Viral infections await the person at every step of his fast-paced life. With some of them, the immune system of a healthy person can cope on their own. And to combat some, the use of special antiviral drugs is required. The modern industry for the development and production of medications - the pharmaceutical industry - has developed and is ready to offer its patients and medical workers a whole list of such medicines. One of them is the drug "Valaciclovir".
The principle of the drug
The main active ingredient of Valaciclovir is Valaciclovir hydrochloride (556 mg in one tablet). Pure Valaciclovir - 500 mg. This component inhibits the synthesis of DNA of viruses that cause herpes, inhibits the replication processes (delays or completely inhibits the process of doubling DNA molecules).
After the medication enters the human body, it breaks down into acyclovir and L-valine. Then, through phosphorylation, acyclovir triphosphate is formed, which, in fact, inhibits the synthesis of DNA of herpes viruses, does not allow them (DNA) to double. Perhaps this is because acyclovir is embedded in the structure of the viral DNA molecule. We can say that Valacyclovir has high selectivity for tissues affected by the virus.
Scope of Valacyclovir
In general, “Valacyclovir” instructions for use regulate the use (by medical personnel - appoint for admission) of people suffering from infectious diseases of the mucous membranes and skin provoked by the Herpeszoster virus. Let's take this medication for preventive purposes. Also, specialists can prescribe Valaciclovir for the prevention of cytomegalovirus infection, which may develop during the postoperative period regarding organ transplantation. The drug will be effective when treating shingles.
Contraindications and restrictions on admission
"Valacyclovir" is contraindicated in individuals with high sensitivity to the main active component of the drug. The use of the drug in transplantology during transplantation of kidneys and bone marrow is unacceptable. Also, “Valaciclovir” is not prescribed for HIV-infected patients (if the level of CD 4 lymphocytes does not exceed the limit of 100 μ / l). There are contraindications for taking the medication in children and adolescents under the age of 18 years. An exception in this case may be children who have undergone an organ transplant. Such patients are allowed treatment with Valaciclovir from the age of 12.
As for the restrictions, since Valacyclovir is a rather aggressive medicine, there are restrictions on its use by pregnant women and nursing mothers. There were no special laboratory studies on this subject.
If a woman plans to become pregnant and give birth to a baby, and the herpes virus is napping in the body, the attending physician should know about this. For an unborn baby, an exacerbation of herpetic infection can be dangerous. During childbirth, there is also the possibility of a baby becoming infected by the mother. In the case of a planned pregnancy, it will be correct to undergo a preliminary examination for the presence of herpes of the second type in the body. Also, the doctor may prescribe several scheduled checks for the possible detection of the herpes virus.
In any case, before prescribing a drug for this category of patients, a medical professional must compare the expected effect of therapy for the mother with the risk to the health of the future or already born baby. There is information that acyclovir is excreted together with breast milk in concentrations many times higher than its content in plasma (from 0.6 to 4.1 times).
Feasible side effects
About the drug "Valacyclovir", the instructions for use declare it as a medication that can cause a whole list of side effects. Since the medicine passed all clinical trials, studies and observations (groups of patients with herpes zoster, one herpes and the same, but accompanied by immunodeficiency), practically all possible side effects have been identified at present.
The human gastrointestinal tract can respond to the use of the medication with unpleasant sensations in the epigastric region. Conditions such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hepatitis, and increased activity of liver enzymes may develop.
On the part of the central nervous system, a reaction to Valaciclovir is possible (patient reviews confirm this) in the form of dizziness and headaches, depressive states, hallucinations, impaired consciousness (rarely). If patients have abnormalities in the functioning of the kidneys or other predisposing factors, a coma may occur. From time to time you can hear about the reaction from the cardiovascular system in the form of tachycardia (increased heart rate) or an increase in blood pressure.
Allergic reactions are quite common: skin itching, rash, urticaria, anaphylaxis, angioedema and Quincke's edema. Of the other negative manifestations when taking Valacyclovir medication (analogues cause basically the same or very similar reactions), dyspnea, photosensitivity, dehydration (dehydration), and thrombocytopenia (a decrease in platelet count, which is accompanied by difficulties in stopping bleeding and increased bleeding) are possible. Doctors also talk about a possible manifestation of nasopharyngitis, aplastic anemia, vasculitis.
Method of administration and dosage
"Valacyclovir" (tablets) is taken orally, regardless of food intake. The dosage regimen and dosage vary depending on the disease and the severity of the patient's condition.
Most often, this medication is prescribed for the treatment of the herpes virus. In these cases, the daily dose is 1000 mg (2 tablets). It is recommended to take in two divided doses, one tablet in the morning and evening. The course of treatment therapy can be from 5 to 10 days (severe course of the disease). In this mode and in the same dose, the drug is taken for prophylactic purposes.
In case of shingles "Valacyclovir", the instructions for use are recommended according to another scheme. Here, a dose of 1000 mg is a single dose. Dosing regimen - three times a day (i.e. 6 tablets per day, three times 2 pcs.). The course of therapy usually lasts 7 days. The sooner after the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease, the patient will seek medical help, the sooner the positive effect will be achieved.
For patients with impaired renal function, dose adjustment is required.
Some features of the use of "Valacyclovir"
For people with kidney failure, the use of the drug increases the likelihood of developing neurological complications or an acute form of failure. Patients of advanced age should increase the amount of fluid consumed during the course of treatment. Caution should be exercised for people suffering from any kind of liver disease.
If the medication is prescribed for the treatment of a disease such as genital herpes, Valacyclovir will not be able to prevent the infection of the partner. Therefore, during the course of therapy should refrain from sexual intercourse.
If a patient has undergone a kidney or bone marrow transplant, he has a pronounced clinical picture of HIV infection, there is a state of acute immunodeficiency, the use of Valaciclovir can lead to irreversible, fatal consequences. Thrombocytopenic purpura may develop: pathological changes in one or more parts of hemostasis, expressed in small spotted capillary hemorrhages in the skin, under the skin or in mucous membranes. There is also the likelihood of a manifestation of the uremic syndrome (cessation of kidney function, stopping the urination process). Both of these conditions (purpura and uremia) are highly likely to lead to death.
Do not prescribe "Valacyclovir" to children under 18 years of age, since there is no clinical experience with such patients.
If the patient develops convulsions, agitation, hallucinations, delusions, confusion, the use of the drug should be abandoned and consult a specialist.
Interaction with other medicines
No clinically pronounced manifestations of the interaction of "Valacyclovir" with other medications have been established. However, the main active component of the drug is excreted through the kidneys by tubular secretion. Therefore, any medications with the same method of excretion, taken in parallel, will complicate this process and increase the concentration of valaciclovir in plasma. First of all, health workers should pay attention to cimetidine and similar drugs that block the mechanism of tubular secretion.
The concentration of acyclovir in blood plasma will be increased with the simultaneous administration of "Valacyclovir" and "Mycophenolate". The parallel use of medications that complicate or impair the functioning of the kidneys (Tacrolimus, Cyclosporin, etc.) will increase the load on these organs.
Similar drugs
The list of antiviral drugs today is quite wide. Coincidentally, the ATX code for the 4th level of medicines contains many, but closest to the Valacyclovir medication: Valtrex, Vaiora, Valalogard, Valtsikon, Valavir, Valvir, Vacirex. This list is not complete enough, it can be continued.
The most widespread consumer demand of all its analogues is Valtrex today. This analogue is imported, with the same active substance. The effectiveness of the drug and the frequency of manifestation of negative, adverse reactions is identical to Valaciclovir. The difference exists only in price: Valtrex is much more expensive. Therefore, many patients are interested in the question of whether Valacyclovir or Valtrex is better. There is only one answer - both drugs are quite effective.
Opinion of patients and medical workers about the drug
Most patients respond to the drug in a positive way. A high degree of effectiveness was shown by Valaciclovir (the reviews of health workers and patients in this regard are the same) in the treatment of herpes virus. The inflammatory process fades quickly and does not manifest itself again over a sufficiently long period. Quite often, along with tablets, people use a substance containing valaciclovir ointment (another form of the release of the medication). In such cases, the effectiveness of therapy is increased, a positive result is achieved in a shorter period of time. However, patients should bear in mind that at present there is no medication that can permanently rid the body of the herpes virus, it has not yet been developed. There are only drugs for symptomatic treatment.
However, from a separate group of patients you can hear about the manifestation of adverse reactions. Most often these are abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia. Many consumers are satisfied with the relatively low price for tablets or Valaciclovir ointment. Its analogues, as a rule, are much more expensive, and the effectiveness is the same, side effects are also identical.
Health professionals also confirm the effectiveness of this antiviral drug in treating many diseases of this nature.
"Valacyclovir" - the drug number 1?
"Valacyclovir" instructions for use are positioned as a very effective antiviral drug. Diseases of viral origin can thoroughly and permanently ruin a person’s life. However, a panacea, for example, from a herpetic infection has not yet been invented. And any viral disease can return after a certain period of time. Hence the conclusion: the independent appointment and use of Valaciclovir without consulting a doctor is fraught with serious troubles. The smallest thing to expect is simply the lack of positive results. If there are serious problems in the body associated with the functioning of the kidneys, transplantation of the same kidneys and bone marrow, self-treatment with Valaciclovir can even lead to death. And there are a lot of side effects.
If the drug is prescribed by the attending doctor, he has developed a dosage regimen and the dosage has been selected, the effectiveness of Valacyclovir in the treatment of a disease will be maximum with a minimum likelihood of side effects and complications from taking the medication.