Valacyclovir for the treatment of Bell's palsy.

Abstract

Despite recent evidence suggesting that Bell's palsy is associated with reactivation of alfa-herpes viruses, the disease has been treated empirically, and the use of valacyclovir has not been definitively established. In 2007, two prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled trials evaluating valacyclovir were reported in patients with Bell's palsy. One demonstrated that valacyclovir/prednisolone therapy was statistically more effective than placebo/prednisolone therapy in improving the recovery of patients with Bell's palsy, excluding zoster sine herpete. However, considering the cost-benefit ratio of this treatment and the limitations of virological diagnoses, we recommend that valacyclovir should be used in cases of severe palsy within 3 days after the onset of Bell's palsy.

• Authors: Naohito Hato, Naoki Sawai, Masato Teraoka, Hiroyuki Wakisaka, Hirotaka Takahashi, Yasuyuki Hinohira, Kiyofumi Gyo
• Journal: Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy (Expert Opin Pharmacother) Vol. 9 Issue 14 Pg. 2531-6 (Oct 2008) ISSN: 1744-7666 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18778190 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Prednisolone
• Valine
• Valacyclovir
• Acyclovir

Topics

• Acyclovir (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Bell Palsy (drug therapy)
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Herpes Zoster (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Prednisolone (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Valacyclovir
• Valine (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)