Recommendations for the treatment of human herpes virus infections with Valacyclovir

Herpesviruses are the most common infectious agents affecting the human body, so they are associated with the highest economic costs of society. In recent decades, significant progress has been made in the treatment of human herpesvirus infections, and every doctor, regardless of specialty, should be well acquainted with the current state of affairs, given the relevance, interdisciplinarity, and diversity of the problem. The purpose of these recommendations is to familiarize doctors of different specialties with modern treatment of herpesvirus infections. The recommendations are based on the principles of evidence-based medicine and are addressed to a wide range of doctors of various specialties who are required to conduct adequate diagnosis and treatment of herpes virus infections of multiple organs and systems, as well as the complications caused by them.

The relevance of the problem

More than 90% of people in Australia are infected with herpes viruses. At least 20% of them have these infectious agents that cause severe health problems. Once in the human body, the virus remains in it for life in a latent or persistent state, undergoing reactivation in favorable conditions. A chronic latent, recurrent, or progressive infection is developing and can cause temporary disability or death.

Herpesviruses are the most common infectious agents affecting the human body, so they are associated with the greatest economic costs of society. Huge amounts of money are spent annually to solve the problem, but we are still very far from the goal.

Nevertheless, significant progress has been made in the treatment of human herpesvirus infections in recent decades, and every doctor, regardless of specialty, should be well acquainted with the current state of affairs, given the relevance, interdisciplinarity, and diversity of the problem. The situation is such that today, it is impossible to provide quality medical care without knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of herpes infections. Having the properties of pantropical, these agents are able to affect all organs and systems of the human body. They are a common cause of ante - and perinatal pathology, can induce malignant growth syndrome and cause a variety of autoimmune complications. As it became known recently, herpesviruses are the cause of some hypersensitivity reactions to drugs and median temporal epilepsy.

Treating patients with herpesvirus infection is not an easy task. The reason for this is a complex strategy of parasitism, opportunistic properties of pathogens, multiple organ lesions, the presence of numerous complications, and the multifactorial nature of some wounds (e.g., nasopharyngeal carcinoma). It is possible to distinguish etiotropic, pathogenetic, and symptomatic treatment, and the emphasis is made on etiotropic therapy in this recommendation.

The etiotropic drugs include acyclic analogs of guanosine, interferons, and immunoglobulins. Antiviral chemotherapy, represented by a large group of acyclic nucleoside analogues, occupies a leading place among the etiotropic approaches. Immunotherapy of herpesvirus infections, which combines interferon and immunoglobulin preparations, is an additional, but important component of etiotropic treatment.

Severe complications of herpetic infection include shingles and postherpetic neuralgia.

Herpes virus distorts the nervous system at the peripheral level, and at first, it manifests itself in the form of rashes. However, after a few weeks, months or even years, there is a pronounced pain out of nowhere – more often in the chest nerves. It is impossible to cope with it on your own. The reason for this problem is the sharp activation of the virus living in the body. It usually occurs against the background of reduced immunity, after 50 years.

Unfortunately, many patients are mistakenly prescribed analgesics in such a situation, but they are entirely ineffective with this type of pain. The benefit is also brought by special antiviral drugs for herpes.

Valacyclovir is a valine ester of acyclovir. This is the so-called prodrug, which is converted into the active substance of acyclovir under the influence of intestinal and hepatic enzyme of valacyclovir-hydroxylase. Due to the modification of the molecule, the bioavailability of the drug is increased, which is 3-5 times higher than that of acyclovir and is 54-70%. Therefore, Valtrex pills can be used less frequently (2-3 times a day), which makes therapy more convenient for the patient. Valtrex price is low, the drug is usually well-tolerated, the side effects are rare and the treatment with Valtrex costs not so much compared to the effectiveness.

Valacyclovir, unlike acyclovir, influences all types of herpes viruses; however, alpha subfamily has the highest sensitivity to Valacyclovir among the representatives.

The disadvantages of generic Valtrex include the absence of an infusion form of the drug, which limits its use in severe acute lesions.

There is a so-called pulse scheme – a short course of treatment at an early stage of the disease. It is used if no more than 72 hours have passed since the first signs of an exacerbation. The treatment lasts for only one day. A person takes a "shock" dose of Valtrex online recommended– 2000 mg. And then he takes the same amount again after 12 hours. This will be enough to make the awaken virus stop reproducing itself and make it sleep again.

If neuralgia has already manifested itself, you will also need special drugs from the group of anticonvulsants and antidepressants, after you buy Valtrex course.

There is another approach to curbing herpes – a preventive one. Its goal is to prevent aggravation when its risk is increased. For example, you may use Valtrex without prescription before medical interventions in the body, which damage the deeper layers of the skin. After all, any injury leads to a decrease in the protective properties of the skin and general immunity and therefore is able to wake up the sleeping virus.

You may be doing aesthetic surgery on the face, or maybe you are removing your teeth – in all such situations, we recommend preventive use of cheap Valtrex. It begins within 2-3 days before the intervention and continues for 7-8 days after it.

If you plan a series of procedures, then the protective properties of the skin will be violated for a longer period. And then antiviral treatment is extended to a whole month.