{"id":28168,"date":"2019-12-19T18:00:33","date_gmt":"2019-12-19T18:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/?p=28168"},"modified":"2020-07-10T20:07:27","modified_gmt":"2020-07-10T20:07:27","slug":"valtrex-and-valacyclovir-price-trends-at-cvs-walgreens-and-walmart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/std-sexually-transmitted-diseases-treatments\/valtrex-and-valacyclovir-price-trends-at-cvs-walgreens-and-walmart\/","title":{"rendered":"Valtrex and Valacyclovir Price Trends at CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prices for Valtrex and valacyclovir experienced a bit of volatility in August at both CVS and Walgreens but otherwise were remarkably stable throughout the second half of 2019. Walmart\u2019s prices for the drugs were unchanged during the six-month period.<\/em><\/p>\n

Prices for Valtrex and its generic equivalent, valacyclovir, at CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart ended the second half of 2019 in December exactly where they\u2019d started it in July. A picture of total stability? Well, not quite.<\/p>\n

While Walmart\u2019s prices for the two drugs remained unchanged for all six months of the second half, prices at CVS and Walgreens ran into a bit of downward price pressure in August but quickly rebounded in September.<\/p>\n

Powerful Antiviral Agents<\/h3>\n

Both Valtrex and valacyclovir are powerful antiviral agents that are used primarily to reduce both the frequency and severity of outbreaks caused by viruses in the herpes simplex family. Herpes simplex virus 1 is most widely associated with cold sores, while herpes simplex virus 2 is linked primarily to genital herpes. These drugs are also effective against shingles, which resurfaces as the herpes zoster virus in adults who contracted chickenpox as children.<\/p>\n

Although Valtrex and valacyclovir are probably the best medications for treating herpes infections, neither of them is a cure. Once you\u2019ve contracted one of these herpes viral infections, it alternates between active and dormant phases, taking up residence in nerve cells during its dormant phase.<\/p>\n

Prices at CVS<\/h3>\n

CVS\u2019s price for a 500 mg tablet of Valtrex dropped 27.1 percent from $19.12 in July to $13.94 in August. However, it climbed right back to $19.12 in September and remained there through December. The price for a 500 mg tablet of valacyclovir at CVS took an even steeper drop in August, falling 64.4 percent from $8.04 in July to $2.86. By September, CVS\u2019s prices for valacyclovir had rebounded to $8.04 where they remained through the end of 2019.<\/p>\n

Prices at Walgreens<\/h3>\n

In a pattern nearly identical to the one at CVS, the price for 500 mg Valtrex at Walgreens fell 27.9 percent from $19.37 in July to $13.96 in August but rebounded to $19.37 in September and stayed there for the rest of the year. The price for valacyclovir at Walgreens dropped 54.5 percent from $9.90 in July to $4.50 in August. But only a month later, the price had returned to $9.90 and stayed there for the remainder of 2019.<\/p>\n

Prices at Walmart<\/h3>\n

Walmart\u2019s prices for both Valtrex and valacyclovir managed to escape the turbulence experienced at CVS and Walgreens. The big-box chain\u2019s price for Valtrex started and ended the second half of 2019 at $17.98 for a 500 mg tablet of the brand-name drug, never wavering in between. Similarly, Walmart\u2019s price for valacyclovir held steady at $7.63 for all six months of the second half. The following chart provides a summary.<\/p>\n