What dosage is prescribed for Valvir? Instructions for use of the drug and its doses are presented below. Also in the materials of this article you can find information about the indications of the drug, its side effects and contraindications.
Composition, form and packaging of the medicine
In what form is the drug “Valvir” sold? Instructions for use are enclosed in cardboard packaging along with white oval and biconvex tablets (in blisters) coated with a film coating.
The active ingredient in this medication is valaciclovir hydrochloride hydrate. As for the additional ingredients, manufacturers use povidone and microcrystalline cellulose as their ingredients.
Pharmacological properties
The medicine "Valvir" is an antiviral agent. After the active substance enters the body under the influence of valaciclovir hydrolase, it immediately decomposes into acyclovir and L-valine.
This medication inhibits the activity of chickenpox viruses, herpes simplex and cytomegalovirus.
Valvir tablets, the instructions of which are presented below, slow down the synthesis of viral DNA. In other words, the active component of this drug is embedded in the DNA of viruses, and subsequently breaks its chain and blocks replication.
Pharmacokinetic indicators
Where does the absorption of Valvir take place? Instructions for use indicate that this medication is absorbed into the systemic circulation from the digestive tract. After taking one dose in an amount up to 2 g, the highest concentration of the drug is achieved in the blood after two hours. The bioavailability of the drug is independent of food intake and is about 54%.
The relationship of the active substances of the drug with plasma proteins is quite low (about 15%). However, they are fairly quickly distributed across all body tissues. Acyclovir is found in muscles, liver, lungs and kidneys. In addition, it penetrates into the herpetic vesicles, cerebrospinal fluid and vaginal secretion.
The half-life of this medication is three hours. Its excretion from the body is carried out with urine.
What are they used for?
According to what indications are patients prescribed a medication such as Valvir (500 mg)? The instruction informs that this tool is effective in:
- herpes zoster;
- labial herpes;
- relapse of infections of the skin and mucous membranes (used for both prevention and treatment), which were caused by herpes (with first detected and recurrent genital herpes);
- cytomegalovirus infection (as a prophylaxis), which was formed during organ transplantation.
In addition to the above, this drug is used to reduce the likelihood of infection of a healthy partner (in combination with a condom).
Contraindications
The drug "Valvir" during pregnancy is not recommended. Also, tablets can not be prescribed for:
- bone marrow transplantation;
- in childhood;
- clinically expressed form of HIV infection;
- kidney transplantation;
- hypersensitivity to drug substances.
Extremely carefully, this medication is prescribed for patients with hepatic and renal failure, as well as during breastfeeding.
The drug "Valvir": instructions for use
Tablets are prescribed by mouth. Their dosage depends on the severity and type of disease.
- With herpes zoster, 1000 mg of the drug is prescribed three times a day for a week.
- With labial herpes, the drug is given to the patient 2 g twice a day. The second dose should be taken after 12 hours.
- With herpes simplex, doctors recommend using 500 mg of the drug twice a day. If relapses occur, the course of treatment should be 3-5 days, and with the initial episode, about 10 days.
- In the prevention of cytomegalovirus infection in people over 12 years of age, it is necessary to use 2 g of the drug four times a day. The duration of therapy is 90 days.
- In the prevention of relapse of infections caused by the herpes simplex virus, people with normal immunity are prescribed 500 mg of the drug once a day, for adults with immunodeficiency - 500 mg twice a day, and with frequent relapses - 250 mg with the same frequency. The duration of treatment is 7-12 months.
Overdose cases
What are the signs of an overdose when taking elevated doses of the drug "Valvir" from herpes? Reviews of experts say the following symptoms: hallucinations, nausea, agitation, confusion, headaches, vomiting, coma, renal failure, convulsions, increased concentration of creatinine (serum) in the blood.
If such conditions occur, you should immediately consult a doctor. In case of an overdose, patients should be constantly monitored by specialists in order to identify signs of toxic effects.
Conducting hemodialysis allows you to completely remove acyclovir from the body of the victim.
Valvir tablets: side effects
When taking Valvir, patients often complain of such adverse reactions as persistent headaches and nausea. In addition, the medication often causes quite serious negative phenomena in the form of acute renal failure, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, neurological disorders and hemolytic-uremic syndrome.
It should also be noted that in some cases, patients may experience the following undesirable effects (while taking the drug):
- discomfort in the abdomen;
- dyspnea;
- leukopenia and thrombocytopenia;
- impaired renal function;
- anaphylaxis;
- visual impairment;
- hallucinations, agitation, psychotic symptoms, dizziness, encephalopathy, agitation, confusion, depression, dysarthria, decreased mental ability;
- erythema multiforme;
- skin rashes, photosensitivity and itching;
- hypercreatininemia, a decrease in hemoglobin;
- angioedema and urticaria;
- thrombocytopenic thrombotic purpura, neutropenia, aplastic anemia and leukoplastic vasculitis;
- dysmenorrhea, respiratory tract infections, fever, tachycardia, dehydration, arthralgia, nasopharyngitis, fatigue, facial swelling, increased pressure and rhinorrhea.
Recommendations for taking the medicine
According to experts, the bioavailability of this drug does not depend on food intake. In this regard, you can take pills with meals and after. In this case, it is recommended to observe an equal interval between the doses taken.
For elderly people, dosage adjustment is not required. The only exceptions are those cases when patients have kidney dysfunctions.
There is no experience with the clinical use of drugs in children under 12 years of age. Therefore, it should not be prescribed at this age.
Reviews of patients about the drug
What do patients say about a drug like Valvir (for cold sores)? The reviews of those who have ever used this medication say that this tool helps to quickly and effectively eliminate all herpetic eruptions (on the mucous membranes, genitals, etc.).
In addition, this drug significantly improves the patient's emotional and physical well-being.
It should be noted that the drug in question can be prescribed not only for the treatment of the herpes virus, but also for its prevention. A large number of patients claim that the controlled use of this medication can reduce the incidence of vesicular rashes to a minimum. It can not be said that the use of recommended doses of the drug in humans almost never causes side effects.
Along with positive reviews about Valvir tablets, there are also negative ones. As a rule, they are associated with the overpriced price of this drug. Today 10 tablets of this drug can be bought for 630-680 rubles.