Give preference to the original medicine or bet on generics? This question haunts many pharmacy visitors. And the reason for doubt lies on the surface: why spend money on expensive “magic pills” when you can buy a drug that is identical in composition for a more modest amount?
Is the doubler always worse than the patented sample and how to understand which medicine is more effective and safer? For clarity, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the most popular medicines focused on combating skin diseases.
High price - impeccable quality: Valtrex
Instructions for use (analogues, although they have an identical composition, cannot be prescribed for use on the basis of this manual) defines Valtrex as an antiviral agent based on valacyclovir and assigns it the role of an effective tool in the fight against herpes. Once in the human body, the active substance changes its structure under the influence of metabolic processes. As a result, L-valine and acyclovir are formed. Further transformation of the reagents results in the synthesis of acyclovir triphosphate, which acts as an inhibitor of the DNA polymerase of the pathogenic pathogen. In simple terms, Valtrex (reviews with herpes about this drug is mostly positive) reduces the activity of the virus due to inhibition of the evolution of its deoxyribonucleic acid.
Valacyclovir primarily provides for the localization and suppression of infectious sources resulting from the development of cytomegalovirus and / or Epstein-Barr virus. In turn, the herpes virus of the first, second and sixth type also falls under the scope of the drug and is neutralized by its components.
Medical indications for the use of the drug
The use of "Valtrex" is advisable in the case of:
- diagnosis of herpes zoster;
- identifying symptoms of infectious irritation of the mucous membranes;
- reasoned suspicions of recurrent genital or labial herpes ;
- the need for the prevention of skin diseases;
- complications of a postoperative nature in transplantology.
It should be noted that the most effective and affordable analogue (Valtrex has dozens of understudies) - a drug under the trade name "Acyclovir" - is almost identical to the eminent original in the nature of the pharmacological reactions and can be prescribed as an alternative drug. The only nuance concerns the fight against relapses: it is generally accepted that a synonymous medication is less productive in this sense.
The practical side of the issue: method of application and dosage
Valtrex tablets (the analogue mentioned above is available on the market both in tablet form and in injection / cream form) should be swallowed whole without violating the integrity of the shell. The frequency of administration, the duration of the course and the dosage of the drug are regulated by a specific diagnosis.
So, for example, with herpes zoster, the daily norm should be six tablets: 3 times in 2 units. The recommended duration of therapy in this case is 7 days (the exact time period is determined by the attending physician). Prevention of cytomegalovirus infection requires a much more serious effort from the patient. Here we are already talking about four daily tricks, each of which involves the use of four pills. And such a schedule will need to be followed for three months. But the herpes simplex virus can be cured by Valtrex in a matter of days: up to ten days, one tablet in the morning and evening.
Limitations and Cautions
Special conditions of use should be observed during treatment with valaciclovir. The fact is that the active substance, along with the provision of a therapeutic effect, sometimes provokes an exacerbation of chronic diseases. For this reason, all preparations containing this component must be prescribed with an adjustment for the condition of a particular patient (Acyclovir as an analogue, Valtrex as an original are fully subordinate to this rule).
In particular, impaired functioning of the kidneys is a signal that therapy must be accompanied by monitoring the level of hydration of the body (especially important for elderly patients). It should also be remembered that with congenital hepatic pathologies or with transplantation of this organ, even low doses of Valtrex are potentially dangerous (despite the fact that the drug is aimed at suppressing infections caused by cytomegalovirus). The lack of reliable data on the reaction of the fetus to the components of the drug imposes a restriction on its use during pregnancy. The appointment of "Valtrex" during lactation is justified in exceptional cases.
Side effects of the drug "Valtrex"
Despite the high cost and positive reviews, Valtrex, as, indeed, any other medicine, has a number of disadvantages, manifested in the form of side effects of a reversible nature. The most common of them:
- headaches alternating with dizziness;
- various gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.);
- functional disorders of the kidneys and excretory channels;
- decreased or, conversely, excessively high tone;
- tremor turning into convulsions;
- skin allergies and edema.
By the way, any analogue (Valtrex is most often compared to Acyclovir) is also imperfect: after taking it, in addition to the above negative reactions, patients sometimes have causeless fatigue against the background of activation of liver enzymes. In addition, isolated cases were noted when the administration of the “doubler” medication led to an increase in the concentration of urea and creatine.
A worthy analogue: Valtrex or Acyclovir
Ideal drugs are not known to exist. Nevertheless, evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of the drug "Valtrex" (reviews for herpes on the emotional and informational load are about the same as the comments on "Acyclovir"), we can conclude its full pharmacological competence.
If we draw functional parallels with the “understudy”, whose price is three to four times lower, and the healing properties are almost the same, the advantage still remains with the patented original. The basis for such a statement is the reagent absorption mechanism.
Valacyclovir - the basic component of Valtrex - is able to overcome the blood-brain barrier even before transformation into acyclovir and thereby remain active until it encounters viral DNA; the active component of the synonymous drug begins to act directly at the start of metabolic processes, as a result of which it loses part of the healing potential. And yet, thanks to the balanced pharmacological kinetics, the drug with the trade name "Acyclovir" stands out from the rest of the analogues.
What is “Acyclovir” prescribed for?
The relatively high price of Valtrex (analogues are several times cheaper) is not the only reason why the attending physician indicates “Acyclovir” in the prescription. Just sometimes, due to diagnostic features, there is no need to use a powerful original.
Specific example. The patient has problems with the kidneys and liver. The formula of the active substance of the drug "Valtrex" is selected in such a way as to guarantee the maximum rate of excretion of components from the body. But valaciclovir, transforming, quite heavily loads the very problematic organs of the patient. Therefore, from a medical point of view, it is advisable to use an analogue drug with a modified withdrawal algorithm.
And the global goal of prescribing Acyclovir is the same - neutralizing infections of viral origin (combating herpes and its derivatives).
Forms of release of the drug "Acyclovir" and recommended doses
The original drug "Valtrex" (instructions, analogs, dosage and special conditions of use are described above) has a tablet form of release. "Acyclovir" is available in the form of tablets, cream and intravenous solution.
As a rule, infusion is resorted to only in severe forms of infection. The drug is administered at 5 mg / kg 3 times a day for 5 days. Under standard conditions of the course of the disease, a synonym drug is prescribed in the form of pills, which must be taken in such quantities:
- five times a day, one unit (5-10 days), if herpes simplex is diagnosed;
- four units five times a day (7 days) if suspicions of herpes zoster are confirmed.
The cream is applied to the affected area 5 times a day for 5-10 days.
Arguments in favor of the original and generics
All the well-known analogues of Valtrex (reviews of them, by the way, can be found in a variety of ways: from eulogies to merciless criticism) contain ingredients identical to those present in the original.
However, it is impossible to talk about the complete similarity of an expensive medicine with more affordable generics. Belonging to different price groups is determined by the following criteria:
- the degree of purification of the reagents and the number of side effects;
- the presence / absence of auxiliary components;
- ease of use.
But the most important factor is the international patent: Valtrex has it, Acyclovir doesn't. Although, again, one should not forget that the lion's share of counterfeits in the pharmaceutical market are low-quality copies of expensive originals. It is economically unprofitable to engage in counterfeit production of generics.
Overview of Other Synonyms
The question of what to choose - “Valtrex” or “Acyclovir” - is not entirely correct and does not fully reflect the current situation (although the majority of votes still hold the leadership for the original). Today, the list of available analogues includes several dozen items, and only an experienced doctor is able to determine whether a particular “understudy” is suitable for the role of the main drug or not. For example, the pharmacological duel “Valtrex” and “Famvira” is unlikely to reveal a winner (due to metabolic nuances, famciclovir sometimes gives results where other drugs are powerless, but often works idle in the most ordinary cases). But Medovir in terms of the effectiveness of the preventive course has every chance to break ahead.