Valtrex Side Effects

Major Warning

In addition to the Valtrex side effects mentioned below, during clinical trials, some patients who had AIDS as well other patients who were bone marrow and renal transplant recipients developed thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS), which resulted in death.

Note though that this warning applies primarily to certain patient populations - those who have AIDS and also those with a weakened immune system. A weakened immune system can be the result of a disease/condition or a particular medication or drug treatment.

Frequently Occur:

• Headache
• Nausea

Sometimes Occur:

• Abdominal pain
• Dizziness
• Vomiting

Extreme remedies are very appropriate for extreme diseases.
- Hippocrates, Aphorisms

When it comes to genital herpes, Valtrex is used for two purposes - to treat an active outbreak AND for suppression of future outbreaks. That said, you should note that the incidence of side effects for these two purposes are different so they have been separated out accordingly below. One section lists side effects that can occur when using the medication for treatment and the other lists those that occur when the medication is being used for suppression of future outbreaks.

Here is a breakdown of side effects in patients being treated for genital herpes.

Frequently Occur:

• Headache
• Nausea

Sometimes Occur:

• Abdominal pain
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Vomiting

Rarely Occur:

• Arthralgia translation, joint pain
• Dysmenorrhea translation painful menstruation

Here is a breakdown of side effects in patients who are taking Valtrex for the suppression of genital herpes outbreaks.

Frequently Occur:

• Abdominal pain
• Headache
• Nausea

Sometimes Occur:

• Arthralgia translation, joint pain
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Dysmenorrhea translation painful menstruation
• Vomiting

Here is a breakdown of side effects in patients being treated for cold sores.

Frequently Occur:

• Dizziness
• Headache

Sometimes Occur:

• Elevated liver enzyme levels

Post-Marketing Valtrex Side Effects

The following Valtrex side effects were reported after Valtrex was approved and being used by the general population. You should note though that they were reported voluntarily by folks in the general population so there is therefore no way to determine how often they occur or if there is even really a true connection between them and Valtrex.

The medical literature does not give any indication as to the frequency with which these occur so I cannot break it down for you based on frequency like I did above.

• Abnormal liver enzyme levels
• Aggressive behavior
• Agitation
• Aplastic anemia translation inability of the bone marrow to make sufficient red blood cells
• Ataxia translation failure/inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements
• Coma
• Confusion
• Decreased consciousness
• Diarrhea
• Dysarthria translation difficulty articulating words
• Elevated creatinine
• Encephalopathy
• Erythema multiforme loose translation red rash
• Facial swelling
• Fast heart rate
• Hair loss
• Hepatitis
• High blood pressure
• Leukocytoclastic vasculitis
• Major allergic reactions with symptoms which include - anaphylaxis, angioedema (swelling of the lips, eyes, and skin), difficulty breathing, itching, rash and hives
• Mania
• Psychosis, which includes auditory and visual hallucinations
• Rashes and photosensitivity (sensitivity to light)
• Renal failure
• Renal pain
• Seizures
• Thrombocytopenia translation low platelet count
• Tremors
• TTP/HUS (see special warning section above)
• Vision problems/visual abnormalities

Nature heals under the auspices of the medical profession
- Haven Emerson

Drug Manufacturer Information

GlaxoSmithKline
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
1-888-825-5249

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May 1, 2009

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