Apo-valacyclovir is the Canadian trade name for the antiviral medication known in the United States as valacyclovir. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has approved valacyclovir for the treatment of several types of herpes virus infections, including cold sores, genital herpes and shingles in adults. Among children, approved uses include treatment of cold sores and chickenpox.
Cold Sores
MayoClinic.com explains that cold sores arise from cyclic reactivation of an infection with the herpes simplex virus. Taken at the earliest sign of a new cold sore, valacyclovir can shorten the duration of a cold sore and reduce discomfort and pain associated with the skin lesions. Prescribing information for valacyclovir indicates that the drug is FDA-approved for the treatment of cold sores in people age 12 and older.
Genital Herpes Outbreaks
Valacyclovir interferes with the replication of herpes simplex viruses that cause genital herpes. Although the medication does not cure genital herpes, it can reduce viral activity sufficiently to alter the course of genital herpes outbreaks. In a seminal study published in the "Archives of Internal Medicine," Dr. Spotswood Spruance and colleagues report that valacyclovir significantly reduces the duration of genital herpes skin lesions and associated discomfort. These therapeutic effects occur with the initial outbreak associated with herpes infection and recurrent attacks.
Genital Herpes Recurrences
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that recurrent genital herpes outbreaks cause painful blistering sores in the genital and anal regions of the skin. In a review article published in the journal "Drugs," Dr. Douglas Ormrod and colleagues note that long-term treatment with valacyclovir significantly reduces the frequency of recurrent genital herpes outbreaks.
Genital Herpes Transmission
As a sexually transmitted disease, transference of genital herpes to others remains an important personal and public health concern. In a research article published in "The New England Journal of Medicine," Dr. Lawrence Corey and colleagues report that ongoing daily treatment with valacyclovir significantly reduces the risk of genital herpes transmission.
Chickenpox
The varicella-zoster virus, a member of the herpes family of viruses, causes chickenpox. Prescribing information states that valacyclovir is FDA-approved for the treatment of chickenpox in children ages 2 through 17.
Shingles
Shingles, or herpes zoster, represents reactivation of a varicella-zoster virus infection. The disorder typically occurs in older adults, many years after having had chickenpox. In a 2008 review article published in "Canadian Family Physician," Dr.Wim Opstelten and colleagues report that the duration of the painful, blistering skin lesions associated with shingles may be shortened by treatment with valacyclovir. The medication may also blunt the severity of herpes zoster eye involvement.
References
- Drugs.com: Valacyclovir
- GlaxoSmithKline: Valacyclovir Prescribing Information
- MayoClinic.com: Cold Sore
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; A Large-Scale, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging Trial of Peroral Valaciclovir for Episodic Treatment of Recurrent Herpes Genitalis; Spotswood L. Spruance, M.D., et al.; August 1996
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; The Treatment of Herpes Simplex Infections, An Evidence-Based Review; Christina Cernik, M.D., et al.; June 2008
