Individual generic drug information

valaciclovir

Reference monograph

Part of registered formulation

VALACICLOVIR HYDROCHLORIDE

Reference record: Valaciclovir
Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
Printed source pages: 695, 696
Age groups indexed: 2

Individual active ingredientSource records are displayed separately

Some source sections could not be separated reliably in the extraction. Review the printed source pages when a field is missing or incomplete.

Overview

Extracted information for Valaciclovir only.

Indications And Dose

Herpes zoster infection, treatment ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 1 g 3 times a day for 7 days Herpes zoster infection, treatment in immunocompromised patients ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 1 g 3 times a day for at least 7 days and continued for 2 days after crusting of lesions Herpes simplex, treatment of first infective episode ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 500 mg twice daily for 5 days (longer if new lesions appear during treatment or healing is incomplete) Herpes simplex infections treatment of first episode in immunocompromised or HIV-positive patients ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 1 g twice daily for 10 days Herpes simplex, treatment of recurrent infections ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 500 mg twice daily for 3–5 days Treatment of recurrent herpes simplex infections in immunocompromised or HIV-positive patients ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 1 g twice daily for 5–10 days Herpes labialis treatment ▶BY MOUTH ▶Child 12–17 years: Initially 2 g, then 2 g after 12 hours ▶Adult: Initially 2 g, then 2 g after 12 hours Herpes simplex, suppression of infections ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 500 mg daily in 1–2 divided doses, therapy to be interrupted every 6–12 months to reassess recurrence frequency—consider restarting after two or more recurrences Herpes simplex, suppression of infections in immunocompromised or HIV-positive patients ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 500 mg twice daily, therapy to be interrupted every 6–12 months to reassess recurrence frequency— consider restarting after two or more recurrences Genital herpes, reduction of transmission (administered on expert advice) ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 500 mg once daily, to be taken by the infected partner Prevention of cytomegalovirus disease following solid organ transplantation when valganciclovir or ganciclovir cannot be used ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 2 g 4 times a day usually for 90 days, preferably starting within 72 hours of transplantation

Source page 695

Cautions

Elderly (risk of neurological reactions). maintain adequate hydration (especially with high doses)

Source page 695

Prescribing And Dispensing Information

Valaciclovir is a pro-drug of aciclovir.

Source page 695

Safety

Extracted information for Valaciclovir only.

Interactions

→Appendix 1: valaciclovir

Source page 695

Side Effects

▶Common or very common Diarrhoea. dizziness. headache. nausea. photosensitivity reaction. skin reactions. vomiting ▶Uncommon Abdominal discomfort. agitation. confusion. dyspnoea. haematuria. hallucination. leucopenia. level of consciousness decreased. renal pain. thrombocytopenia. tremor ▶Rare or very rare Angioedema. ataxia. coma. delirium. Infection dysarthria. encephalopathy. nephrolithiasis. psychosis. renal impairment. seizure ▶Frequency not known Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia SIDE-EFFECTS, FURTHER INFORMATION Neurological reactions more frequent with higher doses.

Source page 695

Pregnancy

Not known to be harmful—manufacturers advise use only when potential beneﬁt outweighs risk.

Source page 695

Breast Feeding

Signiﬁcant amount in milk after systemic administration—not known to be harmful but manufacturer advises caution.

Source page 695

Hepatic Impairment

Manufacturer advises caution with doses of 4 g or more per day (no information available).

Source page 695

Renal Impairment

Maintain adequate hydration. Dose adjustments ▶In adults For herpes zoster, 1 g every 12 hours if eGFR 30–50 mL/minute/1.73 m2 (1 g every 24 hours if eGFR 10– 30 mL/minute/1.73 m2; 500 mg every 24 hours if eGFR less than 10 mL/minute/1.73 m2). For treatment of herpes simplex, 500 mg (1 g in immunocompromised or HIV-positive patients) every 24 hours if eGFR less than 30 mL/minute/1.73 m2. For treatment of herpes labialis, if eGFR 30–50 mL/minute/1.73 m2, initially 1 g, then 1 g 12 hours after initial dose (if eGFR 10–30 mL/minute/1.73 m2, initially 500 mg, then 500 mg 12 hours after initial dose; if eGFR less than 10 mL/minute/1.73 m2, 500 mg as a single dose). For suppression of herpes simplex, 250 mg (500 mg in immunocompromised or HIV-positive patients) every 24 hours if eGFR less than 30 mL/minute/1.73 m2. For reduction of genital herpes transmission, 250 mg every 24 hours if eGFR less than 15 mL/minute/1.73 m2. Reduce dose according to eGFR for cytomegalovirus prophylaxis following solid organ transplantation (consult product literature). ▶In children For treatment of herpes labialis, if estimated glomerular ﬁltration rate 30–50 mL/minute/1.73 m2, initially 1 g, then 1 g 12 hours after initial dose (if estimated glomerular ﬁltration rate 10–30 mL/minute/1.73 m2, initially 500 mg, then 500 mg 12 hours after initial dose; if estimated glomerular ﬁltration rate less than 10 mL/minute/1.73 m2, 500 mg as a single dose).

Source page 695

Dose and formulations

Extracted information for Valaciclovir only.

Medicinal Forms

There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Forms available from special-order manufacturers include: oral suspension Tablet CAUTIONARY AND ADVISORY LABELS 9 ▶Valaciclovir (Non-proprietary) Valaciclovir (as Valaciclovir hydrochloride) 500 mg Valaciclovir 500mg tablets | 10 tablet P £22.05 DT = £2.55 | 42 tablet P £78.83 ▶Valtrex (GlaxoSmithKline UK Ltd) Valaciclovir (as Valaciclovir hydrochloride) 250 mg Valtrex 250mg tablets | 60 tablet P £123.28 DT = £123.28 Valaciclovir (as Valaciclovir hydrochloride) 500 mg Valtrex 500mg tablets | 10 tablet P £20.59 DT = £2.55 | 42 tablet P £86.30 6.4a Cytomegalovirus infections ANTIVIRALS › NUCLEOSIDE ANALOGUES

Source pages 695, 696

Dose text by age group

Filter the extracted dose blocks for this individual drug.

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

1 g 3 times a day for 7 days

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

1 g 3 times a day for at least 7 days and

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

500 mg twice daily for 5 days (longer if new

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

1 g twice daily for 10 days

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

500 mg twice daily for 3–5 days

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

1 g twice daily for 5–10 days

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Children

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

Initially 2 g, then 2 g after 12 hours

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

Initially 2 g, then 2 g after 12 hours

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

500 mg daily in 1–2 divided doses, therapy to be

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

500 mg twice daily, therapy to be interrupted

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

500 mg once daily, to be taken by the infected

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

2 g 4 times a day usually for 90 days, preferably

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Age labels are extracted from the printed dose headings and require clinical review. Confirm current local guidance, dose, route, formulation, contraindications and interactions before prescribing.

Individual generic drug information

valaciclovir

Reference monograph

Part of registered formulation

VALACICLOVIR HYDROCHLORIDE

Reference record: Valaciclovir
Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
Printed source pages: 695, 696
Age groups indexed: 2

Individual active ingredientSource records are displayed separately

Some source sections could not be separated reliably in the extraction. Review the printed source pages when a field is missing or incomplete.

Overview

Extracted information for Valaciclovir only.

Indications And Dose

Source page 695

Cautions

Elderly (risk of neurological reactions). maintain adequate hydration (especially with high doses)

Source page 695

Prescribing And Dispensing Information

Valaciclovir is a pro-drug of aciclovir.

Source page 695

Safety

Extracted information for Valaciclovir only.

Interactions

→Appendix 1: valaciclovir

Source page 695

Side Effects

Source page 695

Pregnancy

Not known to be harmful—manufacturers advise use only when potential beneﬁt outweighs risk.

Source page 695

Breast Feeding

Signiﬁcant amount in milk after systemic administration—not known to be harmful but manufacturer advises caution.

Source page 695

Hepatic Impairment

Manufacturer advises caution with doses of 4 g or more per day (no information available).

Source page 695

Renal Impairment

Source page 695

Dose and formulations

Extracted information for Valaciclovir only.

Medicinal Forms

Source pages 695, 696

Dose text by age group

Filter the extracted dose blocks for this individual drug.

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

1 g 3 times a day for 7 days

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

1 g 3 times a day for at least 7 days and

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

500 mg twice daily for 5 days (longer if new

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

1 g twice daily for 10 days

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

500 mg twice daily for 3–5 days

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

1 g twice daily for 5–10 days

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Children

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

Initially 2 g, then 2 g after 12 hours

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

Initially 2 g, then 2 g after 12 hours

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

500 mg daily in 1–2 divided doses, therapy to be

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

500 mg twice daily, therapy to be interrupted

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

500 mg once daily, to be taken by the infected

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Adults

First line only; read the complete Indications and dose section above.

2 g 4 times a day usually for 90 days, preferably

This is a first-line fragment. Read the full Indications and Dose section above.

Candidate age grouping · source page 695

Age labels are extracted from the printed dose headings and require clinical review. Confirm current local guidance, dose, route, formulation, contraindications and interactions before prescribing.