Upstream Health Solutions

This Article Provides Information Regarding Your Valtrex Prescription

If you have received a recent diagnosis of genital herpes, you may be shocked and a bit befuddled. You cannot cure genital herpes, but you can treat it. Genital herpes can affect many aspects of your life, even though it can be controlled.

If you have received a prescription for Valtrex to treat your genital herpes, you will find valuable information in this article to help raise your awareness of Valtrex and help you become more comfortable with its use, as Valtrex will now be a part of your daily regimen.

Valacyclovir Hydrochloride, or Valtrex, is used to treat genital herpes. Valtrex is sold as blue tablets with an oblong shape. These tablets come in either 500 mg or 1000 mg strengths. When treating genital herpes, patients take one gram of Valtrex twice a day for ten days. Five hundred milligrams taken two or three times a day for a total of three days is the common treatment period for recurring genital herpes. Valtrex is also good for treating the accompanying cold sores. For this example, Valtrex is given twice daily for one day at a dose of two grams, and this is begun as soon as a cold sore is noticed.

Valacyclovir Hydrochloride is the main ingredient in Valtrex and this is metabolized by your system via a first-pass through the hepatic and/or intestinal system, finally being converted to acyclovir. Acyclovir inhibits the herpes virus because it is a ‘fake’ acyclic nucleotide. Then the acyclovir is included in the DNA chains, and the DNA chain that contains the herpes virus is eliminated. This process happens over and over again, and as a consequence, the herpes virus and its symptoms are taken care of, but not cured. The peak effects of Valtrex are noticeable within 2.5 to 3 hours after taking the medication orally. If you are taking any sort of cimetidine (Tagamet) or  probenacide (Benemid), the elimination of this medicine may be decreased by taking Valtrex.

If you have any reaction to Valacyclovir Hydrochloride, do not take Valtrex. If you are a patient experiencing renal impairment and your doctor has prescribed Valtrex to you, ensure that your doctor gives you a reduced dosage of Valtrex.

Acyclovir can build up in the renal tubes of patients that are dehydrated. (For this reason it is vital to consume lots of fluids when you are taking Valtrex.) Most likely your physician informed you that even though you are taking Valtrex, the virus can still become active in your body due to various herpes mutations; at these times, it is critical to abstain from sex or to practice very safe sex in order to protect your partner from contracting the disease. (This might be a bit much, however I think you understand what I mean!)

Valtrex does have side effects including stomach pain, vomiting, nausea and headache. It is possible to experience tremors. Seek medical attention immediately if you encounter any type of allergic reaction including hives, rashes or swelling of the throat. If you forget to take a dose, do it when you realize it, unless it is actually closer to the time to take the next dose. You should never take two doses at once. Keep Valtrex in a dry, cool place away from sunlight and kids. Valtrex can lose potency when exposed to sunlight. Moreover, it is important to continue taking Valtrex, no matter how well you begin to feel or how much the herpes symptoms have lessened.

Anti-viral and daily suppressive medications can also help relieve symptoms. These include Acyclovir (Zovirax) and Famciclovir (Famvir) which, when taken in conjunction with warm baths and analgesic medications like Ibuprofen, can help alleviate symptoms.