Medically reviewed by Mary Lucas, RN. Valacyclovir commonly sold as Valtrex is one of the most widely used and effective drugs on the market for treating and controlling cold sores, shingles and genital herpes.
Valacyclovir is also commonly prescribed for chickenpox, which is caused by the varicella zoster virus VZV. The amount of time required for valacyclovir to start working can vary based on a number of factors, ranging from the type of infection you have to your valacyclovir dosage and the total amount of time that passes after you notice symptoms but before you start treatment.
The standard dosage of valacyclovir for first-time herpes outbreaks is 1, mg two times per day over a period of 10 days. It can take up to 10 days or, in some cases, even longer for herpes blisters to heal even with valacyclovir treatment. This makes it important to start treatment as soon as you notice herpes symptoms. In some cases, your doctor might prescribe valacyclovir for a longer period than 10 days or at a different dosage. But it can be used to treat chickenpox in children ages 2 years and older.
Most people in the study took Valtrex within two hours of noticing their first cold sore symptoms. People with kidney damage or kidney failure may need a lower dosage of Valtrex. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have kidney problems before you start taking the drug. There are also natural treatments that may help ease symptoms of a cold sore during an outbreak. For more information about Valtrex, talk with your doctor. Feel free to review this article with them and ask any questions you have, like:.
Together, you and your doctor can decide if Valtrex or another medication or treatment is a good choice to treat your cold sores. For more information, read about the seven best cold sore remedies.
Herpes simplex virus is common in the United States. Herpes esophagitis is caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 HSV The infection can cause some chest pain and difficulty swallowing. During a flare-up, the virus causes a chain of events leading to a cluster of small bumps to form. The bumps may rupture, heal, and then disappear for an indefinite period of time. Anyone infected with either virus, regardless of their HIV status, can experience these flare-ups. About 95 percent of people living with HIV in the United States are infected with one of the two viruses.
Herpes is spread by direct contact with an infected area, usually during a flare-up of the disease. Kissing and oral-genital sex can spread HSV Other sexual activity, including vaginal or anal intercourse, is the way HSV-2 is usually spread.
Sometimes these viruses can become active without causing symptoms. Anyone infected with herpes can experience flare-ups. In people with healthy immune systems, a flare-up can last a few weeks. In people with weakened immune systems, the herpes sores can last longer. Severe flare-ups can be incredibly painful. In a very small number of cases, herpes can spread to other organs, including the eyes, throat, lungs and brain.
Oral and genital herpes are well-known diseases. Many clinicians know herpes when they see it; however, simply looking at the lesions is not enough to diagnose it. Many cases go unreported or do not have symptoms that cause a person to seek medical help. Therefore, blood tests and swabs taken from the sores are used to diagnose the virus.
Genital sores should be tested to determine which virus is present, as this may impact treatment decisions. Once either virus is inside the body and settles into nerve cells, it cannot be eliminated or cured. But it can be treated to reduce symptoms and the risk of transmission.
Treatment can speed up healing time, reduce pain, and delay or prevent additional flare-ups. Treatment should take in account the frequency of flare-ups and risk for genital ulcer disease. The risk of transmission is usually highest when obvious blisters are present. It is advised that sexual intercourse be avoided during an outbreak for this reason.
Recurrent outbreak of herpes infection can be very frustrating since it can cause a lot of discomfort in the genital area. Frequent outbreaks usually take place because your immune system is down.
This may be due to poor diet, stress, diabetes, the use of steroids to treat other conditions, pregnancy and also poor health due to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus HIV.
There are drugs readily available that can effectively control frequent outbreaks in addition to shortening the duration of an outbreak. Acyclovir and Valtrex are the two commonly used tablets to treat an outbreak and to suppress an infection. In order to suppress the infection, the tablet has to be taken daily. This tends to be an expensive form of treatment and so a generic form of the drug should be requested if cost is a problem. It works very well though, and will relieve your frustration.
You should try to exercise, eat properly, take Vitamin C and a multivitamin daily to maintain good health so that your immune system will help to suppress the infection. You should also get a test done for HIV and diabetes mellitus. It is important that you determine whether it is actually a yeast infection or herpes infection that is recurring.
Vaginal yeast or candidiasis usually present with a thick clumpy white discharge which causes itching.
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