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Valacyclovir

Valaciclovir Actavis, Valaciclovir Allen, Valaciclovir Bluefish, Valaciclovir Viatris · ATC code J05AB11

Also known as: Valaciclovir, Valasiklovir · Brand names: Valaciclovir Actavis, Valaciclovir Allen, Valaciclovir Bluefish, Valaciclovir Viatris, Valdacir, Valtrex, Viropel, Vaxvire, Viromed

Key facts
Active substance
Valacyclovir
Drug class
Direct acting antiviral
ATC code
J05AB11
Authorisation
authorised nationally; no central EU authorisation
Information as of
2026-10-27

Key facts

Valacyclovir is an antiviral that is converted to acyclovir in the body. It is used for cold sores, genital herpes, herpes zoster and chickenpox.

What it is used for

  • Cold sores (herpes labialis) in adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older
  • Genital herpes: initial and recurrent episodes in immunocompetent adults, suppressive therapy (including HIV-1-infected adults) and reduction of transmission
  • Herpes zoster in adults
  • Chickenpox in immunocompetent pediatric patients aged 2 to less than 18 years

Dosing

  • Cold sores: 2 grams twice daily for 1 day taken 12 hours apart, started at the earliest symptom
  • Initial genital herpes: 1 gram twice daily for 10 days; recurrent episodes: 500 mg twice daily for 3 days
  • Suppressive therapy: 1 gram once daily (500 mg once daily alternative with 9 or fewer recurrences per year); HIV-1-infected patients 500 mg twice daily
  • Herpes zoster: 1 gram 3 times daily for 7 days, most effective within 48 hours of rash onset
  • Chickenpox (children): 20 mg/kg 3 times daily for 5 days, not exceeding 1 gram 3 times daily
  • Dose reduction in renal impairment; may be given without regard to meals

Contraindications

  • Clinically significant hypersensitivity reaction (e.g. anaphylaxis, SCARs) to valacyclovir, acyclovir or any component

Important warnings

  • TTP/HUS, sometimes fatal, in advanced HIV-1 disease and transplant recipients at 8 grams per day
  • Acute renal failure, particularly in elderly patients, renal disease with excessive doses, or with nephrotoxic drugs
  • CNS effects (agitation, hallucinations, confusion, seizures, encephalopathy), more likely in elderly patients
  • Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (AGEP, DRESS, SJS, TEN)

Side effects

  • Most common in adults: headache, nausea, abdominal pain
  • Most common in pediatric patients: headache
  • Serious: TTP/HUS, acute renal failure, CNS effects, severe skin reactions

Interactions

  • No clinically significant drug-drug or drug-food interactions known
  • Caution with potentially nephrotoxic drugs

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • Decades of clinical data with valacyclovir and acyclovir have not identified a drug-associated risk of major birth defects; untreated herpes carries fetal risks

Summary of the official product information, written with AI (Claude, Anthropic) on 2026-10-28. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

Full official text →

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For patients

Patient information (US)

Patient information (US) →

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

Austria

  • Valaciclovir ActavisActavis Group Ptc Ehf. · 1 register entry
  • Valaciclovir AllenAllen Pharmazeutika Gesellschaft M.B.H. · 1 register entry
  • Valaciclovir BluefishBluefish Pharmaceuticals Ab · 1 register entry
  • Valaciclovir ViatrisViatris Limited · 1 register entry
  • ValdacirActavis Group Ptc Ehf. · 1 register entry
  • ValtrexGlaxosmithkline Pharma Gmbh. · 1 register entry
  • ViropelPelpharma Handels Gmbh · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28

Germany

  • Valaciclovir1 A Pharma Gmbh, Puren Pharma Gmbh & Co. Kg, Bluefish Pharmaceuticals Ab, Hexal Ag · 6 register entries
  • ValtrexGlaxosmithkline Gmbh & Co. Kg · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28

Turkey

  • ValtrexGLAXOSMİTHKLİNE İLAÇLARI SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 3 register entries
  • VaxvireNEUTEC İLAÇ SAN. TİC. A.Ş · 3 register entries
  • ViromedWORLD MEDICINE İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 3 register entries

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16

USA

  • ValtrexGlaxoSmithKline LLC · 1 register entry

Source: U.S. FDA – Drug labels (openFDA/DailyMed), as of 2026-10-28

Brand names in 24 more European countries
Belgium
Valaciclovir Ab, Valaciclovir Sandoz, Zelitrex
Bulgaria
Валтрекс
Cyprus
Valtrex
Czechia
Valaciclovir +pharma, Valacilovir Viatris, Valtrex
Denmark
Valaciclovir, Valacyclovir Teva
Estonia
Valaciclovir Actavis, Valtrex
Finland
Flushnil, Valaciclovir Ratiopharm, Valavir, Valorin, Valtrex
France
Valaciclovir Almus, Valaciclovir Arrow, Valaciclovir Biogaran, Valaciclovir Bluefish, Valaciclovir Cristers Pharma, Valaciclovir Eg, Valaciclovir Evolugen, Valaciclovir Sandoz, Valaciclovir Teva, Valaciclovir Viatris, Valaciclovir Zentiva, Valaciclovir Zydus, Zelitrex
Greece
Valomed, Valtrex
Iceland
Valablis Forte, Valablis Normal, Valaciclovir Actavis, Valaciclovir Bluefish, Valtrex
Ireland
Valaciclovir Accord Healthcare Ireland, Valaciclovir Bluefish, Valaciclovir Teva, Valacyclovir Teva, Valotix, Valtrex
Italy
Talavir, Valaciclovir Aurobindo, Valaciclovir Eg, Valaciclovir Mylan Generics, Valaciclovir Sandoz, Zelitrex
Latvia
Valaciclovir Actavis, Valtrex
Lithuania
Valaciclovir Actavis, Valtrex
Luxembourg
Zelitrex
Netherlands
Valaciclovir Focus, Valaciclovir Hydrochloride Hydrate Aurobindo, Valaciclovir Pch, Valaciclovir Sandoz, Valaciclovir Viatris, Zelitrex
Norway
Valaciclovir Sandoz, Valaciclovir Viatris, Valtrex
Poland
Vaciclor
Portugal
Valaciclovir Arpedex, Valaciclovir Aurobindo, Valaciclovir Aurovitas, Valaciclovir Azevedos, Valaciclovir Ocram, Valaciclovir Pentafarma, Valaciclovir Tetrafarma, Valaciclovir Tolife, Valtrex
Romania
Valtrex
Slovakia
Valtrex
Slovenia
Valtrex
Spain
Tridiavir, Valaciclovir Almus, Valaciclovir Aurovitas, Valaciclovir Combix, Valaciclovir Tecnigen, Valaciclovir Teva, Valacyclovir Teva, Valtrex
Sweden
Valaciclovir Actavis, Valaciclovir Bluefish, Valaciclovir Orion, Valaciclovir Sandoz, Valaciclovir Viatris, Valtrex

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. VALTREX (GlaxoSmithKline LLC) – Prescribing Information, 2025-11-12. DailyMed (NLM), 2026-10-27. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=f8e0d8f8-cb73-4206-a484-88f5c4fbd719
  2. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  3. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  4. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85
  5. U.S. FDA – Drug labels (openFDA/DailyMed), 2026-10-28. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/
  6. Wikidata (CC0): ATC J05AB.

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-27 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), prescribing information, via DailyMed (NLM); public domain. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.