How fast does valtrex work for shingles

The medication can cause some side effects. The most commonly known effects include:. These side effects are usually mild. But there are some severe side effects that Valtrex can cause in some people. These include issues with kidney and nervous system function.

Severe side effects are more likely to occur in the elderly and those with pre-existing kidney disease. A doctor should discuss these and other possible side effects with you before prescribing Valtrex. If you get shingles, starting Valtrex treatment as soon as possible may help to reduce the amount of days you have shingles symptoms.

It could also help lessen shingles-related pain. Shingles causes a painful rash that can be accompanied by fever, fatigue, and sensitivity to light. While antiviral medication is an effective….

Chickenpox can last 2 to 3 weeks, but what about shingles, its adult counterpart? Here's what you need to know. Shingles is caused by the same virus, known as varicella-zoster virus, as chickenpox. Shingles can be painful and cause severe complications, so early…. Shingles is a condition related to chickenpox. It mostly affects older adults. Learn the causes and how to avoid getting or spreading the virus that…. Shingles, sometimes called herpes zoster, is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

Learn more here. If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus VZV. This virus causes both chickenpox varicella and shingles herpes zoster.

Shingles occur when VZV is reactivated later on in life. If you have had chickenpox in the past, then you are at risk of getting herpes zoster. After recovering from chickenpox, VZV seems to disappear, but it actually goes into hiding in your nervous system—waiting to come back with a vengeance. Reactivation of VZV typically happens to older adults most commonly over 60 years of age or during periods of low immune system health HIV, illness, cancer treatments, stress, etc.

Prescription genital herpes treatment. Talk with a doctor about how to treat and suppress outbreaks before the first symptom. Shingles symptoms typically begin with itching, tingling, or burning in an area on one side of the body.

One or two days later, a painful, burning rash made up of small fluid-filled blisters like chickenpox develops in that area. Herpes zoster usually only affects the area fed by a specific nerve whichever nerve is hiding the virus , and this area is called a dermatome. New blisters will keep popping up in the next three to five days before crusting and eventually healing over the following two to four weeks. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, chills, and upset stomach.

This is called post-herpetic neuralgia, and it is the most common complication from herpes zoster Albrecht, Valacyclovir brand name Valtrex is an antiviral drug that works against herpes infections like genital herpes herpes simplex virus 2 , cold sores herpes simplex virus 1 , chickenpox VZV , and shingles VZV.

Antivirals work by making it harder for viruses to copy themselves and spread from cell to cell Ormrod, Valacyclovir is a prescription drug that you take by mouth as soon as possible after developing the virus. It is important to know that valacyclovir does not cure the virus forever—it only treats the current episode, making it less painful and resolve faster than it would without medication.

Also, valacyclovir can be used long term suppressive therapy to prevent or suppress outbreaks. Valacyclovir is an FDA-approved treatment for herpes zoster as well as genital herpes and cold sores.

On average, people with HSV-1 experience about one outbreak per year, while people with HSV-2 will usually experience four to five outbreaks per year. When these outbreaks occur, valacyclovir can provide fast and effective relief, helping to control herpes outbreak symptoms.

The typical valacyclovir dosage for recurrent herpes outbreaks is mg two times per day over a period of three days. When taken as soon as you notice a herpes outbreak, valacyclovir can provide relief in as little as two to three days, minimizing symptoms and reducing the risk of you passing genital herpes to sexual partners.

HSV 2 - What's the difference? Valacyclovir is usually prescribed for seven days for shingles, with a typical dosage of 1, mg three times per day. Most experts recommend starting valacyclovir within 72 hours of noticing symptoms for the best results. For cold sores, valacyclovir is usually taken in two large doses of 2, mg, split 12 hours apart from each other.

Like with other outbreaks of HSV, valacyclovir will speed up the speed at which cold sores heal, but it can still take seven to 10 days for them to fully disappear. From cold sores to genital herpes, acting quickly helps you treat and control a herpes outbreak in the shortest amount of time. For this reason, most doctors recommend using valacyclovir in the first hours after noticing a cold sore or other herpes blister developing.