What is Valacyclovir?
Category: Prescription Drugs
Most popular types: Valtrex
Valacyclovir is used to treat herpes zoster (shingles) and genital herpes. It does not cure herpes infections but decreases pain and itching, helps sores to heal, and prevents new ones from forming.
| Purpose | Patients | Evaluations | Perceived Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genital herpes | 107 | 6 | |
| Shingles (herpes zoster) | 107 | 21 | |
| Herpes simplex virus infection | 60 | 7 | |
| Postherpetic neuralgia | 37 | 1 | |
| Bell's palsy | 36 | 2 | |
| Cold sore (herpes simplex) | 25 | 7 |
- Major
- Moderate
- Slight
- None
- Can't tell
Side effects
Side effects as an overall problem
| Severity | Evaluations | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 4 | |
| Moderate | 3 | |
| Mild | 14 | |
| None | 69 |
Commonly reported side effects and conditions associated with Valacyclovir
| Side effect | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 4 | |
| Diarrhea | 3 | |
| Dizziness | 3 | |
| Blurry vision | 1 | |
| Fibro fog | 1 | |
| Frequent urination | 1 |
Why patients stopped taking Valacyclovir
Multiple reasons could be selected
| Reason | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Course of treatment ended | 40 | |
| Other | 9 | |
| Doctor's advice | 8 | |
| Side effects too severe | 6 | |
| Did not seem to work | 5 | |
| Expense | 5 | |
| Change in health plan coverage | 4 | |
| Personal research | 1 |
Duration
Stopped taking Valacyclovir
| Duration | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 month | 30 | |
| 1 - 6 months | 16 | |
| 6 months - 1 year | 4 | |
| 1 - 2 years | 7 | |
| 2 - 5 years | 6 | |
| 5 - 10 years | 1 | |
| 10 years or more | 4 |
What people switch to and from
Patients started taking Valacyclovir after stopping:
| Treatment | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Acyclovir (Zovirax) | 12 | |
| Famciclovir (Famvir) | 2 | |
| Naltrexone (Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)) | 1 |
Patients stopped taking Valacyclovir and switched to:
| Treatment | Patients | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Acyclovir (Zovirax) | 4 | |
| Famciclovir (Famvir) | 3 | |
| Cephalexin (Keflex) | 1 | |
| Gabapentin (Neurontin) | 1 | |
| Tramadol (Ultram) | 1 |
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