Valacyclovir, sold most widely as Valtrex, is a nucleoside antiviral prodrug used for herpes simplex, zoster and suppressive therapy. This guide covers how it works, what a standard course looks like, and how ShiningRX supplies it to trade buyers and consumers in the USA, UK and Australia.
Key takeaways
- Valacyclovir is a nucleoside antiviral prodrug indicated for herpes simplex, zoster and suppressive therapy.
- Typical dosing: 1 g twice daily for zoster; 500 mg daily for HSV suppression.
- Onset is lesion healing accelerates within 48 hours of onset; effect lasts 12–24 hour dosing.
- Most reported side effects are headache and other mild, self-limiting reactions.
- Store below 30 °C.
Valacyclovir at a glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Drug class | nucleoside antiviral prodrug |
| Common brand | Valtrex |
| Licensed use | herpes simplex, zoster and suppressive therapy |
| Available strengths | 500 mg, 1000 mg |
| Dosage form | film-coated tablet |
| Typical onset | lesion healing accelerates within 48 hours of onset |
| Duration / dosing interval | 12–24 hour dosing |
| Storage | below 30 °C |
How Valacyclovir works
As a nucleoside antiviral prodrug, Valacyclovir acts on the pathway that drives herpes simplex, zoster and suppressive therapy. The pharmacological effect is dose-related, which is why prescribers begin at the lowest useful strength and adjust on response rather than starting at the maximum. In practice that means 1 g twice daily for zoster; 500 mg daily for HSV suppression
Starting a Valacyclovir course
- 1
Clinical assessment
Confirm the indication for herpes simplex, zoster and suppressive therapy, review comorbidities and check the contraindication list before the first dose.
- 2
Initiate at the standard dose
1 g twice daily for zoster; 500 mg daily for HSV suppression
- 3
Review at the first checkpoint
Reassess once the expected onset window of lesion healing accelerates within 48 hours of onset has passed and document tolerability.
- 4
Titrate or switch
If response is partial and tolerance is good, step up within the licensed range; if tolerance is poor, consider Acyclovir.
Safety profile in brief
Commonly reported effects include headache, nausea, dizziness. Valacyclovir should be avoided in significant renal impairment needs dose reduction. Any severe, persistent or unexpected reaction warrants stopping the medicine and seeking clinical review.