Prices for Valtrex and valacyclovir are largely holding steady this month. However, you will save time by ordering those drugs online from eDrugstore.com.
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Valtrex prices at all three retailers have remained close to the national average, currently $14.47, over the last twelve months.
Prices at CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart
The CVS price for Valtrex has stayed at $15.91. Valacyclovir prices at CVS have risen 77 cents to $2.09, 65 cents above the national average of $1.44.
Walgreens currently prices a 500 milligram tablet of Valtrex at $15.25. Many people search for options like Valtrex over the counter at Walgreens, but in the U.S., it’s available only with a doctor’s prescription. Their price for generic valacyclovir 500 milligram tablets has remained at $2.42.
The Walmart price for Valtrex is still $14.43, while generic valacyclovir keeps its price of $1.37.
How To Fight Back
Take valacyclovir (also available under the brand name Valtrex) to minimize the number and severity of outbreaks.
Valacyclovir works by making it more difficult for herpes virus cells to multiply. This restricted ability to replicate itself lessens the frequency of herpes viral outbreaks and reduces the discomfort caused by any outbreaks that do occur.
About Valacyclovir
First patented in 1987, valacyclovir arrived on the market in 1995 under the brand names Valtrex and Zelitrex. Valacyclovir became available as a generic drug in 2009.
Technically speaking, valacyclovir is a “prodrug,” a compound that’s biologically inactive by itself. Once you take it, your body metabolizes it, which activates the drug — in this case turning it into acyclovir. You’re still infectious during an outbreak when you take valacyclovir, so practice safe sex techniques to limit risk to your partner as well as any care needed to limit exposure in other contexts.
The main benefit of taking a prodrug is that since it’s produced by the body, more of the end medication is “bioavailable,” circulating through the body to have an effect. Especially for strong infections or for people who have trouble fully processing acyclovir, this is an important aspect.
Valacyclovir can be taken with or without food. It’s recommended that you drink a lot of water while on a course of valacyclovir to help you stay hydrated and support your kidneys.
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Before taking valacyclovir, review every medication and supplement you’re currently taking with your doctor. Some of them may need to be phased out, as they can have adverse interactions, particularly involving the kidneys.
Drug classes most likely to cause harmful interactions include:
- Other antivirals
- Antibiotics, particularly injected ones
- Hypertension medication
- Bowel disorder medication
- Immunosuppressants
- Osteoporosis treatments, with injectable ones at particularly high risk
- Some over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
Since valacyclovir is essentially a form of acyclovir, the warnings and side effects are the same. If you’re allergic to acyclovir or have any complications from taking it, don’t take any form of valacyclovir. The most common side effects were gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) and headache, affecting fewer than 1% of people taking it in studies.
While it’s most commonly used to treat strains of the herpes virus, valacyclovir can also be prescribed to prevent cytomegalovirus infections after organ transplant. This drug may also be included in chemotherapy regimens to limit the risk of getting a herpes virus during cancer treatment.
If you have kidney disease, are immunocompromised, or have had a kidney or bone marrow transplant, you shouldn’t take valacyclovir without a doctor’s express order, as there may be risk based on the action of the drug. If you’re pregnant, may become pregnant, or are nursing, discuss whether you should use valacyclovir with your doctor before taking it.
When taking valacyclovir, review the symptoms of possible side effects to red blood cells, such as easy bruising, bloody diarrhea, and limited urination. If you experience these, see a doctor immediately.
How Does Valacyclovir Work?
Valacyclovir works by slowing the ability of herpes viruses to multiply once they become active. Most of the time, these viruses lie dormant in the body, but when they reactivate, valacyclovir helps stop them from spreading to healthy cells. This makes outbreaks shorter and less severe. It also supports faster healing of sores caused by genital herpes, cold sores, shingles, and chickenpox, while reducing discomfort such as pain and itching.
Valacyclovir Treats Shingles, Too
Long recognized as the treatment of choice for infections caused by herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, valacyclovir is a powerful antiviral drug that can also reduce the discomfort caused by herpes zoster (shingles).
Shingles, a viral infection characterized by a painful rash, is caused by the herpes zoster virus, which arises when the long-dormant varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox reactivates in adulthood.
There is no cure for any of these viruses. Once contracted, they go into permanent residence in the host’s body. During periods of latency, they reside quietly in nerve cells. However, during periods of stress or immune system weakness, they can become active again, causing cold sores, genital herpes, and shingles.
Can You Buy Valacyclovir Over-the-Counter?
Valacyclovir is not available for purchase over the counter in the United States. Many people search for options like Valtrex over the counter at Walgreens, but a prescription from a licensed health care provider is required, and it must be filled at a pharmacy. Because this is a strong antiviral medication, medical guidance is important to ensure safe use. For those without a prescription, licensed online services can provide a convenient option by connecting patients with U.S.-based physicians who can evaluate whether valacyclovir is appropriate and, if so, issue a prescription.
Antiviral Prices at eDrugstore
These potent antiviral drugs are available at brick-and-mortar pharmacies throughout the United States and can also be ordered from reputable online prescription drug services like eDrugstore. Based in Tempe, Arizona, we’ve been in business since the late 1990s.
Our prices for Valtrex and valacyclovir are competitive when compared with those at CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart, America’s three largest prescription drug retailers. In fact, eDrugstore prices for Valtrex and valacyclovir have stayed at $16.57 and $2.76, respectively, in May.
eDrugstore Adds Value
Our prices cover not just the medications but a bundle of added-value services as well. When you order online from eDrugstore, you’ll save yourself travel to and from the local pharmacy as well as any time you might waste waiting for the pharmacist to fill your prescription. You’ll also get free delivery.
If you don’t yet have a prescription, we can help. Our complimentary consultation service will connect you online with a physician licensed to practice in your state. If the doctor decides that you’re an appropriate candidate for the drug, they will authorize a prescription and ship it to you for free.
To learn more, pay a visit to our sexual health page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Valtrex help treat cold sores?
Valtrex for cold sores works by stopping the herpes virus from multiplying, reducing the severity and duration of outbreaks. It can also help speed up healing and prevent the spread of the virus to others when taken as prescribed.
How to get Valtrex prescription online?
To get Valtrex prescription online, you need to consult a licensed healthcare provider through a telehealth platform or an online pharmacy. They will evaluate your symptoms and medical history before issuing a prescription for the medication.
How effective is Valtrex for managing genital herpes?
Valtrex for genital herpes is highly effective in reducing the frequency and severity of outbreaks. It also lowers the risk of transmitting the virus to sexual partners when taken as prescribed.
What is the recommended dosage of Valacyclovir for shingles?
The typical dosage of Valacyclovir for shingles is 1,000 mg taken three times a day for seven days. However, your doctor may adjust the dosage based on your individual needs and overall health.
What types of herpes does Valacyclovir treat?
Valacyclovir for herpes is effective in treating various types of herpes infections, including oral herpes (cold sores), genital herpes, and shingles (herpes zoster). It helps manage symptoms and prevent further outbreaks.
Can herpes medications completely cure the virus?
No, herpes medications like Valtrex and Valacyclovir cannot cure the herpes virus. These medications help manage symptoms, reduce outbreaks, and lower the risk of transmission, but the virus remains dormant in the body.
Editorial Standards
At eDrugstore, we hold our health content to the highest standards of accuracy and reliability. This article was created and reviewed with information from trusted medical sources, including peer-reviewed journals, reputable research institutions, and established health organizations.
Dan is a long-time freelance writer focusing on technology, science, health, and medicine, with a lifelong interest in physics, biology, and medicine. His work has taken a particular focus on scientific studies “beyond the headlines,” reading the study to more closely examine the results.