Valaciclovir 500mg Film Coated Tablets
Valaciclovir 250 mg and 500 mg film-coated tablets
Valaciclovir (as valaciclovir hydrochloride monohydrate)
Apt LI
A harma
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this
medicine because it contains important information for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Valaciclovir tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Valaciclovir tablets
3. How to take Valaciclovir tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Valaciclovir tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Valaciclovir tablets are and what they are used for
Valaciclovir belongs to a group of medicines called antivirals. It
works by killing or stopping the growth of viruses called herpes
simplex (HSV), varicella zoster (VZV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Valaciclovir can be used to:
• treat shingles (in adults).
• treat HSV infections of the skin and genital herpes (in adults and adolescents over 12 years old). It is also used to help prevent these infections from returning.
• treat cold sores (in adults and adolescents over 12 years old).
• prevent infection with CMV after organ transplants (in adults and adolescents over 12 years old).
• treat and prevent HSV infections of the eye.
2. What you need to know before you take Valaciclovir tablets
Do NOT take Valaciclovir tablets
• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to valaciclovir or aciclovir or any of the other ingredients of Valaciclovir tablets (see section 6).
Do not take Valaciclovir if this applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Valaciclovir.
Warnings and precautions
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Valaciclovir if:
• you have kidney problems
• you have liver problems
• you are over 65 years of age
• your immune system is weak
If you are not sure if the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking valaciclovir.
Prevent passing genital herpes on to others
If you are taking Valaciclovir to treat or prevent genital herpes, or you have had genital herpes in the past, you should still practice safe sex, including the use of condoms. This is important to prevent you passing the infection on to others. You should not have sex if you have genital sores or blisters.
Other medicines and Valaciclovir
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription, including herbal medicines.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines that affect the kidneys. These include: aminoglycosides, organoplatinum compounds, iodinated contrast media, methotrexate, pentamidine, foscarnet, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, cimetidine and probenecid.
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Always tell your doctor or pharmacist about other medicines if you are taking Valaciclovir for treatment of shingles or after having an organ transplant.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Valaciclovir is not usually recommended for use during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, or think you could be, or if you are planning to become pregnant, do not take Valaciclovir without checking with your doctor.
Your doctor will weigh up the benefit to you against the risk to your baby of taking Valaciclovir while you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
Valaciclovir can cause side effects that affect your ability to drive. Do not drive or use machines unless you are sure you are not affected.
3. How to take Valaciclovir tablets
Always take Valaciclovir tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The dose that you should take will depend on why your doctor has prescribed Valaciclovir for you. Your doctor will discuss this with you.
Treatment of shingles
• The usual dose is 1000 mg (one 1000 mg tablet or two 500 mg tablets) three times a day.
• You should take Valaciclovir for seven days.
Treatment of cold sores
• The usual dose is 2000 mg (two 1000 mg tablets or four 500 mg tablets) twice a day.
• The second dose should be taken 12 hours (no sooner than 6 hours) after the first dose.
• You should take Valaciclovir for one day (two doses) only.
Treatment of HSV infections of the skin and genital herpes
• The usual dose is 500 mg (one 500 mg tablet or two 250 mg tablets) twice a day.
• For the first infection you should take Valaciclovir for five days or for up to ten days if your doctor tells you to. For recurrent infection the duration of treatment is normally 3-5 days.
Helping to prevent HSV infections from returning after you have had them
• The usual dose is one 500 mg tablet once a day.
• Some people with frequent recurrences may benefit from taking one 250 mg tablet twice a day.
• You should take Valaciclovir until your doctor tells you to stop.
To stop you being infected with CMV (Cytomegalovirus)
• The usual dose is 2000 mg (two 1000 mg tablets or four 500 mg tablets) four times a day.
• You should take each dose about 6 hours apart.
• You will usually start taking Valaciclovir as soon as possible after your surgery.
• You should take Valaciclovir for around 90 days after your surgery, until your doctor tells you to stop.
Your doctor may adjust the dose of Valaciclovir if:
• you are over 65 years of age
• you have a weak immune system
• you have kidney problems.
Talk to your doctor before taking Valaciclovir if any of the above apply.
Taking this medicine
• Take this medicine by mouth.
• Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water.
• Take Valaciclovir at the same time each day.
• Take Valaciclovir according to instructions from your doctor or pharmacist.
People over 65 years of age or with kidney problems It is very important while you are taking Valaciclovir that you drink water regularly during the day. This will help to reduce side effects that can affect the kidney or nervous system. Your doctor will closely monitor you for signs of these. Nervous system side effects might include feeling confused or agitated, or feeling unusually sleepy or drowsy.
If you take more Valaciclovir than you should
Valaciclovir is not usually harmful, unless you take too much over several days. If you take too many tablets you may feel sick, vomit, or be confused, agitated or unusually sleepy. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you take too much Valaciclovir. Take the medicine pack with you.
If you forget to take Valaciclovir
• If you forget to take Valaciclovir, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose.
• Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Rare (affects up to 1 in 1,000 people)
• unsteadiness when walking and lack of coordination (ataxia)
• slow, slurred speech (dysarthria)
• fits (convulsions)
• altered brain function (encephalopathy)
• unconsciousness (coma)
• confused or disturbed thoughts
• severe confusion
These nervous system side effects usually occur in people with kidney problems, the elderly or in organ transplant patients taking high doses of 8 grams or more of Valaciclovir a day. They usually get better when Valaciclovir is stopped or the dose reduced.
Other rare side effects:
• kidney problems where you pass little or no urine.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
5. How to store Valaciclovir tablets
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, valaciclovir can cause side effects in some people.
The following side effects may happen with this medicine: Conditions you need to look out for
• severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). These are rare in people taking Valaciclovir. Rapid development of symptoms including:
- flushing, itchy skin rash
- swelling of the lips, face, neck and throat, causing difficulty in breathing (angiodema)
- fall in blood pressure leading to collapse.
If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking Valaciclovir and see a doctor straight away.
Very Common (affects more than 1 in 10 people):
• headache
Common (affects up to 1 in 10 people)
• feeling sick
• dizziness
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• skin reaction after exposure to sunlight (photosensitivity)
• rash
Uncommon (affects up to 1 in 100 people)
• feeling confused
• seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations)
• feeling very drowsy
• tremors
• feeling agitated
• blood in urine
These nervous system side effects usually occur in people with kidney problems, the elderly or in organ transplant patients taking high doses of 8 grams or more of Valaciclovir a day. They usually get better when Valaciclovir is stopped or the dose reduced.
Other uncommon side effects:
• shortness of breath (dyspnoea)
• stomach discomfort
• rash, sometimes itchy, hive-like rash (urticaria)
• low back pain (kidney pain)
Uncommon side effects that may show up in blood tests:
• reduction in the number of white blood cells (leucopenia)
• reduction in the number of blood platelets which are cells that help blood to clot (thrombocytopenia)
• increase in substances produced by the liver
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 30°C.
Do not use Valaciclovir tablets after the expiry date stated on the label, carton or bottle. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Valaciclovir tablets contain
• The active substance is valaciclovir.
• Each film-coated tablet contains 250 mg or 500 mg valaciclovir (as valaciclovir hydrochloride monohydrate).
• The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, titanium dioxide (E171) and macrogol.
What Valaciclovir tablets look like and contents of the pack
Valaciclovir tablets are oval, white, biconvex and film-coated with the following size and markings:
250 mg tablets: 13.8 x 6.9 mm with VC1 on one side 500 mg tablets: 17.6 x 8.8 mm with VC2 on one side
All strengths are available in blister packs or plastic tablet containers of 4, 7, 10, 14, 28, 30, 42, 50, 56, 60, 90, 100 and 500 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Aptil Pharma Limited 9th Floor, CP House 97-107 Uxbridge Road Ealing, London W5 5TL
Manufacturer
Actavis Hf.
Reykjavikurvegi 78,
IS-220 Hafnaflordur,
Iceland
This leaflet was last revised in 09/2012.