Valacyclovir, an oral prodrug, has been linked to liver problems such as increased liver function tests and hepatitis. Common side effects of Valtrex include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cold symptoms, increased liver enzymes, reduction of white blood cells, diarrhea, rash, joint pain, and more.
Although there is no evidence linking valacyclovir use to acute liver failure or chronic liver injury, there is little evidence that acyclovir when given orally causes significant liver injury. Serum enzyme levels generally do not show significant changes after taking Valacyclovir.
After switching to oral valacyclovir, toxic hepatitis developed, and both renal and liver function tests returned to normal levels after drug use. Valacyclovir was approved by the FDA but has not been shown to cause liver damage. Many medications can cause liver enzymes to be elevated, including over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol and others).
In addition to these potential risks, patients exposed to certain prescription medications may be at a higher risk for hepatotoxic effects of treatment. It is important to talk to your doctor if you experience any of these side effects while taking Valacyclovir, as they may order blood tests to check for elevated levels of liver enzymes, which could be a sign of liver damage. If you have hepatotoxicity, your doctor may need to switch to a different medication.
In conclusion, Valacyclovir has been linked to liver problems, liver enzyme abnormalities, and reversible increases in liver function tests. It is crucial to consult with a healthcare provider to understand your symptoms and prevent liver toxicity.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Valacyclovir – LiverTox | There is no evidence to suggest that valacyclovir use is associated with either acute liver failure or chronic liver injury. Liver injury associated with valacyclovir has been observed in some cases. | www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
| Acyclovir – LiverTox | Despite its widespread use, there is a paucity of evidence to suggest that acyclovir, when administered orally, causes significant liver injury. The serum enzyme levels typically… | www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
| Side Effects of Valtrex (valacyclovir): Interactions & Warnings | What are the significant adverse effects associated with Valtrex (valacyclovir)? The most commonly reported adverse effects include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, cold-like symptoms, and elevated liver enzymes. | www.medicinenet.com |
📹 2023 Herpes Research Update from Dr. Keith Jerome
In recognition of National Herpes Awareness Day, Fred Hutch virologist Dr. Keith Jerome shares a special message about the …
What organ is Valtrex hard on?
Kidney Damage. Kidney damage can happen when taking valacyclovir. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of kidney damage.
- Reduced need to pee
- Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs
- Weakness or unusual tiredness
- Difficulty catching your breath or chest pain/pressure
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Seizures
Severe Allergic Reactions. Valacyclovir may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking valacyclovir and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
What are the worst antibiotics for your liver?
Features and outcomes of 899 patients with drug-induced liver injury: DILIN Prospective Study.. Who’s at risk?. Although many classes of drugs can damage the liver, antibiotics, used to treat a variety of bacterial infections on a daily basis, are the most common class and account for 45 percent of cases. Liver injury caused by drugs such as azithromycin (known as Z-Pak) and amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin) can occur within one to three weeks.
Patients with drug-induced liver injury may experience nausea, itchy or yellowing skin, and abdominal pain and have dark urine. The frequency of harm is low compared with the very large number of prescriptions written each year, but population-based estimates suggest injury or damage occurs at a frequency of 1 to 10 per 100, 000 drug prescriptions.
“This form of liver injury is frequently not seen during the drug development process due to its low incidence and therefore may not be included in a product insert for several years until multiple bona fide cases are reported,” says Fontana, who’s collaborating with infectious disease specialists and pediatricians to raise awareness of unexplained liver injury. “Therefore, many patients and providers may be unaware of the potential risk of liver damage from commonly prescribed drugs.”
Investigators in DILIN are looking at age, gender and the reason patients were taking the drug in the first place to determine who’s at risk for drug-induced liver injury. The DILIN is also creating a bank of biological specimens consisting of DNA, plasma and immortalized lymphocytes to look for a common genetic risk factor among the more than 1, 000 study participants.
Is famciclovir hard on the liver?
Famciclovir is a nucleoside analogue and antiviral agent used in treating herpes zoster and simplex virus infections. It is an acyclic purine nucleoside analogue with antiviral activity against many herpes viruses, including herpes simplex 1 and 2, cytomegalovirus, Ebstein-Barr virus, and varicella-zoster. Famciclovir is converted in the liver to penciclovir, which is phosphorylated intracellularly by viral kinases. This triphosphate competes with guanosine for incorporation into viral DNA, blocking viral DNA polymerase activity. It is indicated for therapy of varicella zoster and mucocutaneous or genital herpes simplex infections, both type 1 and 2. Famciclovir was approved for use in the United States in 1994 and is widely used in treatment of herpes zoster and prophylaxis of genital and mucocutaneous herpes simplex infection. The recommended dose and duration of therapy varies by indication. Side effects are uncommon but can include headache, dizziness, and gastrointestinal upset.
Famciclovir has been associated with a low rate of serum aminotransferase elevations during oral therapy. In pooled analyses of patients on long-term suppressive therapy, 3. 2 of famciclovir vs 1. 5 of placebo recipients had ALT elevations above twice normal, which were transient and asymptomatic and resolved even without dose modification. Clinically apparent liver disease due to famciclovir must be rare if it occurs at all.
Can Valtrex increase creatinine levels?
Oral valacyclovir – induced nephrotoxicity is rare, compared with more commonly encountered cases of nephrotoxicity caused by intravenous infusion of acyclovir. 1-4 In our case, as in other similar cases, AKI developed within 24 to 48 hours of valacyclovir administration, as indicated by the rapid rise in the patient’s serum creatinine level. 1-4 After oral administration, valacyclovir is converted to acyclovir, and with the intratubular precipitation of acyclovir crystals, there is increased resistance to renal blood flow with subsequent elevation of serum creatinine. 1, 4, 5 Because of the rapid speed of renal excretion, acyclovir can surpass the solubility, hence crystals can accumulate in the distal and collecting ducts. 6 The patient’s history of valacyclovir intake just prior to the episode, along with laboratory correlation, made the diagnosis of crystal-induced nephropathy more likely. 1, 3, 4.
Our case of an unexpected association between AKI and oral valacyclovir should serve as a wakeup call to physicians, particularly in the primary care setting, that care should be taken while prescribing valacyclovir to patients with underlying chronic renal insufficiency. Timely intervention with adequate hydration would contribute to a favorable prognosis. 1, 4 Expert opinion from nephrology service can be helpful if there is no improvement in creatinine level with fluids.
Patient outcome. The patient’s creatinine levels gradually increased from 1. 96 to 2. 23 to 2. 50 mg/dL on day 2 of admission. The patient was initiated on intravenous fluids, and her renal function began to improve, with her creatinine level at 1. 21 mg/dL on day 4. She was discharged with outpatient follow-up and laboratory testing to be completed in 1 week. The patient remained symptom-free with complete recovery.
Is acyclovir bad for the liver?
Hepatotoxicity. Despite widespread use, there is little evidence that acyclovir when given orally causes significant liver injury. Serum enzyme levels generally do not change during oral acyclovir therapy. High dose intravenous administration of acyclovir is associated with renal dysfunction and thrombocytopenia, and occasionally with transient mild-to-moderate elevations in serum ALT levels, which have been asymptomatic and self-limited. There have rare instances of acute, clinically apparent liver injury reported that were attributed to acyclovir or valacyclovir (a prodrug of acyclovir with better oral absorption), but these have not been particularly convincing. Some degree of liver injury and even jaundice can occur during the course of herpes simplex or varicella zoster infection, and these complications could be mistaken for drug induced liver injury. Furthermore, in the reported cases, patients were receiving other medications and had other unlying comorbidities that may have been responsible for the liver injury.
Likelihood score: D (possible rare cause of clinically apparent liver injury).
Product labeling at DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, NIH.
Is acyclovir bad for liver?
Hepatotoxicity. Despite widespread use, there is little evidence that acyclovir when given orally causes significant liver injury. Serum enzyme levels generally do not change during oral acyclovir therapy. High dose intravenous administration of acyclovir is associated with renal dysfunction and thrombocytopenia, and occasionally with transient mild-to-moderate elevations in serum ALT levels, which have been asymptomatic and self-limited. There have rare instances of acute, clinically apparent liver injury reported that were attributed to acyclovir or valacyclovir (a prodrug of acyclovir with better oral absorption), but these have not been particularly convincing. Some degree of liver injury and even jaundice can occur during the course of herpes simplex or varicella zoster infection, and these complications could be mistaken for drug induced liver injury. Furthermore, in the reported cases, patients were receiving other medications and had other unlying comorbidities that may have been responsible for the liver injury.
Likelihood score: D (possible rare cause of clinically apparent liver injury).
Product labeling at DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, NIH.
Is there any harm in taking Valtrex?
Valtrex can cause nervous system problems. Reactions can include agitation, hallucinations, seizures, confusion, speech problems, and aggressive behavior. Nervous system problems are more likely to occur in older adults and/or people with kidney problems.
Valtrex can slow down the growth and spread of viruses like herpes simplex and herpes zoster, but it can come with some serious side effects.
Valtrex is a prescription antiviral medication used to treat symptoms of herpes virus infections such as cold sores, genital herpes, shingles, and chickenpox, but cannot cure these infections.
Common side effects include headache, nausea, and more serious risks like kidney failure and nervous system problems.
Does valacyclovir affect kidneys or liver?
Valacyclovir hydrochloride is an antiviral drug used in managing herpes simplex, herpes zoster, and herpes B. It can be rapidly converted into acyclovir in vivo, leading to neurotoxicity and acute kidney injury as a well-described side effect of acyclovir administration. In recent years, valacyclovir has largely replaced acyclovir in the treatment of herpes virus infections due to its more effective oral administration. However, the side effects of valacyclovir are not well recognized by clinicians, making them rarely reported compared to acyclovir.
Acyclovir is relatively insoluble in urine and is rapidly filtered by the glomeri and secreted by renal tubules, producing high urine concentrations, particularly in patients with decreased urine flow rates. Renal excretion accounts for 60-90% of acyclovir elimination. The present study reports a case of a patient developing acute kidney injury secondary to herpes simplex after receiving acyclovir. Other potential mechanisms of injury include acute interstitial nephritis and acute tubular necrosis, but obstructive nephropathy is the most commonly reported mechanism.
The use of acyclovir can damage the kidney via several mechanisms, including cell membrane injury, altering membrane permeability and ion transportation, destruction of cytoplasm mitochondria, inhibiting enzymatic activity and protein synthesis, promoting calcium internal flow, and leading to cytoskeleton structural damage and epithelial cell necrosis. It can also produce oxygen free radicals, affect epithelial cell DNA, induce crosslinking or inhibit DNA replication of related enzymes, and suppress renal tubular epithelial cell metabolism.
The physiological nature of the kidney is highly susceptible to drug-induced nephropathy, as the abundant renal capillary network and rich blood allow for high concentrations of drugs passing through a large contacted area. Variations in urine pH may cause crystals and drug sediment in the renal tubule, while enzymes contained in the kidney would be deactivated by the medication.
Is taking Valtrex every day safe?
These dosages are only general guidelines. If your doctor prescribes Valtrex differently, then you should follow their instructions. Valtrex is most effective when started as soon as symptoms begin, so see your doctor immediately if you have symptoms. It’s safe to take Valtrex every day as long as you’ve been instructed to do so.
If you miss a dose of Valtrex, you should take the next dose as soon as possible. Taking your missed dose as soon as you remember you’ve missed it will help keep your herpes infection from worsening. Taking two doses at one time can cause serious side effects, so if you’ve missed a dose, only take one dose when you remember. However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your normal schedule.
It’s also important to remember that Valtrex has an expiration date just like any other medication. Look for the expiration date on the prescription label to see how long your particular version of Valtrex is good for. Expired medications can be less effective and risky to take. Some medications are also sensitive to heat, so be sure to store Valtrex at room temperature.
2. Take Valtrex with a full glass of water.. This helps your kidneys process it more efficiently. Once it’s been taken, Valtrex starts working to treat symptoms right away. Even though it starts working right away, it may take several days for you to notice a difference in your symptoms.
Can valacyclovir increase liver enzymes?
It’s possible for valacyclovir to affect your liver, though this wasn’t reported in studies of the drug.
Liver problems, including increased liver function tests and hepatitis, were reported after valacyclovir was approved by the FDA. But it’s not known for sure if valacyclovir was the cause.
It’s important to be aware of symptoms of liver problems, so you can tell your doctor right away if you experience any. Symptoms may include:
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes)
- belly pain
- nausea and vomiting
What drugs cause the most liver damage?
Prescription drugs:Statins. Antibiotics like amoxicillin-clavulanate or erythromycin. Arthritis drugs like methotrexate or azathioprine. Antifungal drugs. Niacin. Steroids. Allopurinol for gout. Antiviral drugs for HIV infection.
Toxic liver disease, or drug-induced liver injury (DILI), is damage to your liver. It’s also called hepatotoxicity or toxic hepatitis. It can cause serious symptoms or liver damage if you don’t get help.
Medications, herbal supplements, chemicals, solvents, and alcohol are all possible causes of hepatotoxicity.
Your liver filters everything that goes into your body. It clears out alcohol, drugs, and chemicals from your blood. Then it processes the unwanted bits so you can flush them out through your urine or bile.
📹 Put Epstein-Barr Virus to Bed for Good (No More Reactivation!)
Dr. Neville explains why Epstein Barr Virus recurrence is so common in Adrenal Fatigue patients and how to heal the body so the …
As someone who’s recently been diagnosed with HSV, it’s been really deteriorating mentally. Getting it from a partner who you trusted is what angers me even more & almost feel guilty about it. But, having hope that there might be a cure in the making soon makes me so happy and grateful that one day I’ll be able to healed!
One day I don’t care it’s apart of life everything will be okay. Can’t quit can’t be a coward. the next day I don’t want to be here anymore. Life is just life and will be life. Don’t forget to breathe in inhale the air exhale and just be okay. our life’s don’t have to be over we can still work towards happy and successful life’s we can still breathe substance into ourselves. Stay strong my friends, don’t forget to smile and remember everything will be okay. we all got this in the end we still get to wake up and that’s a blessing. Love you all
Just last week I had the herpes talk with a gorgeous young woman I’ve been dating for a month (no sex prior obviously lol). Her response was that there are scarier things than herpes in the world. She is a nursing assistant and we shared and discussed information as well as a safe sex plan. But, it brought us closer; it didn’t send her running and screaming. In fact, she became more vulnerable and shared some of her past and worries with me as well. And now we feel even closer and I know that our connection is genuine as she’s interested in me as a person and that a minor (and manageable) skin condition isn’t a major reason to abandon the entire relationship…
This is a horrible virus to be infected with. Every single month I get an outbreak and every time I get it I avoid touching my husband and kids because I don’t want them to know this suffering. I make them wipe their hands and faces with rubbing alcohol if I suspect they might have come into contact with the virus. I’m really tired of having this this thing and pray the cure happens in my lifetime. I pray your research can continue and shows success at eradicating/reducing the virus in its latent state. I pray it moves quickly to human trials.
as I sit here with a full bottom lip because of recent outbreak, this gives me so much hope, I really hope a good treatment becomes available soon (wish I was one of those mice right now!), I live with autoimmune blood cancer (Dx 2020) and have had hsv1 all my life but since diagnosis for the cancer the hsv1 outbreaks are 10fold, years ago i would get one blister, now I have cauliflower blisters which spread out much more, life is unbearable, eating and drinking is so uncomfortable and brings on depression when an outbreak is so bad. Thank You for all your work!
I have suffered from severe cold sore outbreaks in my nose and on my mouth since I was 3 years old. I have lived most of my life in constant fear of passing the virus unwittingly onto someone else or spreading it to other parts of my own body. It has caused so much nervous tension in my life, which only exacerbates the issues. I am so grateful for your work and dedication and cannot wait for a cure to be found. Thank you!
Thank you so much for your efforts! I’ve been checking in for news on your research periodically! I’ve lived with the virus now for 3 years in my mouth. I’m always afraid I may pass it to my wife and children and that’s my primary concern, but I also play the flute, now for 20 years, and I look forward to a day when I can have significantly less recurrences of the the sores. Your work is very important and I truly hope even more awareness can be generated so increased resources and man power can make this a reality even faster!!
This is so important, not just to relieve the painful physical symptoms of this virus and prevent spread – but especially for the mental health effects carrying a virus like this has. Too many people are affected by it (and others like HPV). Can only hope a real cure comes soon to end the suffering and mental anguish 🤞🌠🍀
I’m finally free from Herpes completely and I remember having horrible outbreaks, and felt the same way you describe in our interview. Listening to you share how you helped people get cured after using your medication gave me the glim hope I needed to hear. I am glad that there is people like you out there who just want to help other people who are struggling with the same issues. Your words gave me the courage I need to hear today
I’ve watched a few of your articles today. There really needs to be more in the way of awareness as far as your work. I live in Seattle and I hadn’t heard about you guys before. I know you do a lot in the field of contagious diseases and cancer and I applaud you for that. There needs to be a cure. People almost laugh at this condition, until they get it and then realize how debilitating it truly is.
Ummmm no… thank you for everything you’ve done and for spreading awareness and for giving us knowledge and for continuing to advocate for us because this is not something that is easy to deal with. You learn to live with it, but it’s not normal life and we are hoping and praying for a cure every single day and people like you are our hope 🤍🤍🤍
It would be the biggest break through when both HSV 1 and 2 can be cured in our life time while where still young in this generation don’t deserve to suffer in silence with nasty outbreaks that effect our daily life being social around friends and family I hope to see the cure in the next 2 or 3 year’s time if its successful and process’s through well it would make millions of people around the world so happy to be hsv free and stigma free not having depression anymore
Keep up the great work. It’s hard to explain how important this work is for some people. I suffer from ocular herpes and cannot explain how debilitating this condition can be. God only knows how I contracted it as a young teenager but after 35yrs with the aid of aciclovir, I now have it pretty much under control.
I have just had for the first time in my life (at 48) a case of herpes simple keratitis. It’s been absolute hell!. Fortunately, I have recovered well (with a small periferic corneal scar) but I am so afraid it can happen again. I check my eye every two hours, my life has become a living nightmare! I would do any clinical trial possible… I am just desperate!!!!
I realise this is an old post; however, I’d like to contribute (whether or not it’s viewed). I need to write this down to make it real. I have had a new diagnosis of HPV within the last 3 weeks. I never thought this would be in my future, but here I am. I became infected by my ex-partner. I take responsibility for my actions. This is the one time in the last 50+ years that I did not demand a negative screen. It’s a long story that no one wants to hear, but I want to reiterate that it only takes one error in judgement to affect the rest of my life. I thought I was being careful, selective, and cautious. In my wildest dreams, I never thought I’d be in this place at my age. I’m disappointed, hurt, and mortified, and I think I’m angry. In addition to being in pain, I am adjusting to the fact that this is going to be a part of my profile for the rest of my life. I am humiliated. I’m of the vintage that this is a stigma. I am hopeful that research will yield solutions that are available to everyone. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to this disease. I look forward to learning more.
Thank you for all the hard work please don’t give up. I got the virus from my now ex boyfriend of 11yaers which he is knowingly spreading the virus at this very moment.. please help find a cure my life is on hold and am so ashamed I can’t move on with anyone because of this ugly virus.. please let us all know how to sign up for clinical trials..
Thank you for doing this important work. I just recently saw an article about the gene therapy working on mice and it was the first time I’ve felt hopeful about a cure since being diagnosed. I am donating to herpes cure advocacy what I can (not much but it’s something).A cure for hsv1 and hsv2 would help like 90 percent of the planet and especially the people who know that they have the disease and struggle mentally every single day.