Get a valacyclovir (generic Valtrex) prescription online for cold sores or herpes

Relief for your cold sores, herpes, and shingles has never been easier or more affordable. Get a same-day online prescription for pick up at your local pharmacy within miuntes.

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Product Overview

Valacyclovir (generic Valtrex)

  • What is valacyclovir?
    Valacyclovir (generic Valtrex) is a prescription drug used to treat cold sores, genital herpes, and shingles. Valacyclovir can be prescribed to children to treat cold sores, genital herpes, shingles, and in some cases chickenpox.

    Valacyclovir is available in 500mg or 1g tablets.

  • What are common side effects of valacyclovir?
    While adverse reactions to valacyclovir are rare, some patients who take the drug have been known to experience mild side effects, including headache, nausea, and stomach pain.

    Rare, more serious side effects have been known to occur. If you are concerned that valacyclovir is causing you to experience any number of side effects, please reach out to your doctor.

    This is not a complete list of side effects. For more information on adverse reactions you may experience while taking valacyclovir, please visit the National Institutes of Health’s DailyMed webpage.

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Medically Reviewed By Dr. Allison Edwards, MD

Frequently asked questions about valacyclovir

Valacyclovir (generic for Valtrex) is a prescription medication used to treat conditions caused by the herpes virus. Valacyclovir can be used to treat cold sores (Herpes Labialis), genital herpes, and shingles (Herpes Zoster). Valacyclovir can be prescribed to children to treat cold sores and chickenpox.

Once the herpes virus has entered your body, it never fully leaves - even once your initial symptoms have worn off. This means that you may be at risk of developing shingles, cold sores, or genital herpes outbreak even years after your original infection. The CDC even estimates that 1 in every 6 Americans aged 14-49 has genital herpes.

While it cannot cure herpes (there is no cure, actually), valacyclovir is an antiviral agent that targets the herpes virus within your body, helping to alleviate and control outbreaks - whether they come in the form of cold sores, shingles, or more.

Doctors prescribe valacyclovir to treat shingles, cold sores, and genital herpes. In pediatric patients, doctors may prescribe valacyclovir to treat chickenpox and cold sores.

It is important to note that while valacyclovir is effective in managing symptoms associated with herpes, it is not a cure for the herpes virus. No cure currently exists for the condition.

Valacyclovir is an antiviral drug that works by limiting the herpes virus’ ability to replicate within your body and infect healthy cells. This slows down your infection and helps provide symptom relief.

While adverse reactions to valacyclovir are uncommon, some patients who take the drug may experience mild side effects, including headache, nausea, and stomach pain.

Serious side effects - although very rare - may include facial edema, hypertension, tachycardia, acute hypersensitivity, rash, aggressive behavior, agitation, ataxia, coma, confusion, decreased consciousness, encephalopathy, mania, psychosis, seizures, visual abnormalities, diarrhea, liver enzyme abnormalities, hepatitis, renal failure, renal pain, thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, and rashes.

If you are experiencing any of these side effects - or common side effects that do not go away - contact your doctor.

This is not a complete list of side effects. To learn more about adverse conditions associated with valacyclovir, please visit the National Institutes of Health’s DailyMed page for valacyclovir.

You can expect to feel some symptom relief within 2 to 3 days of beginning a course of valacyclovir. As an antiviral drug, valacyclovir is most effective when taken within the first few days of the onset of your herpes symptoms.

It is important to note that while valacyclovir can help manage herpes symptoms, it is not a cure for the condition. In fact, no cure for herpes currently exists. Even while taking valacyclovir, herpes infections can be spread to others. It is recommended that you avoid sexual contact with others while the sores are present or if you think you may be experiencing an outbreak. In addition, you should avoid contact with open sores.

The recommended dose of valacyclovir depends on the type of infection it has been prescribed to treat. To treat cold sores, it is recommended that you take 2 grams every 12 hours for 1 day. Shingles patients are usually prescribed 1 gram, 3 times per day, for 7 days.

Valacyclovir is most effective in treating genital herpes when taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. 1 gram should be taken twice a day for 10 days.

Valacyclovir is currently only available via prescription. This means the use of this drug must be authorized by a licensed health care provider.

Providers on Sesame can write a prescription – or refill an existing one – during a virtual or in-person visit. Depending on the medication, you can arrange for same-day pickup at a pharmacy near you. Book an online consultation with a real, licensed provider on Sesame today to determine whether or not valacyclovir is right for you.

Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your health care provider. Providers on Sesame cannot prescribe controlled substances.

Yes! Talk to a provider on Sesame and get your online doctor prescription or refill ordered right away for fast and convenient pickup from a pharmacy of your choice.

Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your clinician.

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