How Long Do You Take Valacyclovir For Herpes

Stages Of Herpes Outbreaks

Like any other infection, every case is different. The duration of a herpes outbreak will depend on factors such as:

• Your individual immune system
• How many outbreaks youâve had in the past
• Treatment history

Keep in mind that no matter your history or treatment, thereâs help.

The stages of a herpes outbreak can last between two and 14 days and can be broken down into stages:

Dosage For Oral Herpes

Adult dosage

• Typical dosage: 2 g, twice per day for 1 day, taken 12 hours apart.
• Note: Treatment should be started at the first sign of cold sore symptoms.

Child dosage

• Typical dosage: 2 g, twice per day for 1 day, taken 12 hours apart.
• Note: This drug should be started at the first sign of cold sore symptoms.

Child dosage

• This drug has not been studied or approved for treatment of oral herpes in children younger than 12 years.

Senior dosage

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, a higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a different treatment schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

Encouraging Healing Of Cold Sores

Wet or Dry?

Knowing when to keep your cold sore dry and when to keep it moist is an important part of getting rid of cold sores faster.

When you first notice a tingling or itching sensation that indicates a cold sore is on its way, try to keep the area dry. The area should remain dry until after the blister bursts and scabs over with a yellow or brown crust.

You can dry a cold sore out by pressing salt against it for about 30 seconds. You can also try applying a thin layer of white toothpaste to the sore before bed.

Once a scab forms on the sore, you can use petroleum jelly to keep the scab moist.

Supplements and Compresses

Taking lysine supplements and using a cold compress can also encourage cold sores to heal more quickly. You can try traditional natural compresses such as an ice pack, which can reduce pain and inflammation, but be sure that the ice usage doesnt cause the sore to become wet. You can also try compresses of cornstarch paste.

Best Practices

One of the most important ways to combat cold sores and shorten their duration is to take action at the very first sign of an outbreak. Whether you use cold compresses, keep the area dry, or try to minimize swelling by using ice and/or ibuprofen, all of these tips will work best when used early.

Additionally, be sure to avoid touching or picking at the cold sore, which could lead to infection. It could also further injure your skin and prolong healing time.

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How Much Valacyclovir Should You Take For A Primary Herpes Outbreak

Most people find out that they have the herpes virus during the primary outbreak. The first outbreak of herpes tends to be the most intense, with a person developing both the physical symptoms of herpes as well as a variety of other symptoms.

During a primary outbreak, many people experience muscle aches, chills, fever, swelling of the glands around the neck and pelvic area, headaches and other flu-like symptoms. If youre going through a primary outbreak, its normal to feel fatigued and lacking in energy.

A painful, burning feeling when urinating is a common symptom in both sexes. Women going through initial outbreaks may experience unusual vaginal discharge and pain in the cervix due to the virus.

Our guide to the signs and symptoms of genital herpes goes into more detail about the most common symptoms people experience during initial outbreaks. Outbreaks of oral herpes can include similar physical effects, although the herpes sores are isolated to the lips and mouth.

One of the biggest reasons a primary herpes outbreak is so intense is that the virus is relatively strong during this period. Over time, your body will develop its own immune response to HSV-1 or HSV-2 — depending on your infection type — allowing it to suppress the virus.

Both oral and genital herpes primary outbreaks tend to last for two to three weeks, with the most intense symptoms during the first one to two weeks of the outbreak.

Important: How To Use This Information

This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.

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What Are Warnings And Precautions For Valacyclovir

Warnings

• This medication contains valacyclovir. Do not take Valtrex if you are allergic to valacyclovir or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to valacyclovir or acyclovir

Effects of Drug Abuse

Acyclovir May Cause Side Effects Tell Your Doctor If Any Of These Symptoms Are Severe Or Do Not Go Away:

• numbness, burning, or tingling in the arms or legs
• temporary inability to move parts of your body
• shaking of a part of your body that you cannot control
• loss of consciousness

Acyclovir may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking or using this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administrations MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone .

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Can Valacyclovir Stop Genital Herpes From Spreading

Valacyclovir is an oft-prescribed treatment for both oral and genital herpes. It also treats chickenpox, since thats also a herpes virus strain. While valacyclovir primarily is used to prevent herpes outbreaks or lower their frequency in people who already carry the virus, by doing so the drug also lowers the risk of transmission. The weakened virus will have a more difficult time spreading to other people.

Research has found that using valacyclovir will reduce the risk of transmission by about 50%. If in addition, you use condoms, the risk of contagion drops by another 50%. So, the total risk reduction is about 75% of whatever the initial risk was. Its not 100% safe, but a significant improvement of your odds. Keep in mind that valacyclovir can only do its magic as long as you take the drug. Studies have found that daily valacyclovir therapy for the duration of one year didnt cause any safety issues or major side effects. Talk to your doctor about whether valacyclovir could be the right choice for you if you suffer from recurring genital herpes outbreaks.

If you arent a herpes carrier yourself but your partner is, to be safer yet, just avoid having sex when your partner has an active outbreak, even if he does take valacyclovir. By the way, the same goes for oral sex. If your partner has cold sores , dont let him or her give you oral sex, and avoid skin-to-skin contact with the affected area on his or her mouth.

Genital Herpes Treatment In Pregnancy

You may be offered antiviral treatment:

• to treat outbreaks in pregnancy
• from 36 weeks to reduce the chance of an outbreak during birth
• from diagnosis until the birth if you first get herpes after 28 weeks of pregnancy

Many women with genital herpes have a vaginal delivery. You may be offered a caesarean, depending on your circumstances.

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Management Of Sex Partners

The sex partners of persons who have symptomatic genital herpes can benefit from evaluation and counseling. Symptomatic sex partners should be evaluated and treated in the same manner as patients who have symptomatic genital herpes. Asymptomatic sex partners of patients who have symptomatic genital herpes should be asked about a history of genital symptoms and offered type-specific serologic testing for HSV-2. For partners without genital herpes, no data are available on which to base a recommendation for PEP or PrEP with antiviral medications or that they would prevent acquisition, and this should not be offered to patients as a prevention strategy.

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For Children 11 Years And Younger

Valtrex is not recommended for treating cold sores in children of this age group. But it can be used to treat chickenpox in children ages 2 years and older.

• Take Valtrex at the first sign of a cold sore.
• You can take it with or without food.
• Dont take more than the prescribed number of caplets each day.
• If your child cant swallow caplets, ask your pharmacist to make the caplets into an oral suspension .
• Be sure to drink lots of water. Since your kidneys help remove the metabolized drug from your body, its important to stay hydrated to lower the risk of serious side effects, such as kidney damage.

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How Does Genital Herpes Affect A Pregnant Woman And Her Baby

Neonatal herpes is one of the most serious complications of genital herpes.5,16 Healthcare providers should ask all pregnant women if they have a history of genital herpes.11 Herpes infection can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth, or babies may be infected shortly after birth, resulting in a potentially fatal neonatal herpes infection. 17 Infants born to women who acquire genital herpes close to the time of delivery and are shedding virus at delivery are at a much higher risk for developing neonatal herpes, compared with women who have recurrent genital herpes . 16,18-20 Thus, it is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy. Women should be counseled to abstain from intercourse during the third trimester with partners known to have or suspected of having genital herpes. 5,11

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Important Information About All Medicines

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How Should I Take Valtrex

Take Valtrex exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Start taking Valtrex as soon as possible after the first appearance of symptoms . This medicine might not be as effective if you first start taking it 1 or 2 days after the start of your symptoms.

Some herpes infections need to be treated for longer than others. Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may increase the risk of your virus becoming resistant to antiviral medicine.

You may take Valtrex with or without food.

Tell your doctor if a child taking this medicine cannot swallow the tablet.

Drink plenty of water while you are taking Valtrex to keep your kidneys working properly.

Lesions caused by herpes viruses should be kept as clean and dry as possible. Wearing loose clothing may help to prevent irritation of the lesions.

Store Valtrex tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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Onset Of First Outbreak

The first outbreak of oral herpes usually develops within about one to three weeks after infection. This initial outbreak may last for up to three weeks.

With genital herpes, the first outbreak usually occurs within about two to 20 days. Similar to oral herpes, the initial outbreak may last as long as three weeks.

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When And How Are Later Outbreaks Treated

Later outbreaks with only mild symptoms dont necessarily need to be treated. The blisters can then simply heal on their own.

But antiviral medication can also shorten the duration of later outbreaks by an average of about two days. If you decide to have treatment, its important to start it within the first 24 hours of the outbreak ideally, as soon as you notice the first symptoms. So its a good idea to always have a few tablets at home or to take them with you when you travel so they are ready to use. You can get a prescription from your doctor.

In later outbreaks you can take them for a shorter time. The WHO recommends the following:

• aciclovir: 400 mg three times per day or 800 mg two times per day for five days, or 800 mg three times per day for two days,
• famciclovir: 250 mg two times per day for five days, or
• valaciclovir: 500 mg two times per day for three days.

A different dose and treatment duration may be a good idea for people who have immune system disorders, such as an HIV infection.

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Are There Any Alternatives

There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

I Already Have An Active Lesion/outbreak Will This Work

Valacyclovir works best when taken at the first signs of an outbreak. For an oral outbreak, this can be when you feel that tingly, itching, blistering or burning in or around the mouth. For a genital outbreak, this can be a fever, body aches, swollen glands, or sores which appear as one or more blisters on or around the mouth, rectum or genitals. Valacyclovir can be used if you already have an outbreak, but it is not as effective as when taken within 24 hours after the first signs of your flare up.

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How Does Valtrex Work For Cold Sores

Antiviral medications dont kill viruses directly, so cold sores cant be curedthey can only be treated to manage the symptoms.

Antivirals stop viruses from causing more harm by suppressing their ability to multiply or develop.

Valtrex is a prescription-only antiviral medication recommended for treating cold sores and preventing outbreaks in people who get cold sores often.

Valtrex is a prodrug of acyclovir, meaning it turns into acyclovir once its in your body.

Valtrex works on cold sores by binding to the DNA of the herpes virus and stopping it from multiplying, preventing outbreaks, and shortening the duration of symptoms once they develop.

Treatment For Genital Herpes

There are three antiviral medications that are FDA-approved for the treatment of genital herpes:

• Acyclovir: The oldest antiviral medication for herpes is acyclovir. It has been available since 1982 in a topical form and sold since 1985 in pill form. Acyclovir has been shown to be safe in persons who have used it continuously for as long as 10 years.
• Valacyclovir: A newer drug, valacyclovir, actually uses acyclovir as its active ingredient. This medication delivers acyclovir more efficiently so that the body absorbs much of the drug, which has the advantage of taking the medication fewer times during the day.
• Famciclovir: Famciclovir uses penciclovir as its active ingredient to stop HSV from replicating. Like valacyclovir, it is well absorbed, persists for a longer time in the body, and can be taken less frequently than acyclovir.

Antiviral medication is commonly prescribed for patients having a first episode of genital herpes, but they can be used for recurrent episodes as well. There are two kinds of treatment regimens: episodic therapy and suppressive therapy.

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