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).

Can valacyclovir be taken long-term?

Valacyclovir is prescribed regularly for long-term (months to years) prophylaxis (suppression) of herpes simplex virus (HSV) mucocutaneous outbreaks, conditions that are not considered life threatening. Thus, an excellent therapeutic index is essential.

What are the long-term effects of valacyclovir?

Another potential long-term side effect of valacyclovir usage is HUS/TTP, or hemolytic-uremic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. These similar disorders can lead to the destruction of red blood cells and a low platelet count, preventing your blood's ability to clot.

Can I take valacyclovir every day?

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.

How long can you take daily valacyclovir?

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.

Valtrex

What should I avoid while taking valacyclovir?

Some products that may interact with this drug include: other drugs that may cause kidney problems (including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen). Valacyclovir is very similar to acyclovir. Do not use medications containing acyclovir while using valacyclovir.

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.

Is valacyclovir hard on the kidneys?

Background: Drug-related acute kidney disease is a common side effect of valacyclovir (VACV) treatment.

Can you become resistant to valacyclovir?

Drug resistance to acyclovir and related drugs (eg, famciclovir or valacyclovir) is rare in immunocompetent hosts but is seen more commonly among immunocompromised hosts, including patients with HIV and transplant recipients.

What happens when you stop taking Valtrex?

Abruptly stopping Valtrex can cause new side effects or worsen symptoms. If you stop Valtrex before you're supposed to, your viral infection may get worse because the medication hasn't had the opportunity to work properly.

Does valacyclovir cause liver damage?

In short, valacyclovir is not linked to dangerously high liver enzyme levels, and the drug is not considered to be heavily liver toxic. If you have normal liver function, there is little need to be concerned about liver damage when taking valacyclovir for cold sores or genital herpes.

Does valacyclovir make you gain weight?

Valtrex (valacyclovir) and other antiviral medications can only treat the symptoms associated with herpes infections and shorten outbreaks. Does Valtrex (valacyclovir) make you gain weight? Weight changes are not commonly reported with the use of Valtrex (valacyclovir).

Is it OK to take acyclovir daily?

Typical dosage for prevention of recurrent herpes: 400 mg twice per day, every day for up to 12 months. Other dosing plans may include doses ranging from 200 mg three times daily to 200 mg five times daily. Your doctor will decide how long you should take this drug to avoid a flare-up of the infection.

Do you have to take valacyclovir for life?

Valacyclovir enhances acyclovir bioavailability compared with orally administered acyclovir. Long-term use of acyclovir for up to 10 years for HSV suppression is effective and well tolerated.

Does valacyclovir affect your 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.

How long is valacyclovir in system?

Because valacyclovir is a prodrug, it's only active in your body for a short period of time after it's taken. On its own, its half-life is approximately 30 minutes. However, once valacyclovir has converted into acyclovir, it has a half-life of 2.5 to 3.3 hours in people with normal renal function.

Which virus is most susceptible to acyclovir?

Acyclovir is excreted by glomerular filtration and tubular secretion. Herpesviruses have varying degrees of susceptibility to acyclovir, with HSV type 1 (HSV-1) being most susceptible, followed by HSV type 2 (HSV-2) and VZV, and to a lesser extent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

How long should you take acyclovir for?

For treating a viral infection, you'll usually take aciclovir for 5 to 10 days. For prevention, you may need to take it for a long time. Tablets: swallow the tablets whole with some water. If you find tablets difficult to swallow, you can dissolve them in water.

Can valacyclovir cause hair loss?

In very rare cases people taking valacyclovir have experienced some hair thinning and hair loss. In clinical trials it happened so rarely it wasn't possible to estimate the percentage of people that will likely experience hair loss as a side effect.

Does valacyclovir raise blood pressure?

increased heart rate, and. high blood pressure (hypertension).

Can I take vitamins with valacyclovir?

Interactions between your drugs

No interactions were found between valacyclovir and Vitamin B12. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

How long can you take Valtrex for suppressive therapy?

Currently, there appears to be little physical harm in taking valacyclovir every day for more than a year in healthy patients (35–37). In patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), there are no data on the safety of therapy lasting more than 6 months (40).

Can valacyclovir be used for COVID-19?

It's a treatment for adults and for children 12 and older (weighing at least 88 pounds) who have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and are at high risk of the disease becoming severe. Take Paxlovid as soon as possible after you're diagnosed and within 5 days of your symptoms starting.

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 I take Valtrex 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.