Valaciclovir belongs to a group of medicines called antivirals. It works by killing or stopping the growth of viruses called herpes simplex (HSV), varicella zoster (VZV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Valaciclovir can be used to:
·treat shingles (in adults)
·treat HSV infections of the skin and genital herpes (in adults and adolescents over 12 years old). It is also used to help prevent these infections from returning.
·treat cold sores (in adults and adolescents over 12 years old)
·prevent infection with CMV after organ transplants (in adults and adolescents over 12 years old)
·treat and prevent HSV infections of the eye that continue to come back (in adults and adolescents over 12 years old)