Aciclovir and Valaciclovir against Herpes

Following a recent review by our clinical team, our doctors do not consider it appropriate to supply this treatment via an online consultation only. If you are seeking this or similar medication, we advise you to make an appointment with your regular doctor who can properly assess your suitability for treatment.

These antiviral medicines can be taken orally as tablets or an oral suspension or used topically as a cream to treat a herpes outbreak. There are different types of herpes, however the two types which are most commonly referred to are Herpes Simplex type 1 and 2, i.e. lip (cold sores) and genital herpes. Aciclovir is also effective against the pathogens causing chickenpox and shingles. Valaciclovir is a prodrug, which means an inactive susbstance that is broken down into an active drug once inside the body. Valaciclovir is broken down into aciclovir, so these two essentially are very similar.

Once inside the body, the medicine is activated and subsequently inhibits an enzyme the virus requires to reproduce its DNA which is then locked into the DNA of the cells in the human host. Without this enzyme, the virus cannot replicate which in turn enables the immune system to deal with the outbreak and speed up the healing of the symptoms, those unsightly and painful, liquid-filled blisters.

While there's no cure for genital herpes, a common STI, it's possible to reduce the discomfort of a herpes outbreak by taking this herpes treatment.

Dosage instructions for Aciclovir

First episode: 200mg 5 times daily or 400 mg 3 times daily for 7-10 days or until clinical resolution occurs
Recurrent genital herpes: 200mg 5 times daily for 5 days

Unsuitable patients

Don't request this treatment if you're allergic to aciclovir. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if:

You are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding
You suffer from liver or kidney problems

Dosage instructions for Valaciclovir

First episode: 1g twice daily for 10 days, preferably beginning within 48 hrs of onset
Recurrent genital herpes: 500mg twice daily for 5 days beginning within 24 hrs of onset

Unsuitable patients

Don't request this treatment if you're allergic to aciclovir. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist:

If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding
If you are dehydrated
If you suffer from liver or kidney problems

Note:If you've requested this treatment in the last three months and you think you need a second course of treatment, please contact us prior to ordering. If you have more than five herpes episodes a year, you should consider supression therapy (longterm antiviral treatment). This treatment cannot be supplied online. You can contact your local healthcare provider for more information.