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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Having safe sex to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may seem like a no-brainer. But we also understand the very real stigma that comes with an STI like herpes.Herpes is caused by two viruses: the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1 or cold sores) and the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2 or genital herpes). This STI is actually very common, with over 500,000 new infections in 2018 in the U.S. alone.The bad news is that there’s no cure for herpes. The good news is that consistent treatment can manage the severity of herpes outbreaks.Plus, various treatment options are available, including Valtrex® — or valacyclovir, the generic version — an antiviral medication.So what is valacyclovir? Can this medication be used to stop a cold sore? Are there adverse effects, and if so, how long do Valtrex side effects last?Dealing with herpes and starting a new medication can be overwhelming. We’re here to answer the above questions and go over other key information about valacyclovir.Is valacyclovir an antibiotic or another type of medication? And is there a difference between the Valtrex- the brand-name medication, and valacyclovir- the generic name medication?Valacyclovir is an antiviral drug designed to manage HSV (herpes simplex virus), shingles (herpes zoster) and VZV (varicella-zoster virus, more commonly known as chickenpox) infections.As mentioned above, valacyclovir is Valtrex’s generic name — this medication is available under a few different brand names.But you don’t have to worry about generic versus brand-name medication. Generic drugs are required by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) to be the same dosage, safety, effectiveness, strength and quality as their brand-name counterparts.Valacyclovir is an extremely well-studied medication prescribed to people of all ages. It’s been widely and successfully used to control and treat the symptoms of HSV-1 and HSV-2. This medication is so effective, in fact, it’s listed as the “gold standard” in herpes treatment studies.Now that you know what this medication is, you might be wondering: How does valacyclovir work?We mentioned that valacyclovir is an antiviral drug, meaning the medication fights infections caused by viruses. With that said, valacyclovir isn’t classified as an antibiotic — antibiotics are medications that help the immune system fight infections caused by bacteria, not viruses.Like many medications, valacyclovir works through a complex chemical process that interferes with how the herpes virus reproduces. In other words, it stops the herpes virus from spreading to healthy cells, reducing the effects of the virus.The drug slows down the growth of herpes, making it easier for the body to control the infection. Valacyclovir itself is a prodrug (meaning it converts into another substance in the body). It converts into acyclovir (another antiviral herpes medication) after it passes through the liver.Comparing valacyclovir versus acyclovir,
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