Once you learn something really impressive about a drug medication such as Valacyclovir and its ability in treating highly irksome conditions like herpes, it’s simply not enough. Something inside urges you on to discover more features about such a medication. You begin to wonder about its nature, how it’s taken, how it really works and more importantly, if it provides any important warnings before you actually start using it. Read on to find out.

What is this drug medication?

Simply put, Valacyclovir is a drug medication which is available under prescription provided by a doctor. It comes in tablet form and meant to be taken by mouth.

This drug medication is available as a branded drug called Valtrex but it’s also available as a generic drug. It’s normally the case that generic drug versions are much cheaper that the brand-name version.

The main difference between the generic and brand version is that the former isn’t usually available in all the potencies or forms as are the brand-name drug medications.

In some cases, this drug medication may have to be taken as an additive in a combined therapy where it is taken in combination with other drug medications.

Why Valacyclovir is used in medication therapy

The main target for this drug medication when used to heal diseases is the treatment of viral infections which are caused by a group of viruses known as herpes simplex viruses.

There are 4 of these viral infections in all and comprise oral herpes, genital herpes, shingles and chickenpox. Let’s have a look at each of them:

• Oral herpes:  this type of viral infection gives rise to cold sores.

These are infections of small but painful sores that can appear around your mouth.

They are contagious and can be spread by kissing or other ways of contacting others physically with the infected part of your body.

• Genital herpes: This is spread primary when couples engage in sexual activity. Symptoms of the infection also involve the appearance of small but painful blisters in the genital zone.

It’s possible for you to spread the genital herpes infection to your sexual partner even when you don’t yet have any symptoms.

What valacyclovir does is to ease or prevent the reoccurrence of flare-ups of genital herpes in people who possess a functional immune system, or people who have HIV.

• Shingles:  This infection is also caused by the same virus that’s responsible for causing chickenpox (varicella zoster).

Like the other infections the symptoms for shingles also involve the occurrence of small but painful blisters that appear on the skin.

Shingles can also take place in people who’ve already suffered from the chickenpox virus in the past due to contact with a person who had skin infection.

Chickenpox: This infection causes the development of an itchy rash of small, red bumps that can resemble the appearance of pimples or the bites of insects.

The pimply rash has not limits when spreading across the body and can trigger a flu-like symptom such as high fever or fatigue.

The valacyclovir drug medication is capable of providing an easing treatment for chickenpox in children of ages 2 to 18 years who have normally functioning immune systems.

Special unique features of Valacyclovir

Valacyclovir is an oral tablet of different doses that’s normally used for the treatment of infections caused by a group of viruses known as herpes simplex viruses.

It’s used to treat cold sores (oral herpes), shingles and is sometimes used to treat or stop recurring flare-ups of genital herpes.

Valacyclovir comes in a tablet form that should be taken orally in the mouth and swallowed with water.

This drug medication is available in both as a brand and generic drug medication (valacyclovir) with Valtrex as its brand name.

Important warnings when taking valacyclovir

Blood disorders hinder the treatment: In some people, valacyclovir can causehemolytic uremic sysndrome (HUS) orthrombocytopenic pupura (TTP).

These two conditions involve extremely low levels of red blood cells and platelets in your body and you are warned that TTP or HUS can actually have fatal results (cause death).

You’re especially susceptible to the effects of these conditions if you’ve undergone transplants of bone marrow or a kidney.

You’re also susceptible to their effects if you suffer from advanced conditions of HIV or AIDS.

Kidney failure is also problematic: It’s been known that this drug medication can actually stop you kidneys from functioning, This can happen if you’re on a high dose of valacyclovir and you are also suffering from current kidney problems.

Taking other drugs that may damage your kidneys, if you’re suffering from dehydration, or if you’re over 65 years of age.

Central nervous system: if you’ve been taking this medication at higher doses than what your doctor prescribed or if you are suffering from kidney disorders, the drug can build up in you system.

When valacyclovir accumulates in your body, it can result in the occurrence of side effects that can impact your brain. Symptoms of these side effects can include:

• Delusions – you tend to believe in things that aren’t true
• Hallucinations – you tend to hear and see things that are not real)

The symptoms may also involve seizures, agitation and confusion.

If you are experiencing these side effects, you should stop taking the drug medication and immediately call your country or area emergency phone number for medical attention.

Warnings for other groups

Pregnant women:  This drug medication is categorized as a B pregnancy drug which simply means two things:

• Researches carried out on animals have failed to show any risks to the fetus when the mother is given the drug.
• Insufficient studies have been carried on human subjects to show that the drug poses a threat to the fetus.

In the light of the above findings its sound advice for you to consult with your doctor to tell him/her if you’re pregnant or are planning to get pregnant.

It’s worthy to note that animals don’t always predict how humans would respond to this drug medication so valacyclovir should only be used in a woman who is pregnant when it’s absolutely necessary.

Women who breastfeed: It’s known that this drug medication may enter the breast mild and may cause nasty side effects in the breastfeeding child. You should therefore consult with your doctor if you breastfeed your child,

You may need to stop breastfeeding or to stop taking this drug medication after your consultation. Whichever it is you should follow what your doctor tells you to do.

Seniors: the kidneys of many older adults may not be functioning like they used to so the body may only be able to process this drug medication only slowly.

This means that more of the drug would stay in your body over a longer period of time, giving rise to a higher risk of suffering from more side effects.

Children:  Valacyclovir has not been studied for the prevention of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in newborn babies. Other age limitations have been applied when this drug medication is used on children:

• Oral herpes (cold sores): Approval has been given to the treatment of children 12 years and over.
• Genital herpes: children younger than 18 years shouldn’t be treated with this drug medication against this virus infection.
• Shingles:  children younger than 18 years shouldn’t be treated with this drug medication against this virus infection.
• Chickenpox: children of 2 to 18 years of age are approved for being given this drug treatment against chickenpox. Children below the age of 2 years are not approved to be given treatment.

Bottom line

Our journey in trying to discover the highlight features of Valacyclovir has been far, wide and in-depth and the result has not been disappointing. We have delved into the very nature of this medication and discovered that that it can actually treat four types of infections which are all caused by the same virus infection. We’ve also been provided with ample information about how you can effectively prevent the spread of the infections. We hope the article has helped you.