Valacyclovir and valtrex

Common Questions and Answers about Valacyclovir and valtrex

valtrex

Avatar f tn I have been on valtrex for suppression of hsv 2 for 16yrs and continue to have outbreaks almost monthly. Sores in vaginal area are less noticeable but other symptoms such as fatigue, headache, swollen glands, back pain still persist. My husband and I both have an outbreak every time we have sex which is ruining our sex life. Long term effects of valtrex use is unknown outside of possible renal/liver imparement & I'm just not sure if I should continue taking it.
Avatar f tn I talk valacyclovir for herpes out breaks I have a high dosage one for when I get them it doesn't harm the baby. Though this is my first pregnancy and I'm 7 weeks. They told me once I get closer to my due date to take them daily so there is no break out.
Avatar n tn My story is I contracted HSV2 on the back of my left thigh in the late 1990's not sure where, but it breakout once a year during summer months one time a year. While it was annoying I didn't take anything during the late 2000's I somehow transferred it to my face (confirmed by swab). I didn't want it there so I started to take Valacyclovir it would keep breaking out every month or so I went on a daily maintenance of 500mg a day.
Avatar n tn I have read that Valtrex and Valacyclovir can be used for the suppression of herpes , does that hold true for Valcivir also,, isn't Valacyclovir the generic of Valciver ,, if yes what is the usual dosage for the suppression of the virus?
Avatar m tn Anyway, With 2000mg a day of Valacyclovir rushing through my system I have no soares. But have some nerve pain and burning and sourness throughout one side of my private parts, and down my inner leg. The leg area is brand new for me. The other area is not, but never has it continued so long (with or without medication) as it has now. For most of my life I got Valtrex from a long time on and off again girl friend. We believe we contracted it together.
Avatar n tn I asked my PCP regarding the Valtrex and he informed that if I had indeed caught HSV-2 that this would lessen the morbidity of the initial outbreak. That was his reasoning. I am a worrier/paranoid person so it is easy for me to let an experience like this blow out of proportion. Thanks again and hope all is well.
Avatar m tn Valtrex is an acyclovir prodrug. Greatly simplified - you swallow valtrex and your body converts it into acyclovir inside the body. You get more active acyclovir available to kick a little herpes butt by doing it this way. That's why you take valtrex less often. We don't have studies to confirm that acyclovir reduces transmission the same amount as valtrex does but we assume it does. http://racoon.com/herpes/v_a_compare.
Avatar f tn However, it is well documented that valtrex and acyclovir perform very similarly. Valtrex is actually converted into acyclovir by the liver, so essentially, the two drugs act the same way in the body to suppress the virus. If acyclovir improves your quality of life, I would stick with it and explain the similarities to your partner - they are well documented and I expect you can find information in scholarly journals that supports the suppressive activity of acyclovir.
Avatar f tn If you are taking antiviral medicines, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, ganciclovir, or valacyclovir (Valtrex) if can interfere with Herpes testing. This is primarily true in recent infections. The use of those medications can extend (but not prevent) seroconversion (the amount of time it takes your body to develop antibodies).
Avatar m tn Valtrex is the dominant brand name, valacylcovir the generic name. Do not take both; it would be an overdose. (Probably not harmful, but not recommended.) You get maximum effectiveness against oral herpes with the 2 g (2000 mg) dose taken twice a day apart; higher, more frequent, or more prolonged treatment will make no difference. 2) You are typical in not having an identifed trigger of your outbreaks. Most people cannot pinpoint particular events.
Avatar f tn only problem it that it elevated my liver enzymes which is not a good thing. Doctor told me to stop taking Valtrex and only take it if I absolutely need it, ie wedding, meeting, ect.
Avatar m tn On the day of the test, I had just got done taking the Valacyclovir for 5 days(that I got online and took on my second, third and fourth outbreak symtoms in April May and July). I had not stopped taking the l-lysine for the whole period as a precaution and to reduce symptoms/outbreaks although its not proven.
Avatar m tn I have taking both Valtrex & Acyclovir in the past and for me, Valtrex seems to work a lot better for clearing up an ob quicker. Since moving back to the U.S. from Europe, I cannot believe how expensive Valtrex is here in the U.S.! I just want to get confirmation that there is a Generic Valtrex that is NOT Acyclovir - it that correct? My online pharmacy is offering me Valcyclovir which is a lot cheaper than Valtrex but I just want to make sure it isn't Acyclovir before I purchase it.
Avatar f tn yes and no. Valtrex is an acyclovir prodrug. what that means if you swallow valtrex and your body changes it into acyclovir inside your body. Because of that unique delivery method, you get more active acyclovir available to fight the herpes virus when it's active so you take it less often. The main difference in the two of them is convenience and of course price.
Avatar f tn Welcome to the STD forum. MedHelp encourages forum moderators to avoid overt disagreement with questioners' own doctors. However, I'm afraid your doctor is mistaken. Valacyclovir (Valtrex) does not cause significant liver damage. In fact, it is one of the most nontoxic drugs there is; many patients have taken it for several years without difficulty. Of course any drug can cause very rare or atypical toxicity. Acyclovir (Zovirax) and famciclovir (Famvir) are similarly nontoxic.
Avatar m tn Herpes symptoms cannot come and go within hours or a day or two; and anti-herpes drugs like valacyclovir do not improve pain so quickly, in any dose. Their effect takes at least 2-3 days to get started. Any apparent benefit from individual doses almost certainly is a placebo effect. Third, having had a diagnosis of prostatitis (more about which below) and with symptoms finally improving on antibiotics, herpes is still less likely.
Avatar n tn Generic valacyclovir and brand name Valtrex are not the exact same formula. The generic is not nealry as effective. I took the brand name valtrex by GlaxoSmithKline for 9 yrs with ZERO outbreaks. My insurance changed last year and they will no longer pay for the brand name. In the 9 months I've been taking the same dose of the generic valacyclovir, I've had several outbreaks. I've tried 3 different generic manufacturers without success.
Avatar f tn I know of someone who was on Valtrex 500 one pill per day and never had an outbreak for years. Couldn't afford them myself so didn't go for it.
Avatar n tn I have read on the boards that valacyclovir will delay the onset of a positive igg test. At what point after stopping valtrex is an igg test once again considered valid. I was (incorrectly) prescribed 3 weeks of Valtrex that was taken weeks 8 - 10 post exposure, then tested negative at week 12. Should I retest at week 16?
Avatar f tn Is hair loss a side effect of Valacyclovir/Valtrex when taken for suppressive therapy?
Avatar n tn My new bottle says CPL Pms-Valacyclovir 500mg instead of CPL valtrex valacyclovir HCI 500mg. The guy at the drug place told my boyfriend that it was suppose to be the same and that it was only $14. He said that valtrex is no $50 for a fill now that there is a generic brand. He said that it should work the same and you take it the same, but he said if I notice I am getting an outbreak that I need to talk to my doc about going back on the other valtrex and see if I can get it cheaper.