Get Informed: Valtrex
Active Ingredient(s)
Valaciclovir
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of Herpes. It is an anti-viral which acts to inhibit one portion of the virus reproduction.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-20 6:21 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-19 9:03 PM
Other Names
- Valtrex
- Valaciclovir
- Valaciclovir Hydrochloride
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- B
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 23 Jun 1995
- Est US Patients*
- 977,700
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Valtrex or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Valtrex
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Valtrex during the past year.
Valtrex Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Valtrex used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 6,500 patients that use Valtrex (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Genital Herpes | 64% | 
|
| Cold Sores | 27% | 
|
| Shingles | 9% |
|
| Ocular Herpes | 5% | 
|
How well does Valtrex work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 6,500 users taking Valtrex (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 81%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Valtrex outweigh the bad things.
- 9%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Valtrex.
Common Side Effects of Valtrex
iGuard regularly polls our more than 6,500 users taking Valtrex (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
23% of patients experience side-effects on Valtrex
< 1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Valtrex
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Headache
-
Fatigue
-
Hot Flashes
-
Allergic Reaction
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Valtrex (Valaciclovir) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I was just put on Valtrex for genital herpes. I have been having many out breaks, I'm afraid to use this drug and I don't know why? I'd almost rather put up with the out breaks. It sure does help keep my legs crossed. Plus I do not want to give it to any more men. I got it from my husband several years ago.
54 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-20 18:08:46
Question/Comment:
I have been prescribe this medication for receiving a cornea transplant, because I have had a cold sore in my lifetime . I am a 46 year old female. And have been on the generic since 1/2010
46 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-20 17:46:47
Question/Comment:
I was prescribed this for cold sores, however after the 3rd day on it, I started having back pains so severe that it felt like full fledged labor. i couldn't hardly even walk. i did not take it any more and symptoms went away. I know of an elderly man who was prescribed this for shingles, he too had back pain so severe that he had to crawl on the floor. is this normal? if not then why would it do this?
39 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-04 00:58:24
iGuard Answer/Reply:
It is possible for valacyclovir to cause joint pain. Sometimes side effects can be more severe in some patients than others. When it is used for cold sore treatment, the dose is typically just a few days. There are other medications that can be prescribed for cold sores if the back pain is too severe for you.
Posted: 2010-02-07 10:16:00
Question/Comment:
I was recently prescribed a generic equivalent (Valaciclovir Hydrochloride) to Valtrex. The generic does not provide me the same clinical effects as the brand name medication. Has anyone else experienced this drop in effectiveness when switching from the brand name to generic version?
Insurance policies should not require patients to use generics when they do not work as well as the brand name.
52 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-29 12:14:32
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Generics are approved by the FDA and must demonstrate that they contain the same amount of active ingredients as the brand name product. You should not see a large variance between the brand and generic medication effects as they are the same active ingredients in the same dose strength. It is possible that you are developing a resistance to this medication. If you have further problems, you should discuss them with your doctor.
Posted: 2010-02-04 22:59:44
Question/Comment:
I have recently been given this lovely gift from my husband and know nothing about Herpes. Do we both need to be treated? Do you only use Valtrex when you are having an outbreak? Why does he show no signs?
46 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-12-06 14:33:03
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Genital herpes is different for each person. The signs and symptoms may recur for years. Some people experience numerous episodes each year. For many people, however, the outbreaks are less frequent as time passes. Some people never experience a second outbreak. Regardless, the herpes virus stays in the body and it is possible to be transmitted even if there is no active outbreak.
Valtrex is used during an outbreak and it does have FDA approval to be taken daily to suppress the virus and prevent future outbreaks. Although there is no cure, there are several medications that can be used to help to heal sores heal sooner during an initial outbreak, lessen the severity and duration of symptoms in recurrent outbreaks, reduce the frequency of recurrences, and minimize the chance of transmitting the herpes virus to another.
In healthy adults, genital herpes generally doesn't cause other serious permanent complications besides the sores so it is up to you and your husband to decide how to manage the condition. Your decision to treat will be based on your outbreaks:
- Your doctor may recommend that you take the medicine only when you're experiencing symptoms of an outbreak (episodic therapy).
- Your doctor may recommend that you take a medicine daily, even when you're not experiencing any signs of an outbreak, to minimize your chances of recurrent outbreaks (suppressive therapy). Suppressive therapy usually is recommended if you experience five or more outbreaks per year. However, some people with even fewer outbreaks per year are opting for daily, suppressive therapy because these medications have proven very safe and effective.
Posted: 2009-12-09 12:08:15
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
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Patient Comments about
Valtrex