Valtrex
How does it work?
Valtrex precautions
Usage and dosage instructions
How to store it?
Common side effects
Generic Valtrex
How to store Valtrex
Valacyclovir is the generic name of Valtrex, a drug used to treat genital herpes and herpes zoster. While the drug will not fully cure these diseases, it significantly eases the symptoms such as pain and itching. The drug also speeds up healing of the sores and prevents new sores from forming. To maximize the therapeutic effects of medication, it is important to know how to store Valtrex properly.
In order to keep its potency, people taking the drug should know how to store Valtrex at home. As a rule, package should be kept away from heat, light and moisture. It should be stored at room temperature, which is between 59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The medication should not be stored in the bathroom, kitchen or other areas where it is most prone to acquiring moisture or getting wet. Caplets are also sensitive to light from artificial lighting or UV light from the sun. The container it came from is light-resistant, so it would be better to keep the caplets in the original bottle rather than transferring them to another container. The container should also be tightly closed to keep out light.
People should also know how to store Valtrex correctly for safety reasons. To avoid poisoning and overdose, the container should be stored in a place that is out of reach of children and pets. To avoid overdose, double doses should be avoided. For instance, a person who missed a dose should not drink two doses to compensate for the dose that was missed. In case of poisoning or overdose, the local poison control center number (1-800-222-1222) should be called immediately. If the person is not breathing or has lost consciousness, the 911 emergency should be called immediately.
After determining how to store medication at home, the patient should also know about its proper disposal. The patient needs to know what to do with the excess caplets, once the dose is completed and the symptoms of infection have disappeared or subsided. Valtrex is a prescription drug that can cause serious side effects when taken by the wrong person. In 2007, the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy issued a guideline for the proper disposal of prescription medications.
In disposing prescription drugs, the person should follow specific disposal instructions that are packaged with the drug. Unless otherwise specified by the disposal instructions on the packaging or container, flushing the extra caplets down the toilet is not advisable. Medications flushed down the toilet and into the sewage system will eventually harm the environment and may contaminate drinking water. The same rule applies for pouring them down the sink. Throwing them in the trash can is also not recommended since someone may pick up the medication there. The best way to dispose Valtrex is to return the extra caplets to the pharmacy or physician, where they can be disposed of properly. People should also take advantage of community Drug Take Back programs and Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet programs initiated by pharmacies and drugstore chains.