This article describes Valtrex’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for Valtrex. If you want to know more about Valtrex, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, side effects, and more.
Valtrex is a brand-name medication that comes as an oral tablet. It’s available in a generic version called valacyclovir. This article describes dosages of Valtrex.
Form and strengths of Valtrex
Valtrex comes as follows:
- Form: tablet that you swallow
- Strengths: 500 milligrams (mg), 1 gram (g)
Dosage of Valtrex
This article describes the recommended dosages for Valtrex. The drugmaker provides these dosages.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of Valtrex without your doctor’s recommendation.
Usual recommended dosages of Valtrex in adults
Doctors prescribe Valtrex to treat certain infections caused by a herpes virus. These include:
It’s best to take Valtrex as soon as you experience the first symptom of an infection.
Dosage for cold sores, shingles, and other conditions
The following table outlines the recommended dosages of Valtrex for adults. The dosages are in milligrams (mg) and grams (g).
| Purpose | Recommended dosage | Length of treatment |
| treat cold sores | 2 g taken twice per day | 1 day |
| treat first episode of genital herpes | 1 g taken twice per day | 10 days |
| treat repeat episodes of genital herpes | 500 mg taken twice per day | 3 days |
| help prevent flare-ups of genital herpes in people with a healthy immune system | 500 mg or 1 g taken once per day | determined by your doctor |
| help prevent flare-ups of genital herpes in people with HIV | 500 mg taken twice per day | determined by your doctor |
| lower the risk of genital herpes passing to a sexual partner | 500 mg taken once per day | determined by your doctor |
| treat shingles | 1 g taken three times per day | 7 days |
The drugmaker has not specified a maximum dosage of Valtrex for adults.
Dosages of Valtrex in children
Valtrex is prescribed to treat certain infections caused by viruses in some children. These include:
- cold sores in children ages 12 years and older
- chickenpox in children ages 2–17 years
The following table outlines the recommended dosages of Valtrex for children. The dosages are in grams (g) and milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of the child’s body weight.
| Condition | Recommended dosage | Maximum dosage | Length of treatment |
| cold sores | 2 g twice per day | not specified by the drugmaker | 1 day |
| chickenpox | 20 mg/kg 3 times per day | 1 gram three times per day | 5 days |
Dosage adjustments for Valtrex
Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of Valtrex based on several factors. These include:
- the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
- your age
- your child’s weight, if prescribed to a child
- other health conditions you may have
Missed dose of Valtrex
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of Valtrex. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.
For tips on how to plan your doses of Valtrex and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:
- downloading a reminder app on your phone
- setting an alarm
- putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table
Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Valtrex and its dosage.
Do older adults with shingles need to take a lower dose of Valtrex?
Yes, they do. The drugmaker recommends a lower dose of Valtrex for older adults to treat shingles. (Older adults refers to people ages 65 years and over.)
Older adults’ bodies may clear the drug more slowly than younger adults’. This can cause Valtrex to reach a higher level in the body. This can increase the risk of side effects.
People in this age group also have a higher risk of other side effects from Valtrex. These include kidney or central nervous system (CNS) side effects. (Your CNS is made up of your brain and spinal cord.) The side effects include agitation, hallucinations, confusion, and seizures. To lower these risks, doctors may prescribe a dose that‘s lower than the recommended dose.
Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about your age and your dose of Valtrex.
Is Valtrex taken long term?
Sometimes it is. Doctors usually prescribe Valtrex as a short-term treatment for most conditions. These include shingles, cold sores, and chickenpox. But for some purposes, including helping prevent flare-ups of genital herpes, they may prescribe it as a long-term treatment.
If you have questions about how long you should take Valtrex, talk with your doctor.
How Valtrex is taken
You’ll swallow Valtrex one to three times per day, as prescribed by your doctor. You can take it with or without food.
Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent amount of the drug in your body. And that can help the drug work more effectively.
The drugmaker hasn’t specified whether it’s safe to cut, crush, dissolve, or chew Valtrex oral tablets. So you should swallow the tablets whole. If it’s difficult for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.
Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.
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Get free cardOverdose of Valtrex
It’s important that you do not take more Valtrex than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.
What to do if you take too much Valtrex
If you think you’ve taken too much Valtrex, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes the usual recommended dosages for Valtrex. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.
Do not change your dosage of Valtrex without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take Valtrex exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- What should I do if I’m still having symptoms of an infection after finishing treatment with Valtrex?
- How long will I take Valtrex?
- Will you need to change my dosage of Valtrex if I take other drugs with it?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.