VALTREX 250 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Patient leaflet - VALTREX 250 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS

VALTREX

250 mg film-coated tablets

500 mg film-coated tablets

PHARMA CODE N° 7628

valacidovir

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

– Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
– If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist – This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
– If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet:

1. What Valtrex is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Valtrex
3. How to take Valtrex
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Valtrex
6. Contents of the pack and other information

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l 1. What Valtrex is and what it is used for

Valtrex belongs to a group of medicines called antivirals. It works by killing or stopping the growth of viruses called herpes simplex (HSV), varicella zoster (VZV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Valtrex can be used to:

treat shingles (in adults)
treat HSV infections of the skin and genital herpes

(in adults and adolescents over 12 years old). It is also used to help prevent these infections from returning.

treat cold sores (in adults and adolescents over 12 years old)
prevent infection with CMV after organ transplants

(in adults and adolescents over 12 years old)

treat and prevent HSV infections of the eye that continue to come back (in adults and adolescents over 12 years old)

2. What you need to know before you take Valtrex

Do not take Valtrex

if you are allergic to valacidovir or aciclovir or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6).
if you have ever developed an extended rash associated with fever, enlarged lymph nodes, increased levels of liver enzymes and/or eosinophilia (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) after taking valacidovir.

Don't take Valtrex if the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Valtrex.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Valtrex if:

you have kidney problems
you have liver problems
you are over 65 years of age
your immune system is weak

If you are not sure if the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Valtrex.

Take special care with Valtrex – Important Information:

Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) has been reported with the use of valacidovir. DRESS appears initially as flu like symptoms and a rash on the face then an extended rash with a high body temperature, increased levels of liver enzymes seen in blood tests and an increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia) and enlarged lymph nodes.

If you develop a rash associated with a fever and enlarged lymph nodes, stop taking valacidovir and contact your doctor or seek medical attention immediately.

Prevent passing genital herpes on to others If you are taking Valtrex to treat or prevent genital herpes, or you have had genital herpes in the past, you should still practice safe sex, including the use of condoms. This is important to prevent you passing the infection on to others. You should not have sex if you have genital sores or blisters. Other medicines and Valtrex

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription, including herbal medicines.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines that affect the kidneys. These include: aminoglycosides, organoplatinum compounds, iodinated contrast media, methotrexate, pentamidine, foscarnet, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, cimetidine and probenecid.

Always tell your doctor or pharmacist about other medicines if you are taking Valtrex for treatment of shingles or after having an organ transplant.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Valtrex is not usually recommended for use during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, or think you could be, or if you are planning to become pregnant, don't take Valtrex without checking with your doctor. Your doctor will weigh up the benefit to you against the risk to your baby of taking Valtrex while you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Driving and using machines

Valtrex can cause side effects that affect your ability to drive.

Don't drive or use machines unless you are sure you're not affected.

k 3. How to take Valtrex

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The dose that you should take will depend on why your doctor has prescribed Valtrex for you. Your doctor will discuss this with you.

Treatment of shingles

The usual dose is 1000 mg (one 1000 mg tablet or two 500 mg tablets) three times a day.
You should take Valtrex for seven days.

Treatment of cold sores

The usual dose is 2000 mg (two 1000 mg tablets or four 500 mg tablets) twice a day.
The second dose should be taken 12 hours (no sooner than 6 hours) after the first dose
You should take Valtrex for one day (two doses) only.

Treatment of HSV infections of the skin and genital herpes

The usual dose is 500 mg (one 500 mg tablet or two 250 mg tablets) twice a day.
For the first infection you should take Valtrex for five days or for up to ten days if your doctor tells you to. For recurrent infection the duration of treatment is normally 3–5 days.

Helping to prevent HSV infections from returning after you have had them

The usual dose is one 500 mg tablet once a day.
Some people with frequent recurrences may benefit from taking one 250 mg tablet twice a day.
You should take Valtrex until your doctor tells you to stop.

To stop you being infected with CMV (Cytomegalovirus}

The usual dose is 2000 mg (two 1000 mg tablets or four 500 mg tablets) four times a day.
You should take each dose about 6 hours apart.
You will usually start taking Valtrex as soon as possible after your surgery.
You should take Valtrex for around 90 days after your surgery, until your doctor tells you to stop.

Your doctor may adjust the dose of Valtrex if:

you are over 65 years of age
you have a weak immune system
you have kidney problems.

->Talk to your doctor before taking Valtrex if any of the above apply.

PHARMA CODE N° 7628

Taking this medicine

Take this medicine by mouth.
Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water.
Take Valtrex at the same time each day.
Take Valtrex according to instructions from your doctor or pharmacist. People over 65 years of age or with kidney problems It is very important while you are taking Valtrex that you drink water regularly during the day. This will help to reduce side effects that can affect the kidney or nervous system. Your doctor will closely monitor you for signs of these. Nervous system side effects might include feeling confused or agitated, or feeling unusually sleepy or drowsy.

If you take more Valtrex than you should

Valtrex is not usually harmful, unless you take too much over several days. If you take too many tablets you may feel sick, vomit, get kidney problems, may be confused, agitated, feel less aware, see things that aren't there, or become unconscious. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you take too much Valtrex. Take the medicine pack with you.

If you forget to take Valtrex

If you forget to take Valtrex, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Don't take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

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k 4.

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Conditions you need to look out for:

→ Stop using Valtrex and seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:

Severe allergic reactions {anaphylaxis). These are rare in people taking Valtrex. Rapid development of symptoms including:

flushing, itchy skin rash
swelling of the lips, face, neck and throat, causing difficulty in breathing (.angiodema)
fall in blood pressure leading to collapse.

Skin rashes or redness. The adverse reaction of the skin may appear as rashes with or without blisters. Skin irritation, oedema (DRESS syndrome) and fever and flu like symptoms may occur.

The following side effects may also happen with this medicine:

Very Common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

headache

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

feeling sick
dizziness
vomiting
diarrhoea
skin reaction after exposure to sunlight (photosensitivity).
rash
itching (pruritus)

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

feeling confused
seeing or hearing things that aren't there (.hallucinations)
feeling very drowsy
tremors
feeling agitated

These nervous system side effects usually occur in people with kidney problems, the elderly or in organ transplant patients taking high doses of 8 grams or more of Valtrex a day. They usually get better when Valtrex is stopped or the dose reduced.

Other uncommon side effects:

shortness of breath (.dyspnoea)
stomach discomfort
rash, sometimes itchy, hive-like rash (.urticaria)
low back pain (kidney pain)
blood in urine (haematuria)

Uncommon side effects that may show up in blood tests:

reduction in the number of white blood cells (.leucopenia)
reduction in the number of blood platelets which are cells that help blood to clot (.thrombocytopenia)
increase in substances produced by the liver.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

unsteadiness when walking and lack of coordination (.ataxia)
slow, slurred speech (.dysarthria)
fits (convulsions)
altered brain function (.encephalopathy)
unconsciousness (.coma)
confused or disturbed thoughts (delirium)

Other rare side effects:

kidney problems where you pass little or no urine.

Frequency Not Known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms also known as DRESS or drug reaction hypersensitivity syndrome, which is characterised by widespread rash, high body temperature, liver enzyme elevations, blood abnormalities (eosinophilia), enlarged lymph nodes and possibly other body organs. See also section 2.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

l 5. How to store Valtrex

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton. The expiry date (Exp.) refers to the last day of that month.
Store below 30°C.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. contents of the pack and other information

What Valtrex contains

The active substance is valaciclovir. Each tablet contains 250 mg or 500 mg of valaciclovir (as valaciclovir hydrochloride).

What Valtrex tablets look like and contents of the pack

Valtrex tablets are contained in polyvinyl chloride/aluminium foil blister packs. Valtrex Tablets 250 mg are supplied to you in cartons containing 60 film-coated tablets. They are white and marked with „GX CE7“ on one side.

Valtrex Tablets 500 mg are supplied in cartons containing 10,30,42,90 or 112 film-coated tablets. They are white and marked with „GX CF1“ on one side.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing authorisation holder

The Wellcome Foundation Ltd, 980 Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9GS

Manufacturer

Glaxo Wellcome, S.A.Avenida de Extremadura 3, 09400 Aranda de Duero, Burgos, Spain

Other formats:

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Product name Valtrex Tablets 250 mg

Valtrex Tablets 500 mg

Reference number 00003/0371

This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People. Leaflet date: October 2020

GlaxoSmithKline

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