Valtrex Special Precautions

Hydration status: Care should be taken to ensure adequate fluid intake in patients who are at risk of dehydration, particularly the elderly.
Use of higher doses of valaciclovir in hepatic impairment and liver transplantation: There are no data available on the use of higher doses of valaciclovir (4000 mg or more per day) in patients with liver disease. Specific studies of valaciclovir have not been conducted in liver transplantation; and hence caution should be exercised when administering daily doses greater than 4000 mg to these patients.
Use for zoster treatment: Clinical response should be closely monitored, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Consideration should be given to intravenous antiviral therapy when response to oral therapy is considered insufficient.
Patients with complicated herpes zoster, i.e. those with visceral involvement, disseminated zoster, motor neuropathies, encephalitis and cerebrovascular complications should be treated with intravenous antiviral therapy.
Moreover, immunocompromised patients with ophthalmic zoster or those with a high risk for disease dissemination and visceral organ involvement should be treated with intravenous antiviral therapy.
Transmission of genital herpes: Patients should be advised to avoid intercourse when symptoms are present even if treatment with an antiviral has been initiated. During suppressive treatment with antiviral agents, the frequency of viral shedding is significantly reduced. However, the risk of transmission is still possible. Therefore, in addition to therapy with valaciclovir, it is recommended that patients use safer sex practices.
Use in ocular HSV infections: Clinical response should be closely monitored in these patients. Consideration should be given to intravenous antiviral therapy when response to oral therapy is unlikely to be sufficient.
Use in CMV infections: Data on the efficacy of valaciclovir from transplant patients (~200) at high risk of CMV disease (e.g. donor CMV-positive/recipient CMV negative or use of anti-thymocyte globulin induction therapy) indicate that valaciclovir should only be used in these patients when safety concerns preclude the use of valganciclovir or ganciclovir.
High dose valaciclovir as required for CMV prophylaxis may result in more frequent adverse events, including CNS abnormalities, than observed with lower doses administered for other indications (see Adverse Reactions). Patients should be closely monitored for changes in renal function, and doses adjusted accordingly (see Dosage & Administration).
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. The clinical status of the patient and the adverse event profile of Valtrex should be borne in mind when considering the patient’s ability to drive or operate machinery. Further, a detrimental effect on such activities cannot be predicted from the pharmacology of the active substance.
Use in patients with renal impairment and in elderly patients: Aciclovir is eliminated by renal clearance, therefore the dose of valaciclovir must be reduced in patients with renal impairment (see Dosage & Administration). Elderly patients are likely to have reduced renal function and therefore the need for dose reduction must be considered in this group of patients. Both elderly patients and patients with renal impairment are at increased risk of developing neurological side effects and should be closely monitored for evidence of these effects. In the reported cases, these reactions were generally reversible on discontinuation of treatment (see Adverse Reactions).