About Valaciclovir 500 mg Tablet
Valaciclovir 500 mg Tablet contains Valaciclovir 500 mg. Valaciclovir is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by herpes viruses, such as shingles, cold sores and genital herpes. It works best when started as early as possible. It controls the virus and helps sores heal faster, but it does not remove the virus from the body.
Uses of Valaciclovir 500 mg Tablet
- Shingles (herpes zoster)
- Cold sores (herpes labialis)
- Genital herpes — treating outbreaks and reducing how often they happen
- Preventing cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after some organ transplants
Benefits
In herpes infections
It stops the virus multiplying, which helps sores heal faster and eases pain. Taken regularly, it can also reduce how often genital herpes outbreaks happen.
Side effects
Drinking plenty of water while taking it helps protect your kidneys.
Common
- Headache
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
Get medical help if you notice
- Confusion, hallucinations, agitation or unusual drowsiness (more likely in older people or kidney disease) — stop taking it and contact your doctor
- Passing very little urine or swelling (possible kidney problems) — contact your doctor
- Allergic reaction: rash, swelling of the face or lips, difficulty breathing — seek emergency care
How to use
Take it exactly as your doctor prescribed. Start as soon as possible after symptoms begin. Swallow the tablet with a glass of water, with or without food. Drink plenty of fluids during treatment.
How it works
In the body it is turned into aciclovir. Inside infected cells, this blocks the enzyme the virus needs to copy its DNA, so the virus cannot multiply.
Safety advice
Alcohol Caution
No direct interaction is known, but alcohol may add to dizziness. Limit it.
Pregnancy Consult your doctor
Use only if your doctor advises it. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Consult your doctor
The active form passes into breast milk. Ask your doctor before using it while breastfeeding.
Driving Caution
It can cause dizziness or confusion in some people. Do not drive if you feel affected.
Kidney Caution
Your doctor will lower the dose if you have kidney disease, as side effects are more likely.
Liver Caution
Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, especially if you need high doses.
If you miss a dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
Quick tips
- Start it as soon as symptoms appear for the best effect.
- Drink plenty of water while taking it.
- Finish the full course your doctor prescribed.
- Avoid sexual contact while you have genital herpes sores; the medicine does not fully stop the virus spreading.
- Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease or are older, as the dose may need changing.
Substitutes
Same salts in the same strength from other makers. Only switch brands on your doctor's or pharmacist's advice; our pharmacist checks every order against the prescription.
Same salts, other strengths or forms
Fact box
- Chemical class
- Nucleoside analogue (prodrug of aciclovir)
- Therapeutic class
- Anti-infective
- Action class
- Antiviral (viral DNA polymerase inhibitor)
- Habit forming
- No
- Prescription
- Required
Interactions with other medicines
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take.
| Medicine | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Medicines that can affect the kidneys, such as ciclosporin and tacrolimus | May increase the risk of kidney problems |
| Mycophenolate | Levels of both medicines may rise |
| Probenecid and cimetidine | Can raise the level of the antiviral in the blood |
This page is general information to help you understand your medicine. It is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop or change a medicine on your own.
Written by the Asthra Health Care team from the approved prescribing information (Valaciclovir prescribing information (CDSCO-approved labelling); Valaciclovir Summary of Product Characteristics (EMC)). Pharmacist review pending.