Valaciclovir 500mg Tablets

Herpes Doctor Service

Valaciclovir is an antiviral medication used to treat infection caused by the herpes virus. It is often used in the treatment of outbreaks of genital herpes.

Valaciclovir works by killing also by stopping the Herpes simplex virus (HSV), Varicella zoster (VZV) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) from multiplying. This in turn, allows the body's immune system to battle the infection. 

Valaciclovir Can Be Used To:

• treat cold sores in adults and adolescents over 12 years old
• treat HSV infections of the skin and genital herpes (in adults and adolescents over 12 years old). It is also
  used to help prevent these infections from returning
• treat shingles (in adults)
• prevent infection with CMV after organ transplants in adults and adolescents over 12 years old
• treat and prevent HSV infections of the eye that continue to come back in adults and adolescents over
  12 years old)

You can order Valaciclovir online from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. To see if you are suitable for this treatment, complete the online assessment and checkout. Our UK registered doctors will review the order and after approval pass the prescription to the Pharmacy team. We will then dispense and dispatch your order to your chosen address.

Cold Sores Symptoms 

• A cold sore usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling.
• Small fluid-filled blisters appear.
• The blisters can appear anywhere on the face.
• The blisters burst and crust over into a scab.

Cold sores are contagious from the moment you first feel tingling or other signs of a cold sore coming on to when the cold sore has completely healed.

Treatment

Cold sores usually clear up on their own within 10 days. But there are things you can do to help ease the pain.

• Creams to ease pain and irritation.
• Antiviral creams to speed up healing time.
• Liquid that you drink.
• Cold sore patches to protect the skin while it heals.
• It's sometimes given by injection, but this is usually only done in hospitals.
• Antiviral tablets.

Treatment Of Cold Sores With Valaciclovir Tablets

If your immune systems work less well and your body is less able to fight infections or your immune system is weakened (for example, if you have HIV or AIDS, or you have had a bone marrow transplant), talk to your doctor about the best type of medication for you. They may recommend Valaciclovir Tablets rather than cream.

The usual dose of Valaciclovir Tablets is 2000 mg (two 1000 mg tablets or four 500 mg tablets) twice a day.

• You should take Valaciclovir for one day (two doses) only.
• The second dose should be taken 12 hours (no sooner than 6 hours) after the first dose.

How To Help To Heal Cold Sores 

• Eat cool, soft foods.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after applying cream.
• Avoid anything that triggers your cold sores.
• Use sunblock lip balm (SPF 15 or above) if you're outside in the sun.
• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease pain and swelling (liquid paracetamol is available for children) – do  not give aspirin to children under 16.
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

A good self care guide and information for cold sores is available on the NHS website.

NHS - Cold sores

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects although not everybody gets them.

Possible side effects

Serious side effects:
Stop using Valciclovir and seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). These are rare in people taking Valaciclovir. Rapid development of
  symptoms including: flushing, itchy skin rash, swelling of the lips, face, neck and throat, causing difficulty in breathing (angioedema), fall in blood pressure leading to collapse.
• Skin rashes or redness. The adverse reaction of the skin may appear as rashes with or without blisters. Skin irritation, oedema (DRESS syndrome) and fever and flu like symptoms may occur.

The following side effects may also happen with this medicine:
Very Common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

• headache

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• feeling sick
• dizziness
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• skin reaction after exposure to sunlight (photosensitivity)
• rash
• Itching (pruritus)

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• feeling confused
• seeing or hearing things that aren’t there (hallucinations)
• feeling very drowsy
• tremors
• feeling agitated

Other rare side effects:

• kidney problems where you pass little or no urine.

For a full list of side effects, please read the Patient Information Leaflet.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, our Rightdose pharmacists or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can help to make medicines safer by reporting any side effects to the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Patient Information Leaflet Valaciclovir 500mg Film-coated Tablets

Other medicines and Valaciclovir

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription, including herbal medicines.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines that affect the kidneys. These include:

• Aminoglycosides, organoplatinum compounds, iodinated contrast media, methotrexate, pentamidine, foscarnet, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, cimetidine and probenecid.
• Always tell your doctor or pharmacist about other medicines if you are taking Valaciclovir for treatment of shingles or after having an organ transplant.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Valaciclovir is not usually recommended for use during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, or think you could be, or if you are planning to become pregnant, don’t take Valaciclovir without checking with your doctor. Your doctor will weigh up the benefit to you against the risk to your baby of taking Valaciclovir while you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Driving and using machines
Valaciclovir can cause side effects that affect your ability to drive. Don’t drive or use machines unless you are sure you’re not affected.

How to store Valaciclovir

• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton. The expiry date (Exp.) refers
  to the last day of that month.
• Store Valaciclovir below 30 °C. Store Valaciclovir in the original packaging.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to
  throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

How to take Valaciclovir
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. The correct dose will be shown on the label which your pharmacist has placed on the container. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The dose that you should take will depend on why your doctor has prescribed Valaciclovir for you. Your doctor will discuss this with you.

Taking this medicine

• Take this medicine by mouth.
• Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. It is very important while you are taking Valaciclovir that you drink water regularly during the day. This will help to reduce side effects that can affect the kidney or nervous system. Your doctor will closely monitor you for signs of these. 
• Take Valaciclovir at the same time each day.

Treatment of cold sores - Directions

• The usual dose is 2000 mg (two 1000 mg tablets or four 500 mg tablets) twice a day.
• The second dose should be taken 12 hours (no sooner than 6 hours) after the first dose.
• You should take Valaciclovir for one day (two doses) only.

Your doctor may adjust the dose of Valaciclovir if:

• You are over 65 years of age.
• You have a weak immune system.
• You have kidney problems.

Talk to your doctor before taking Valaciclovir if any of the above apply.

If you take more Valaciclovir than you should

Valaciclovir is not usually harmful, unless you take too much over several days. If you take too many tablets
you may feel sick, vomit, get kidney problems, may be confused, agitated, feel less aware, see things that aren’t there, or become unconscious. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you take too much Valaciclovir. Take the medicine pack with you.

If you forget to take Valaciclovir

• If you forget to take Valaciclovir, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose.
• Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

For a full list of directions for Shingles, Genital herpes, CMV (Cytomegalovirus) please read the Patient Information Leaflet.

Do not take Valaciclovir Tablets

• if you are allergic to valaciclovir or aciclovir or any of the other ingredients of this medicine 
• if you have ever developed an extended rash associated with fever, enlarged lymph nodes, increased levels of liver enzymes and/or eosinophilia (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) after taking Valaciclovir.

Do not take Valaciclovir if the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Valaciclovir Tablets.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Valaciclovir if:

• you have kidney problems
• you have liver problems
• you are over 65 years of age
• your immune system is weak

Take special care with Valaciclovir – Important Information:
Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) has been reported with the use of Valaciclovir. DRESS appears initially as flu like symptoms and a rash on the face then an extended rash with a high body temperature, increased levels of liver enzymes seen in blood tests and an increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia) and enlarged lymph nodes.

If you develop a rash associated with a fever and enlarged lymph nodes, stop taking valaciclovir and contact your doctor or seek medical attention immediately.

It is important that you drink plenty of water while taking Valaciclovir 500mg Tablets.

Cold sores are very contagious. Don’t:

• do not kiss anyone while you have a cold sore
• do not share anything that comes into contact with a cold sore (such as cold sore creams, towels, cutlery or lipstick)
• do not have oral sex until your cold sore completely heals as you could give your partner genital herpes
• do not touch your cold sore (apart from applying cream) – if you do wash your hands
• do not rub cream into the cold sore – dab it on instead
• do not eat acidic or salty food if it makes your cold sore feel worse.

What Valaciclovir contains

The active substance is valaciclovir (as hydrochloride).

The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose (E460), crospovidone (E1202), FD&C Blue #2 Aluminium Lake (11-14%) (E132), povidone (K 30) (E1201), povidone (K 90D) (E1201), magnesium stearate (E470b), opadry 02C 50740 Blue consisting of: hypromellose (5 cP) (E464), titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol/PEG 400, macrogol/PEG 6000, FD&C Blue 2 Aluminium Lake (30-36%) (E132), polysorbate 80 (E433).

What Valaciclovir looks like and contents of the pack
Valaciclovir are blue, capsule shaped, biconvex, film-coated tablets with ‘V’ and ‘5’ embossed on either side of the score line on one side and a notch on either side of the score line and smooth on the other side of the tablet.