Valacyclovir - has anyone experienced any reduced efficacy with any of the generics?

8 Aug 2010

9 Aug 2010

9 Aug 2010

I'm a little confused by the question since you (mentioned as an after thought) you are a pharmacist. You are asking a specific question yet are looking for opinions. Suzanne gave a very detailed explanation and you (in my opinion) disregarded her answer because you were already aware of the differences (brand vs. generic) Maso is also correct in stating this is a close community where the members support each other and try to help as much as possible. You asked, "anyone else has thoughts on this?" Yes, I do. I would suggest you contact Sandoz and request data regarding any complaints they may have received about the generic form of Valtrex. I would also recommend you go back on the Valtrex since it seemed to work much better for you. I'm just a consumer. I do not know if Valtrex is even available anymore. So if there is a medication that worked better for you, pay the extra money and put your mind at ease about the outbreaks. And as Maso suggested, please contribute to this forum in a positive way as we can always use the advice of a pharmacist.

7 Nov 2010

16 Mar 2012

I am also having a bad experience with Mylan Valacyclovir Hydrochloride with the M123 on the pill. Prior to switching to generic I was using Valtrex with only one tiny outbreak in almost a year regardless of diet and stress levels. After switching to generic I feel like I'm about to break out all the time and have broken out a few times in just a one month period.

My insurance won't cover herpes meds so I'm going to have to eat the 300 extra dollars a month for actual Valtrex. If anyone knows where to get it cheaper please let me know, right now the best price I've found is at one of the wholesale clubs.

28 Apr 2012

I think that Hellothere34 wanted to know if other people were experiencing the same problem which is the effectiveness of the valacyclovir. I'm sure we all know what generics are and most of us have probably taken them for years. However, when a generic medication worked in the past and then you see a major change, such as increased outbreaks, then it makes you wonder what's going on with the manufacturers of this medicine. I used the name brand Valtrex for a few years and my outbreaks were under control. I noticed in the past few months an increase in my number of outbreaks. My doctor increased my generic valacyclovir to 1,000 mg 2x day and it made zero difference. My doctor has now prescribed "medically necessary" Valtrex and hopefully that will help. I think the second part of Hellothere's questions was for alternatives... which there doesn't seem to be much.

3 Aug 2012

I was using the generic version (1 mg/day) from manufacturer Aurobindo (1 gm - dark blue capsule) and then got it home delivered from another generic manufacturer --Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (light blue capsule) in the same dosage and started to break out 9 pills into it. Needless to say went running back to other pharmacy and got back on Aurobindo -- waiting for relief. Same thing happened with generic levothyroxin (thyroid medicine) v. brand (synthroid). thank God this condition requires constant blood draws to monitor levels. Within 6 months my doctor was frustrated because my levels went from too low to dangerously high until i went back on the brand. Why do they give us these generics when they know this can happen? I friend of mine's dad is a pharmacist and he said the FDA allows a 20% variance. So you can go from 80% of the main drug that's treating you to 120% of the drug!!

7 Oct 2012

I was taking Valtrex brand name with wonderful results. Then the generic came out and they gave me that. I only take it when I have outbreaks. I started taking Valacyclovir and it didn't work at all. I asked the pharmacist what to do and they said to double up on my dosage. I did and it still didn't work. I had to go back to the brand name. My insurance doesn't pay anything on the brand name. I am wondering why I have to pay for the brand name when the generic doesn't work. I wrote Mylan today and will wait for a response. I also contacted an attorney to see if there is anything I can do. I am sick and tired of being forced to pay higher rates when it isn't my fault that it doesn't work. It is supposed to be the same by law I think. I have take other generics that don't work too. I say we all file a lawsuit and stand up for ourselves, even if it is a class action lawsuit. We deserve to expect the same results, general or brand.

18 Jan 2013

The brand name Valtrex works perfectly for me (500mg daily). Just about perfect remission over many (many!) years. When available at the mail order pharmacy, I switched to a generic. I usually have no problem with generics. The Mylan acyclovir generic I was sent was a colossal failure--multiple herpes outbreaks in less than two months. I switched back to the brand name and again had perfect remission. The insurance carrier then changed pharmacies and I was sent the Teva generic by the new pharmacy. Teva acyclovir is great--perfect remission again for the last year. I have not tried the other generics, but I will never again accept the Mylan generic. I reported my experience and had a couple of long chats with a pharmacist who interviewed me, but I don't know what happened to my report after that. I don't know what is different between the Teva and the (terrible) Mylan generics.

19 Jan 2013

I have the same problem. The generics do not work nearly as well. One in particular was white with the numbers 1 2 3 written on it and it did not work at all, I cannot remember the manufacturer, sorry. I had my pharmacist change the manufacturer and I am now using Northstar, it seems to be working much better but still not as good as the Glaxo Valtrex. I cannot remember getting any outbreaks for several years when using Glaxo though I would get little red dots in other areas on my skin when exposed to sun.

I've had HSV-2 for over 20 years and started using Valtrex daily a few years back.

8 Apr 2013

I have used Valtrex (1000mg 2 pills twice daily) for cold sores and it has worked perfectly. The Mylan version is ineffecttive. I took the same amount of the generic version even BEFORE the sore came out and they got worse!

3 days ago

I will have to look at bottle when I get home, but pill is large and dark blue. I have had the same experience as many others. Valtrex name brand worked perfectly. I take the generic once or twice every day, but with very frequent outbreaks still

2 days 6 hours ago

Yes it seems several of us have posted reduced efficacy with some of the generics. In my case the Northstar brand seems to work as good as Glaxo however the Mylon brand was useless for me.