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Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. A doctor will review your consultation and message you with a suggestion within 1-2 working days. Unfortunately, valacyclovir side effects can be difficult to manage on their own, and are only exacerbated by extensive alcohol consumption.
And do not stop taking valacyclovir unless your doctor recommends it. If your doctor prescribes Valtrex differently, then you should follow their instructions. Valtrex is most effective when started as soon as symptoms begin, so see your doctor immediately if you have symptoms.
Learn more about some of the side effects valacyclovir may cause. Some medications are also sensitive to heat, so be sure to store Valtrex at room temperature. Join over 150,000 people who receive weekly coupons, specials offers and health tips. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use . Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
In this guide, we’re going to touch on valacyclovir, its usage, dosage, side effects and how using it with alcohol isn’t a good idea. Valacyclovir has been shown to be an effective treatment for herpes, but it is not a cure. Typically, alcohol withdrawal symptoms happen for heavier drinkers. Alcohol withdrawal can begin within hours of ending a drinking session. However, drinking will not directly cause a Valtrex overdose nor vice versa. Kidney problems–little or no urination, painful or difficult urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath.
Side Effects of Valacyclovir Oral Tablet: What You Need to Know
Valtrex works best when taken at the first symptom of a flare-up as prescribed by the treating doctor. If treatment is delayed during this time, the drug may not be able to work at its maximum. For shingles and chickenpox, start using Valacyclovir at the first signs or as soon as possible after the rash appears on the body.
Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Lastly, if you are prescribed multiple doses of Valtrex for your condition, drinking too much may make you less likely to remember to take your next dose on time. This can interfere with your healing and make your infection harder to treat. This medication works best when started very early in the course of an infection.
Lesions caused by 7 ways to have fun at parties as the only sober person viruses should be kept as clean and dry as possible. Wearing loose clothing may help to prevent irritation of the lesions. While Valtrex use in pregnant women is limited, there is no evidence of major risk to the human fetus from valacyclovir. Several of the clinical conditions you have could hamper the performance of your treatment. Every dosage of Valtrex need to be taken with some food or a complete glass of water.
Additionally, valacyclovir is used as a therapy for children with chickenpox who are between ages 2 and 18. So drinking alcohol while taking valacyclovir may increase your risk of these side effects. Talk with your doctor about how much alcohol, if any, is safe for you to drink while taking this drug. Tell your doctor if you have any kidney problems or if you’re on dialysis. So if they aren’t working well enough, the drug may build up in your system.
Can you take valacyclovir and alcohol? Is it safe?
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Herpes can be passed to your baby during childbirth if you have a genital lesion when your baby is born. If you have genital herpes, it is very important to prevent herpes lesions during pregnancy. Take your medicine as directed to best control your infection.
The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use.
- Alcohol may also worsen certain side effects of valacyclovir.
- This article gives an overview of drug information including Valtrex side effects, warnings, and drug interactions that you should be aware of before taking the medication.
- As with any viral infection, the immune system should ideally be operating at peak efficiency, and when alcohol is being consumed, this may not be possible.
- It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine.
If you’re taking Valtrex to treat shingles, you may want to consider avoiding alcohol altogether. This is becausealcohol can reduce the effectiveness of your immune system. Valtrex helps your immune system fight shingles, so you are making the drug’s job harder by drinking. Valacyclovir can be harmful to the kidneys, and these effects are increased when it is used together with other medicines that can harm the kidneys.
Find Another Drug
If you’re thinking about drinking alcohol whilst taking herpes medication, here’s what you need to know. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice.
Duaryl belongs to a group of hormone drugs, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes. This medicine may pass into breast milk but is unlikely to harm a nursing baby. However, it is necessary to consult a doctor when using the drug while breastfeeding. RxList does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Ethyl alcohol puts a heavy load on the liver which needs to produce enzymes to break down alcohol actively. Getting Treatment for Alcohol Abuse There are no specific warnings against the use of alcohol with Valtrex, but it is probably best to avoid drinking while using this medication. One common valacyclovir-related question is whether or not valacyclovir and alcohol is a safe combination. For example, a person may be more likely to experience nausea than he or she would if Valtrex was being used on its own. Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared.
This could cause serious side effects or health problems. Other conditions can contribute to the level of dizziness experienced by patients taking Acyclovir. Heat, tiredness, stress, and hunger tend to worsen dizziness when taking Acyclovir, and alcohol consumption can amplify the effect even more. If you have been exercising, side effects may be more apparent, and side effects are generally more apparent in older adults. There are more than 80 kinds of known herpes viruses that differ slightly, but which all work in the same basic manner. All herpes viruses are able to move along nerve pathways to nerve endings.
Although no drug interactions exist between Valtrex and alcohol, you may still want to avoid drinking until your infection clears up. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. However, herpes virus can be passed from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth.
What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
You can spread genital herpes even if you do not have symptoms. Always use an effective barrier method (latex or polyurethane condoms/dental dams) during all sexual activity. Wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread of alcohol. Other drugs may interact with can, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.