VALTREX is a nucleoside analogue DNA polymerase inhibitor indicated for:
Adult Patients (1.1)
• Cold Sores (Herpes Labialis)
• Genital Herpes
• Treatment in immunocompetent patients (initial or recurrent
episode)
• Suppression in immunocompetent or HIV-infected patients
• Reduction of transmission
• Herpes Zoster
Pediatric Patients (1.2)
• Cold Sores (Herpes Labialis)
• Chickenpox
Take VALTREX exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Your dose of VALTREX
and length of treatment will depend on the type of herpes infection that you have and any other medical problems that you have.
Do not stop VALTREX or change your treatment without talking to your healthcare provider.
• VALTREX can be taken with or without food.
• If you are taking VALTREX to treat cold sores, chickenpox, shingles, or genital herpes, you
should start treatment as soon as possible after your symptoms start. VALTREX may not
help you if you start treatment too late.
• If you miss a dose of VALTREX, take it as soon as you remember and then take your next
dose at its regular time. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the
missed dose. Wait and take the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not take more than the prescribed number of VALTREX Caplets each day. Call your
healthcare provider right away if you take too much VALTREX.
Kidney failure and nervous system problems are not common, but can be serious in some
patients taking VALTREX. Nervous system problems include aggressive behavior, unsteady
movement, shaky movements, confusion, speech problems, hallucinations (seeing or hearing
things that are really not there), seizures, and coma. Kidney failure and nervous system problems
have happened in patients who already have kidney disease and in elderly patients whose
kidneys do not work well due to age. Always tell your healthcare provider if you have kidney
problems before taking VALTREX. Call your doctor right away if you get a nervous
system problem while you are taking VALTREX.
Common side effects of VALTREX in adults include headache, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting,
and dizziness. Side effects in HIV-infected adults include headache, tiredness, and rash. These
side effects usually are mild and do not cause patients to stop taking VALTREX.
Other less common side effects in adults include painful periods in women, joint pain,
depression, low blood cell counts, and changes in tests that measure how well the liver and
kidneys work.
The most common side effect seen in children <18 years of age was headache.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you develop any side effects that concern you.
These are not all the side effects of VALTREX. For more information ask your healthcare
provider or pharmacist.
Store VALTREX Caplets at room temperature, 59° to 77°F (15° to 25°C).
Store VALTREX suspension between 2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F) in a refrigerator. Discard after
28 days.
• Keep VALTREX in a tightly closed container.
• Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need.
• Keep VALTREX and all medicines out of the reach of children.
No clinically significant drug-drug or drug-food interactions with VALTREX are known
Caution should be exercised to prevent inadvertent overdose [see Use in Specific
369 Populations (8.5), (8.6)]. Precipitation of acyclovir in renal tubules may occur when the
370 solubility (2.5 mg/mL) is exceeded in the intratubular fluid. In the event of acute renal failure
371 and anuria, the patient may benefit from hemodialysis until renal function is restored