Valaciclovir

Valaciclovir, also spelled valacyclovir, is an antiviral medication used to treat outbreaks of herpes simplex or herpes zoster (shingles). It is also used to prevent cytomegalovirus following a kidney transplant in high risk cases. It is taken by mouth.

Valaciclovir
Clinical data
Trade namesValtrex, Zelitrex, others
Other namesvalacyclovir, valacyclovir hydrochloride (USAN US)
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa695010
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B3
Routes of
administration
By mouth
Drug classAntiviral
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S4 (Prescription only)
  • UK: POM (Prescription only)
  • US: ℞-only
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability55%
Protein binding13–18%
MetabolismLiver (to aciclovir)
Elimination half-life<30 minutes (valaciclovir);
2.5–3.6 hours (aciclovir)
ExcretionKidney 40–50% (aciclovir),
faecal 47% (aciclovir)
Identifiers
  • 2-[(2-Amino-6-oxo-1H-purin-9-yl)methoxy]ethyl (2S)-2-amino-3-methylbutanoate
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
NIAID ChemDB
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.114.479
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC13H20N6O4
Molar mass324.341 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • O=C(OCCOCn1c2N\C(=N/C(=O)c2nc1)N)[C@@H](N)C(C)C
  • InChI=1S/C13H20N6O4/c1-7(2)8(14)12(21)23-4-3-22-6-19-5-16-9-10(19)17-13(15)18-11(9)20/h5,7-8H,3-4,6,14H2,1-2H3,(H3,15,17,18,20)/t8-/m0/s1 Y
  • Key:HDOVUKNUBWVHOX-QMMMGPOBSA-N Y
 NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Common side effects include headache and vomiting. Severe side effects may include kidney problems. Use in pregnancy appears to be safe. It is a prodrug, which works after being converted to aciclovir in a person's body.

Valaciclovir was patented in 1987 and came into medical use in 1995. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is available as a generic medication. In 2021, it was the 114th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 5 million prescriptions.

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