Tablets "Valvir": instructions for use, reviews

In what dosage is the "Valvir" medication prescribed? Instructions for the use of the drug and its dose are presented below. Also in the materials of this article you can find information about the indications of the drug, its side effects and contraindications.

Composition, form and packaging of the medicine

In what form is the preparation "Valvir" sold? Instructions for use are enclosed in cardboard packaging together with white oval and biconvex tablets (in blisters), coated with a film sheath.

The active ingredient of this medication is valaciclovir hydrochloride hydrate. As for the additional ingredients, the manufacturers use povidone and microcrystalline cellulose as their ingredients.

Pharmacological properties

The medicine "Valvir" is an antiviral agent. After the active substance enters the body under the action of valacyclovirhydrolase, it immediately decomposes into acyclovir and L-valine.

This medicine inhibits the activity of varicella, herpes simplex and cytomegalovirus.

The "Valvir" tablets, the instructions of which are presented below, slow down the synthesis of viral DNA. In other words, the acting component of this drug is built into the DNA of the viruses, and then breaks its chain and blocks replication.

Pharmacokinetic parameters

Where does the absorption of Valvir occur? Instructions for use indicate that this medication is absorbed into the systemic bloodstream from the digestive tract. After taking one dose in an amount up to 2 g, the highest concentration of the drug is reached in the blood after two hours. Bioavailability of the drug does not depend on food intake and is about 54%.

The association of active drug substances with plasma proteins is rather low (about 15%). However, they are distributed fairly quickly over all tissues of the body. Acyclovir is found in the muscles, liver, lungs and kidneys. In addition, it penetrates into herpetic vesicles, cerebrospinal fluid and the secret of the vagina.

The half-life of this medication is three hours. Its removal from the body is carried out together with urine.

What are they used for?

For what indications are the patients prescribed a medication such as Valvir (500 mg)? The instruction informs that this tool effectively manifests itself when:

• Herpes zoster;
• Labial herpes;
• Relapses of skin and mucous membrane infections (used for both prophylaxis and treatment) that were caused by herpes (with newly diagnosed and relapsing genital herpes);
• Cytomegalovirus infection (as a prophylaxis), which was formed during organ transplantation.

In addition to the above, this drug is used to reduce the likelihood of infection of a healthy partner (in conjunction with a condom).

Contraindications for use

The drug "Valvir" during pregnancy is not recommended. Also, tablets can not be administered when:

• Bone marrow transplantation;
• In childhood;
• Clinically expressed form of HIV infection;
• Kidney transplantation;
• Hypersensitivity to drug substances.

Extremely cautious this medication is prescribed for patients with hepatic and renal insufficiency, as well as during breastfeeding.

Valvir preparation: instructions for use

Tablets appoint or nominate inside. Their dosage depends on the severity and type of the disease.

• With herpes zoster , 1000 mg of medication is prescribed three times a day for a week.
• With labial herpes, the drug is given to the patient 2 g twice a day. The second dose should be taken after 12 hours.
• With simple herpes, doctors recommend using 500 mg of medication twice a day. If relapses occur, the course of treatment should be 3-5 days, and for the primary episode - about 10 days.

• In the prevention of cytomegalovirus infection in people over 12 years of age, it is necessary to use 2 g of the drug four times a day. The duration of therapy is 90 days.
• When preventing the recurrence of infections caused by the herpes simplex virus, people with normal immunity are prescribed 500 mg of medication once a day, adult patients with immunodeficiency - 500 mg twice a day, and with frequent relapses - 250 mg at the same frequency. The duration of treatment is 7-12 months.

Cases of overdose

What signs of overdose occur when taking high doses of Valvir from herpes? The experts' comments refer to the following symptoms: hallucinations, nausea, agitation, confusion, headaches, vomiting, coma, kidney failure, convulsions, an increase in the concentration of creatinine (serum) in the blood.

If such conditions occur, you should immediately consult a doctor. In case of an overdose, patients should be constantly observed by specialists in order to identify signs of toxic effects.

Conduction of hemodialysis allows to completely remove acyclovir from the body of the victim.

Valvir tablets: side effects

When taking Valvir, patients very often complain of such adverse reactions as persistent headaches and nausea. In addition, the medication often causes quite serious negative phenomena in the form of acute renal failure, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, neurological disorders and hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

It should also be noted that in some cases, patients may experience the following undesirable effects (against the background of taking the drug):

• Discomfort in the abdomen;
• Dyspnoea;
• Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia;
• Impaired kidney function;
• anaphylaxis;
• Impaired vision;
• Hallucinations, agitation, psychotic symptoms, dizziness, encephalopathy, agitation, confusion, depression, dysarthria, decreased mental abilities;
• Erythema multiforme;
• Rashes on the skin, photosensitivity and itching;
• Hypercreatininaemia, lowering of hemoglobin;
• Angioedema and urticaria;
• Thrombocytopenic thrombotic purpura, neutropenia, aplastic anemia and leukoplastic vasculitis;
• Dysmenorrhea, respiratory tract infections, fever, tachycardia, dehydration, arthralgia, nasopharyngitis, fatigue, face swelling, increased pressure and rhinorrhea.

Recommendations for taking the medicine

According to experts, the bioavailability of this drug does not depend on food intake. In this regard, you can take the pill and during meals, and after. In this case, it is recommended to observe an equal interval between the doses taken.

Elderly people do not need to adjust dosages. Exceptions are only those cases in which patients have renal dysfunction.

The experience of clinical use of drugs in children under 12 years of age is absent. Therefore, to appoint him at this age should not be.

Patients' comments about the drug

What do patients say about such a drug as "Valvir" (from herpes)? The testimonies of those who have ever used this medication say that this remedy facilitates the rapid and effective elimination of all herpetic eruptions (on the mucous membranes, genitalia, etc.).

In addition, this drug significantly improves the patient's emotional and physical well-being.

It should be noted that the agent under consideration can be prescribed not only for the treatment of the herpes virus, but also for its prevention. A large number of patients argue that the controlled intake of this medication can reduce the incidence of bubble rashes to a minimum. One can not help saying that the use of recommended doses of the drug in humans almost never causes side effects.

Along with positive responses about the tablets "Valvir", there are also negative ones. As a rule, they are connected with the overestimated price of this medicine. Today, 10 tablets of this drug can be bought for 630-680 rubles.