VALTREX SIDE EFFECTS
- Generic Name: valacyclovir hydrochloride
- Brand Name: Valtrex
- Drug Class: Antivirals, HSV, Antivirals, Other
SIDE EFFECTS
The following serious adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling:
- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura/Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
- Acute Renal Failure
- Central Nervous System Effects
The most common adverse reactions reported in at least 1 indication by greater than 10% of adult subjects treated with VALTREX and observed more frequently with VALTREX compared with placebo are headache, nausea, and abdominal pain. The only adverse reaction reported in greater than 10% of pediatric subjects aged less than 18 years was headache.
Clinical Trials Experience In Adult Subjects
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared with rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Cold Sores (Herpes Labialis)
In clinical trials for the treatment of cold sores, the adverse reactions reported by subjects receiving VALTREX 2 grams twice daily (n = 609) or placebo (n = 609) for 1 day, respectively, included headache (14%, 10%) and dizziness (2%, 1%). The frequencies of abnormal ALT (greater than 2 x ULN) were 1.8% for subjects receiving VALTREX compared with 0.8% for placebo. Other laboratory abnormalities (hemoglobin, white blood cells, alkaline phosphatase, and serum creatinine) occurred with similar frequencies in the 2 groups.
Genital Herpes
Initial Episode
In a clinical trial for the treatment of initial episodes of genital herpes, the adverse reactions reported by greater than or equal to 5% of subjects receiving VALTREX 1 gram twice daily for 10 days (n = 318) or oral acyclovir 200 mg 5 times daily for 10 days (n = 318), respectively, included headache (13%, 10%) and nausea (6%, 6%). For the incidence of laboratory abnormalities see Table 2.
Recurrent Episodes
In 3 clinical trials for the episodic treatment of recurrent genital herpes, the adverse reactions reported by greater than or equal to 5% of subjects receiving VALTREX 500 mg twice daily for 3 days (n = 402), VALTREX 500 mg twice daily for 5 days (n = 1,136), or placebo (n = 259), respectively, included headache (16%, 11%, 14%) and nausea (5%, 4%, 5%). For the incidence of laboratory abnormalities see Table 2.
Suppressive Therapy
Suppression of Recurrent Genital Herpes in Immunocompetent Adults
In a clinical trial for the suppression of recurrent genital herpes infections, the adverse reactions reported by subjects receiving VALTREX 1 gram once daily (n = 269), VALTREX 500 mg once daily (n = 266), or placebo (n = 134), respectively, included headache (35%, 38%, 34%), nausea (11%, 11%, 8%), abdominal pain (11%, 9%, 6%), dysmenorrhea (8%, 5%, 4%), depression (7%, 5%, 5%), arthralgia (6%, 5%, 4%), vomiting (3%, 3%, 2%), and dizziness (4%, 2%, 1%). For the incidence of laboratory abnormalities see Table 2.
Suppression of Recurrent Genital Herpes in HIV-1−Infected Subjects
In HIV-1−infected subjects, frequently reported adverse reactions for VALTREX (500 mg twice daily; n = 194, median days on therapy = 172) and placebo (n = 99, median days on therapy = 59), respectively, included headache (13%, 8%), fatigue (8%, 5%), and rash (8%, 1%). Post-randomization laboratory abnormalities that were reported more frequently in valacyclovir subjects versus placebo included elevated alkaline phosphatase (4%, 2%), elevated ALT (14%, 10%), elevated AST (16%, 11%), decreased neutrophil counts (18%, 10%), and decreased platelet counts (3%, 0%), respectively.
Reduction of Transmission
In a clinical trial for the reduction of transmission of genital herpes, the adverse reactions reported by subjects receiving VALTREX 500 mg once daily (n = 743) or placebo once daily (n = 741), respectively, included headache (29%, 26%), nasopharyngitis (16%, 15%), and upper respiratory tract infection (9%, 10%).
Herpes Zoster
In 2 clinical trials for the treatment of herpes zoster, the adverse reactions reported by subjects receiving VALTREX 1 gram 3 times daily for 7 to 14 days (n = 967) or placebo (n = 195), respectively, included nausea (15%, 8%), headache (14%, 12%), vomiting (6%, 3%), dizziness (3%, 2%), and abdominal pain (3%, 2%). For the incidence of laboratory abnormalities see Table 1.
Table 1. Incidence (%) of Laboratory Abnormalities in Herpes Zoster and Genital Herpes Trial Populations
| Laboratory Abnormality | Herpes Zoster | Genital Herpes Treatment | Genital Herpes Suppression | |||||
| VALTREX 1 gram 3 Times Daily (n = 967) |
Placebo (n = 195) |
VALTREX 1 gram Twice Daily (n = 1,194) |
VALTREX 500 mg Twice Daily (n = 1,159) |
Placebo (n = 439) |
VALTREX 1 gram Once Daily (n = 269) |
VALTREX 500 mg Once Daily (n = 266) |
Placebo (n = 134) |
|
| Hemoglobin (<0.8 x LLN) |
0.8% | 0% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0% | 0% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| White blood cells (<0.75 x LLN) |
1.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1.5% |
| Platelet count (<100,000/mm3) |
1.0% | 1.2% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 1.1% | 1.5% |
| AST (SGOT) (>2 x ULN) |
1.0% | 0% | 1.0% | a | 0.5% | 4.1% | 3.8% | 3.0% |
| Serum creatinine (>1.5 x ULN) |
0.2% | 0% | 0.7% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| a Data were not collected prospectively. LLN = Lower limit of normal. ULN = Upper limit of normal. |
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Clinical Trials Experience In Pediatric Subjects
The safety profile of VALTREX has been studied in 177 pediatric subjects aged 1 month to less than 18 years. Sixty-five of these pediatric subjects, aged 12 to less than 18 years, received oral tablets for 1 to 2 days for treatment of cold sores. The remaining 112 pediatric subjects, aged 1 month to less than 12 years, participated in 3 pharmacokinetic and safety trials and received valacyclovir oral suspension. Fifty-one of these 112 pediatric subjects received oral suspension for 3 to 6 days. The frequency, intensity, and nature of clinical adverse reactions and laboratory abnormalities were similar to those seen in adults.
Pediatric Subjects Aged 12 To Less Than 18 Years (Cold Sores)
In clinical trials for the treatment of cold sores, the adverse reactions reported by adolescent subjects receiving VALTREX 2 grams twice daily for 1 day, or VALTREX 2 grams twice daily for 1 day followed by 1 gram twice daily for 1 day (n = 65, across both dosing groups), or placebo (n = 30), respectively, included headache (17%, 3%) and nausea (8%, 0%).
Pediatric Subjects Aged 1 Month To Less Than 12 Years
Adverse events reported in more than 1 subject across the 3 pharmacokinetic and safety trials in children aged 1 month to less than 12 years were diarrhea (5%), pyrexia (4%), dehydration (2%), herpes simplex (2%), and rhinorrhea (2%). No clinically meaningful changes in laboratory values were observed.
Postmarketing Experience
In addition to adverse events reported from clinical trials, the following events have been identified during postmarketing use of VALTREX. Because they are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, estimates of frequency cannot be made. These events have been chosen for inclusion due to a combination of their seriousness, frequency of reporting, or potential causal connection to VALTREX.
General
Facial edema, hypertension, tachycardia.
Allergic
Acute hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, angioedema, dyspnea, pruritus, rash, and urticaria.
Central Nervous System (CNS) Symptoms
Aggressive behavior; agitation; ataxia; coma; confusion; decreased consciousness; dysarthria; encephalopathy; mania; and psychosis, including auditory and visual hallucinations, seizures, tremors.
Eye
Visual abnormalities.
Gastrointestinal
Diarrhea.
Hepatobiliary Tract And Pancreas
Liver enzyme abnormalities, hepatitis.
Renal
Renal failure, renal pain (may be associated with renal failure).
Hematologic
Thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, TTP/HUS.
Skin
Erythema multiforme, rashes including photosensitivity, alopecia.
SRC: NLM .