• Genital herpes:
    • Initial episode:
      • PO 1g BD *10/7
    • Recurrent episodes:
      • PO 500mg BD *3/7 OR PO 1000mg OD *5/7
      • Started ASAP within 24 hours of symptom onset
    • Suppressive therapy (immunocompetent patients):
      • PO 1g/day
    • Suppressive therapy (immunocompetent patients with ≤9 recurrences annually):
      • PO 500mg/day
      • Transmission reduction for source partner, 500mg/day
    • Suppressive therapy (HIV-infected patients):
      • PO 500mg BD
  • Herpes labialis (Cold sores):
    • Adults and >12 years: PO 2000mg BD *1/7
      • Started ASAP within 24 hours of symptom onset
    • Suppression: PO 500mg OD
      • Reassess treatment need at 4 months
  • Herpes zoster (shingles):
    • PO 1000mg TDS *1/52
      • Started ASAP within 72 hours of rash onset
      • Maximum efficacy within 48 hours
  • Chicken pox:
    • >2 years: PO 20mg/kg TDS *5/7
      • Max: PO 1g TDS

Tablet: 500mg

  • Taken without regards to meals
  • Take with plenty of fluids to reduce side effects

Antiviral

It is converted to acyclovir by intestinal and hepatic metabolism. It competes with deoxyguanosine triphosphate for viral DNA polymerase to inhibit DNA synthesis and viral replication

  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Abdominal pain
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Arthralgia
  • Depression
  • Decreased neutrophils
  • Elevated ALT/AST
  • Fatigue
  • Rash
  • Elevated Alk phos
  • Decreased platelets
  • Photosensitivity
  • Diarrhea (peds patients)
  • Fever (peds patients)
  • Hypersensitivity to class/components
  • Cidofovir

                          Drug Status

Availability Prescription only
Pregnancy Category B; Can be used
Breastfeeding Can be used
Schedule Not controlled
BRAND NAME STRENGTH FORMULATION PACK SIZE MANUFACTURER DISTRIBUTOR
Valtrex 500mg Tablet 10’s GSK Ltd GSK Ltd