Valtrex is a successful and often prescribed antiviral prescription drug that is used to control genital herpes Although Valtrex cannot cure herpes it will help with reducing the symptoms. How to use Valtrex. Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking valacyclovir and each time you get a refill. Oral antivirals in the cold sore doses work better. plenty of cheaper and better topicals to apply to a cold sore for pain relief than acyclovir. Ask your provider for a prescription for oral acyclovir, famvir or valtrex in the cold sore doses and use an otc pain relief topical instead if the cold sore hurts. You can request to be something more- such as a supervisor or part of the vandal patrol. If you make enough contributions you will become a bronze, silver, gold or platinum co … ntributor. Doctors give unbiased, trusted information on the benefits and side effects of Acyclovir to treat Cold Sore: Dr. Kramer on valtrex vs zovirax for cold sores: I'm assuming you're talking about oral Valtrex (valacyclovir) and zovirax (not zovirax cream). Both are effective, but Valtrex (valacyclovir) is more convenient, because it doesn't have to. Twice a day, or even once a day, valacyclovir works better than 3–5 times/day of acyclovir. Another drug, famciclovir, uses the same concept to help penciclovir enter the body. Another drug, famciclovir, uses the same concept to help penciclovir enter the body. Valtrex vs Acyclovir for herpes suppression? seemsserene I went in today to see my doctor and she suggested that rather than be on Acyclovir (as I have been: 400mg 5x per day with an awareness that this is a high dosage and we will be decreasing it)to suppress my herpes simplex 2 and associated unexplained sexual sensitivity loss, that I should go on Valtrex as it is “a better drug”. Valacyclovir (Valtrex) needs to be taken less often than Acyclovir because it is absorbed more efficiently by the body. This makes it more convenient but it is also more expensive. Valacyclovir is the only one of these three medications that has been proven to reduce the rate of transmission to an uninfected partner, if taken daily. Valacyclovir may help to reduce the incidence of Doctors give trusted answers on uses, effects, side-effects, and cautions: Dr. Burns on valtrex uses other than herpes: I will switch to Valtrex (valacyclovir) if zovirax doesn't work! Stop taking Valtrex and call your doctor right away if you have any signs of a serious side effect that can harm red blood cells, such as: fever, easy bruising or bleeding, red spots on the skin (not related to herpes or chickenpox), bloody diarrhea, vomiting, pale or yellowed skin, weakness, fainting, or urinating less than usual or not at all.