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Symptoms of overdose may include:
Check with your doctor immediately in case you suspect an overdose. When taken by people with kidney disorders, excessive doses of Valtrex have been known to cause psychological problems and kidney fa
ilure.
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Special warnings about this medication
Before taking Valtrex,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to acyclovir (Zovirax), Valtrex, or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and
nonprescription medications you are taking, especially cimetidine (Tagamet), probenecid (Benemid), and vitamins.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease, problems
with your immune system, human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV), or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast
-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking Valtrex, call your doctor.
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Possible Side Effect
Although side effects from Valtrex are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- headache
- upset stomach
- vomiting
- diarrhea or loose stools
- constipation
If you experience any of the following side effects, call your doctor immediately:
- rash
- itching
- confusion
- ye
llowness of the skin or eyes
- fever
- blood in the urine
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Proper Use of This Medicine
If you are taking Valtrex for shingles, you should start using it as soon as possible after your doctor has made a diagnosis. It's best to see a doctor and start the drug within 48 hours of first noti
cing the rash. If you wait more than 72 hours after you first get a herpes zoster rash, the medication may not be effective.
If you are using Valtrex for genital herpes, begin taking it at t
he first sign of an attack. The medication may not be effective if you wait longer than 72 hours after the first attack or 24 hours after a later attack.
If you are taking Valtrex for cold s
ores, you should start using it at the earliest signs of infection, such as tingling, itching, or burning.
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Significant Interactions:
If you are taking Valtrex with certain other drugs, the effect of either drug could be increased, decreased, or altered. Check with your doctor before combining Valtrex with cimetidine (Tagamet) and/o
r probenecid (Benemid).
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Before Using This Medicine
Breast-feedingˇXIt is not known whether Valtrex passes into breast milk. However, acyclovir does pass into breast milk but has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
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