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How Often Do You Take Valtrex For Genital Herpes

What Are Cold Sores

Understanding Genital Herpes

Cold sores are small, clustered lumps that appear around the mouth.

Theyre caused by the herpes simplex virus .

There are two strains of HSV: type 1 and type 2 .

Generally, type 1 HSV causes oral herpes, or cold sores, while type 2 causes genital herpes, though each type can cause both.

Herpes is spread through close physical contact like kissing, sexual contact, or sharing an infected persons spoons or towels.

Its possible to be infected with HSV-1 and not show any symptoms, but most people develop cold sores around their lips or inside their mouths at least once.

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.

How Long To Take Them

For the treatment of herpes infections, the usual course of treatment is five days. However in some instances your doctor may want you to take your tablets for ten days.

For prevention of herpes infections, you should continue to take this medicine every day as prescribed by your doctor.

Do not stop taking Valtrex tablets just because you feel better. The herpes outbreak may not be completely over.

Recommended Reading: How To Tell If You Have Herpes

How Much Valacyclovir Should You Take For A Recurrent Genital Herpes Outbreak

After the primary outbreak, genital herpes enters a latent stage. During this period, the virus lays dormant in the body , with no clear symptoms or signs of an infection.

Over time, many people with genital herpes will experience recurrent outbreaks of the virus that cause herpes sores to develop. Outbreaks affect people with HSV-1 and HSV-2, although they tend to be more common in people with the HSV-2 type of the herpes virus.

Recurrent outbreaks are usually less intense than the initial outbreak. Most people only notice the development of herpes sores on the genitals, with few or none of the flu-like symptoms that can make a primary outbreak so unpleasant.

During a recurring outbreak, you normally wont need to take as much as you did for the primary outbreak. A standard valacyclovir dosage for recurrent genital herpes outbreaks is 500 mg twice per day for three days.

If you have particularly severe genital herpes outbreaks or the herpes sores you develop during an outbreak take longer than normal to recover, your doctor may adjust your dosage to provide extra relief from symptoms and faster healing. In any case, follow your doctors instructions.

Education Is An Integral Part Of Herpes Treatment

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If you have genital herpes, its important for you to get educated about herpes and have the opportunity to ask questions in a supportive environment.

Becoming informed will help you learn to cope with the illness. It will also help you prevent sexual transmission of the illness, or transmission to an infant during a pregnancy.

Herpes has a tremendous psychosocial overlay. But knowledge about it and understanding about how well it can be managed can reduce that, says Handsfield.

Your doctor may be able to provide you with all the information you need, or you may choose to seek counseling from a mental health professional or at a clinic that specializes in sexual health, such as Planned Parenthood.

If you have a regular sexual partner, that person should also have the chance to learn about herpes and ask any questions they may have about it.

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How Quickly Does It Work

Valtrex is an antiviral medication, which means it can help shorten the duration of cold sores.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, cold sores can last for around 1012 days without treatment. Valtrex may reduce the formation of cold sore blisters by up to 2 days.

Valtrex may cause side effects for some people. According to the NLM, the most common side effects may include:

The most common side effect is a headache.

The NLM also state that dizziness is a common side effect in people using Valtrex for cold sores.

Other symptoms may occur when treating either shingles or herpes with Valtrex at different or prolonged doses.

Treatment For Oral Herpes

The antiviral medications available in pill form have been specifically developed for the treatment of genital herpes. However, it is not uncommon for healthcare providers to prescribe the antiviral drugs to those who have frequent or severe outbreaks of oral herpes.

A recent study found valacyclovir to be effective for treating oral herpes in a one-day treatment of 2 grams taken at the first sign of a cold sore, and then again about 12 hours later.

There are two topical antiviral medications prescribed for the treatment of oral HSV symptoms: acyclovir ointment and penciclovir cream. Both work to speed up the healing process and reduce the viral activity. These topical drugs are put directly on the lesions themselves, but can also be used at the onset of prodrome.

Other topical treatments for oral herpes are available over-the-counter , but are not antiviral compounds like acyclovir and penciclovir. Some also contain ingredients that numb the area and induce temporary relief from the discomfort of an outbreak. Unfortunately, some OTC treatments may actually delay the healing time of symptoms because they can further irritate the area with repeated applications. There is only one OTC FDA-approved cream, called Abreva®, which has been clinically proven to help speed the healing process.

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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.

How K Health Can Help

A Vaccine Pathway for Herpes Virus with Gregory Smith, PhD

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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

Read Also: How To Test For Herpes Simplex 2

What Should I Know About Storage And Disposal Of This Medication

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture .

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

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Overdose: What Happens If I Take Too Much Valtrex

If you take too much Valtrex, it can lead to acute kidney damage. This is a medical emergency that can cause toxicity in your body and the inability to make urine.

Hemodialysis is a procedure that helps your body eliminate toxins and balance fluidthis may be necessary until your kidney function is restored.

What Other Drugs Interact With Acyclovir

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If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of this medicine or any drug before seeking medical advice from your doctor, healthcare provider or pharmacist first. To do so may result in serious consequences or side effects.

Severe Interactions of Acyclovir include:

  • There are no severe interactions from the use of acyclovir.

Serious Interactions of Acyclovir include:

Recommended Reading: How To Live With Herpes 2

How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Herpes Simplex

Preventing HSV-1

You can reduce your risk of contracting HSV-1 by avoiding physical contact with someone who has a cold sore. People can still spread HSV-1 when cold sores arent present, but its less likely.

If someone has an active HSV-1 infection, avoid:

  • Sharing utensils, cups, lip balms or other personal care products.
  • Touching the skin near their mouth.

Preventing HSV-2

If youre sexually active, you can take these steps to protect yourself and others from the herpes virus and other STIs:

  • Be monogamous with one sexual partner or limit your number of partners.
  • Get tested for STIs and complete any prescribed treatment.
  • Tell your sexual partners if you have genital herpes so they can get tested.
  • Use condoms during intercourse and dental dams during oral sex.

Wash your hands often if you have an outbreak or are around someone with symptoms.

If your sexual partner has genital herpes, these actions can lower your risk of getting the virus:

  • Dont have sex when your partner has active symptoms. Condoms may not cover all sores, so you may still get the virus.
  • Make sure your partner takes antiviral medication as prescribed.
  • Wait to have sex until scabs fall off active lesions.

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Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura/hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

TTP/HUS, in some cases resulting in death, has occurred in patients with advanced HIV-1 disease and also in allogeneic bone marrow transplant and renal transplant recipients participating in clinical trials of VALTREX at doses of 8 grams per day. Treatment with VALTREX should be stopped immediately if clinical signs, symptoms, and laboratory abnormalities consistent with TTP/HUS occur.

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Prevention And/or Blocking Of Cold Sores

Increases in the proportion of subjects in whom cold sore lesion development was prevented and/or blocked were observed with both treatment regimens when compared to placebo .4). In study 1, a greater proportion of subjects experienced prevention and/or blockage of cold sore lesions than those in the placebo group, but the treatment differences were not statistically significant at the two-sided 5% level. In study 2, a greater proportion of subjects in both treatment groups experienced prevention and/or blockage of cold sore lesions than those in the placebo group . However, after adjustment for multiple comparisons, neither treatment difference was statistically significant at the 5% level. Figure Figure22 shows the difference in proportion of subjects in whom cold sore lesion development was prevented and/or blocked for the 1- and 2-day valacyclovir treatment regimens in each study.

Plot of the difference in proportion of subjects in whom cold sore lesion development was prevented and/or blocked with 1-day treatment and 2-day treatment from placebo within each study. 95% CI, 95% confidence interval.

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Using Valacyclovir To Treat A Primary Outbreak Of Genital Herpes

Herpes Simplex 1 & 2: Symptoms, Transmission and Treatment

Valacyclovir can be extremely helpful for treating an initial herpes outbreak. Used early, it acts to suppress the virus and prevent it from multiplying, providing relief from the physical symptoms of a herpes outbreak and helping you recover faster.

Because primary herpes outbreaks tend to be the most intense experience infected people will have with the virus, treatment involves a relatively high dose of valacyclovir.

The standard dose of valacyclovir for an initial outbreak of genital herpes is 1,000 mg twice a day. This is typically continued over a 10-day period to continually suppress the virus and help the lesions caused by the viral infection to close and heal.

If you believe you may experiencing the first signs of a genital herpes outbreak, its important to see your doctor as soon as possible about treatment options. Valacyclovir is most effective if its taken as early as possible during an outbreak.

Your doctor may also recommend the use of pain relief medication to manage the other physical symptoms of a primary herpes outbreak.

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How To Use Cream For Genital Herpes

Wash your hands before and after using the cream.

Put a thin layer of cream on the affected area 5 times a day. Do this every 4 hours for example, at 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm and 11pm.

Use the cream for at least 5 days. If the genital herpes sore has not healed by then, you can carry on using the cream for another 5 days.

If the affected area has still not healed after a total of 10 days, stop using the cream and tell your doctor.

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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Understanding Herpes With H Hunter Handsfield Md

Herpes expert H. Hunter Handsfield, MD, explains the basics about genital herpes, including the difference between genital HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection, testing options and the importance of knowing virus type, and the three-prong strategy for prevention. See more herpes videos at sexualhealthTV.com.

Have a question about herpes youd like Dr. Handsfield or our other experts to answer? Visit our Ask the Experts page to learn how.

Valacyclovir Dosage For Cold Sores And Genital Herpes

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Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP

Valacyclovir , is one of the most common medications used to treat the herpes simplex virus. Used regularly by millions of people worldwide, its a safe, highly effective drug that can control from herpes outbreaks and reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Like other drugs used to treat herpes, valacyclovir is an antiviral medication. It works through a complex mechanism that stops the herpes virus from replicating further within the body, making it useful for a variety of herpes-related conditions.

Valacyclovir is used to treat HSV-1 and HSV-2, as well as the varicella zoster virus . Because of its antiviral properties, its also used to prevent cytomegalovirus and to limit the effects of viruses in people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients.

Below, weve listed common valacyclovir dosages for a variety of conditions, such as outbreaks of oral or genital herpes. The dosage information provided below is for adults — for children, you should consult your doctor, who will provide dosing recommendations based on your childs age, weight and health.

Note: If you have been prescribed valacyclovir by your doctor to treat any condition, follow the dose and frequency they recommend. The information below is provided as a reference only — you should always follow your doctors advice when using any prescription medication.

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