins in the B family — thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid, and cobalamin — which are responsible for promoting a strong immune system and healthy cell growth.

Can cold sores spread through pillows?

Cold sores are only caught by direct skin contact, with the affected area. They are not caught through sharing cups, cutlery, towels, lipstick, etc.

Do I need to throw away my Chapstick after a cold sore?

Moisturize: Keep your lip and mouth area moisturized to prevent the sore from drying out and peeling, Dr. Beers says. But if you use lip balm on an active sore, consider it contaminated. “Once you've used it on a cold sore, you should throw it away after the sore is better,” Dr.