Pharmacologic Substance
valacyclovir Audio
[ val-uh-sy-kloh-veer ]
Brand Names:
Valtrex
Effect:
Decreased DNA Replication
May Prevent:
Herpes Simplex
May Treat:
Chickenpox; Herpes Genitalis; Herpes Labialis; Herpes Zoster
More Information:
ChemID; DrugBank; DailyMed; DrugInfo; PDR
Definitions related to valacyclovir:
  • A prodrug of acyclovir that is used in the treatment of HERPES ZOSTER and HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS INFECTION of the skin and mucous membranes, including GENITAL HERPES.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
  • A substance that is being studied in the prevention of fungal, bacterial, and viral infections in patients undergoing donor stem cell transplantation with cells that are infected with cytomegalovirus. It belongs to the family of drugs called antivirals.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • The hydrochloride salt of the L-valyl ester of the antiviral drug acyclovir. Orally administered, valacyclovir is rapidly converted to acyclovir which inhibits viral DNA replication after further conversion to the nucleotide analog acyclovir triphosphate by viral thymidine kinase, cellular guanyl cyclase, and a number of other cellular enzymes. Acyclovir triphosphate competitively inhibits viral DNA polymerase; incorporates into and terminates the growing viral DNA chain; and inactivates viral DNA polymerase. The greater antiviral activity of acyclovir against herpes simplex virus (HSV) compared with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is due to its more efficient phosphorylation by HSV thymidine kinase.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Used in the management of herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus infections and the prophylaxis of human cytomegalovirus infections.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.