Herpes Channel
Topics & Medications
Quicklinks
Related Channels
Comparing Generic Valtrex to the Brand-Name Drug
from eMedTV.comIs Generic Valacyclovir as Good as Valtrex?
All generic medications must undergo certain tests to compare them to brand-name medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) then looks at these tests to decide if the generics are equivalent to the brand-name medications and assigns each generic a rating. An "AB" rating means that the FDA has determined that a generic medication is equivalent to a brand-name medication. Generic valacyclovir has an "AB" rating, meaning it should be equivalent to Valtrex.However, generic medications are allowed to have different inactive ingredients than the brand-name medication. This might include fillers, dyes, or other ingredients that may cause problems for people with allergies or sensitivities.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD