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VALACYCLOVIR

All products: general benefit

Other products in the same Health Canada class (J05A, J05AB) — coverage varies; not interchangeable

  • Acyclovir (Zovirax): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Ganciclovir (Cytovene): general benefit
  • Famciclovir (Famvir): limited Use 147, Not a benefit
  • Remdesivir (Veklury): limited Use 722
  • Valganciclovir (Valcyte): limited Use 374, 568, 569, Limited Use 571, 572, 573
  • Abacavir + lamivudine + zidovudine (Trizivir): general benefit

48 more in the class list below

Riva-Valacyclovir · DIN 02316447 · 500mg · tablet

General benefitMarketed · checked 2026-09-19
StatusGeneral benefit
Write on scriptno code needed
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
Brand vs generic price
Lowest DBP recovery rule under medically necessary no-substitution claims: 6.2 Medically Necessary "No Substitution" Claims The Side Effect Reporting Form will not have to be renewed. However, the pharmacy must maintain a copy of the prescription that contains a direction that there be no substitution and the required Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form (completed and signed by the prescriber). The prescriber must write “No Substitution” or “No Sub” on renewal or subsequent new written prescriptions, and indicate “No Substitution” on subsequent new oral prescriptions. The dispenser will be reimbursed the DBP plus a mark-up and the lesser of the posted usual and customary fee or the ODB dispensing fee minus the applicable ODB co-payment amount. Where a completed Side Effect Reporting Form is not available at the pharmacy during an inspection, the difference between the cost of the higher-cost product and the lowest DBP listed for the interchangeable category will be recovered. (ontario.ca, Revision #17; 2026-08-03 ↗) 6.2 Medically Necessary "No Substitution" Claims The Ministry will provide reimbursement of a higher-cost interchangeable product in medically necessary circumstances where a patient has experienced a significant adverse reaction with two (2) lower-cost interchangeable drug products, where available. When a prescriber identifies a patient for which it is medically necessary that a higher cost interchangeable product be provided, the prescriber must: • Complete, sign and forward to the pharmacist a copy of the Health Canada side effect reporting form for each lower-cost interchangeable drug product trialed (Side Effect Reporting Form[s]); and • Write “No Substitution” or “No Sub” on a written prescription or indicate “No Substitution” to the pharmacist in the case of a verbal prescription. The prescriber should keep a copy of the completed form in the patient’s record for future use and reference. In the case of a written prescription, when the pharmacist or dispensing physician receives a prescription with the written notation “No Substitution” or “No Sub”, reimbursement will be provided for the higher-cost interchangeable product only if the prescription is accompanied by a completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form for each of the lower-cost interchangeable drug products trialed. This form must be completely filled out noting the details of the adverse reaction and signed by the prescriber. In the case of a verbal prescription, the prescriber must satisfy the operator of the pharmacy or dispensing physician that a completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form for each of the lower-cost interchangeable drug products trialed has been completed and signed by the prescriber. A written record of this verbal prescription and the completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form must be received by the pharmacy prior to claim submission. Upon receipt, the pharmacist must: • Fax, submit online or mail the completed and signed form to Health Canada’s Canada Vigilance Program; and • Retain his or her copy of the completed and signed Side Effect Reporting Form. (ontario.ca, Revision #17; 2026-08-03 ↗)
1 brand, same coverage
Riva-Valacyclovir · DIN 02316447 Manufacturer: Laboratoire Riva Inc.; listing date 2025-08-29 Health Canada: Marketed since 2008-10-27 · brand RIVA-VALACYCLOVIR · ATC J05AB11 VALACICLOVIR · form Tablet · route Oral · ingredients VALACYCLOVIR (VALACYCLOVIR HYDROCHLORIDE) 500 MG · company Laboratoire riva inc. · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Riva-Valacyclovir: Formulary list price $0.6198/unit (unit not stated in source; not the patient's cost)

Ministry pays: $0.6198 per source unit.

Source explanation: The formulary price is what ODB pays; the cash price at the counter is set by the pharmacy.

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=80195 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 02316447)

Source record
DIN 02316447: Riva-Valacyclovir Raw flags: sec3=Y Item: 081800012; group id 114; item number 0196; lccId None; manufacturer id RIA Source form: Tab; strength: 500mg Recorded listing: General benefit Source prices (unrounded): $0.6198; ministry $0.6198 Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=02316447 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=80195
Interchangeable products
Apo-Valacyclovir · DIN 02295822 · $0.6198 Auro-Valacyclovir · DIN 02405040 · $0.6198 Co Valacyclovir · DIN 02331748 · $0.6198 Jamp Valacyclovir · DIN 02440598 · $0.6198 Jamp-Valacyclovir · DIN 02441454 · $0.6198 Mylan-Valacyclovir · DIN 02351579 · $0.6198 PMS-Valacyclovir · DIN 02298457 · $0.6198 Sandoz Valacyclovir · DIN 02347091 · $0.6198 Teva-Valacyclovir · DIN 02357534 · $0.6198 Valacyclovir · DIN 02442000 · $0.6198 Valacyclovir · DIN 02454645 · $0.6198 Valtrex · DIN 02219492 · $0.6198
Shortage status: not checked (no credentials)
Other drugs in the same formulary class (08:18 Antivirals) and how they are covered

Matched class: 08:18 Antivirals

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. Covered without a code on the Ontario formulary: ABACAVIR & LAMIVUDINE & ZIDOVUDINE, ABACAVIR SULFATE, ABACAVIR SULFATE & LAMIVUDINE, BICTEGRAVIR SODIUM/EMTRICITABINE/TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE HEMIFUMARATE, CABOTEGRAVIR, CABOTEGRAVIR & RILPIVIRINE, COBICISTAT & ELVITEGRAVIR & EMTRICITABINE & TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE, DARUNAVIR & COBICISTAT, DARUNAVIR & COBICISTAT & EMTRICITABINE & TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE, DELAVIRDINE MESYLATE, DOLUTEGRAVIR, DOLUTEGRAVIR & ABACAVIR & LAMIVUDINE, DOLUTEGRAVIR & RILPIVIRINE, DOLUTEGRAVIR SODIUM/LAMIVUDINE, DORAVIRINE, DORAVIRINE/LAMIVUDINE/TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE, EFAVIRENZ/TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE/EMTRICITABINE, ELVITEGRAVIR & COBICISTAT & EMTRICITABINE & TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE, EMTRICITABINE & RILPIVIRINE HCL & TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE HEMIFUMARATE, EMTRICITABINE & RILPIVIRINE HCL & TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL, EMTRICITABINE & TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE, ETRAVIRINE, FOSAMPRENAVIR CALCIUM, GANCICLOVIR SODIUM, LAMIVUDINE & ZIDOVUDINE, LOPINAVIR & RITONAVIR, MARAVIROC, NELFINAVIR MESYLATE, RALTEGRAVIR POTASSIUM, RILPIVIRINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RITONAVIR Some products covered without a code (check the product listing): ACYCLOVIR, ATAZANAVIR SULFATE, DARUNAVIR, EFAVIRENZ, LAMIVUDINE, NEVIRAPINE 08:18 Antivirals

ACYCLOVIR

· 15 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (13) · strengths: 200mg, 400mg, 800mg · Tab

GANCICLOVIR SODIUM

· 1 products · General benefit · strengths: 500mg/Vial · Pd Inj-10mL Pk

FAMCICLOVIR

· 6 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (4), Limited Use, codes 147 (2) · strengths: 125mg, 250mg, 500mg · Tab

REMDESIVIR

· 1 products · Limited Use, codes 722 · strengths: 100mg/vial · Pd for Sol-100mg Vial Pk

VALGANCICLOVIR

· 6 products · Limited Use, codes 571, 572, 573 (2), Limited Use, codes 374, 568, 569 (4) · strengths: 50mg/mL, 450mg · Pd for Oral Sol-100mL Pk, Tab

ABACAVIR & LAMIVUDINE & ZIDOVUDINE

· 2 products · General benefit · strengths: 300mg & 150mg & 300mg · Tab

ABACAVIR SULFATE

· 4 products · General benefit · strengths: 20mg/mL, 300mg · O/L, Tab

ABACAVIR SULFATE & LAMIVUDINE

· 7 products · General benefit · strengths: 600mg & 300mg · Tab

ATAZANAVIR SULFATE

· 12 products · General benefit (8), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (4) · strengths: 150mg, 200mg, 300mg · Cap

BICTEGRAVIR SODIUM/EMTRICITABINE/TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE HEMIFUMARATE

· 1 products · General benefit · strengths: 50mg & 200mg & 25mg · Tab

CABOTEGRAVIR

· 3 products · General benefit · strengths: 200mg/mL, 30mg · Inj Sol-ER Susp 3mL Vial Kit Pk, Tab

CABOTEGRAVIR & RILPIVIRINE

· 2 products · General benefit · strengths: 200mg/mL & 300mg/mL · Inj Sol-2mL Kit, Inj Sol-3mL Kit Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 08:18 and 42 more
Full class listing Related classes: 08:08 Anthelmintics, 08:12 Antibiotics, 08:14 Antifungals, 08:16 Antitubercular Agents, 08:20 Plasmodicides (Antimalarials), 08:24 Sulfonamides, 08:30 Antiprotozoals, 08:32 Trichomonacides, 08:36 Urinary Anti-Infectives, 08:40 Miscellaneous Anti-Infectives Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
Other drugs whose Health Canada label lists a similar indication: herpes zoster
From Health Canada product monographs; label wording only, not a treatment recommendation. Matching is lexical and uses one held product label per generic; formulations and qualifying criteria may differ. No displayed matched alternative is a general benefit. FAMCICLOVIR · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (4), Limited Use, codes 147 (2) INDICATIONS AND CLINICAL USE FAMVIR® (famciclovir) tablets are indicated : • for the treatment of acute herpes zoster (shingles) • for the treatment or suppression of recurrent episodes of genital herpes in immunocompetent adults. PM: https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00078599.PDF; date FEB 13, 2025; DIN 02177102; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph Coverage source: ON formulary extract 2026-08-26
What the Health Canada label says it is for
1. Indications VALTREX, valacyclovir tablets (as valacyclovir hydrochloride), is indicated: • For the treatment of herpes zoster (shingles) in adult patients. • For the treatment or suppression of genital herpes in immunocompetent adult patients and for the suppression of recurrent genital herpes in HIV infected adult patients. • To reduce the risk of transmission of genital herpes with the use of suppressive therapy in adult patients. Safer sex practices should be used with suppressive therapy. • For the treatment of cold sores (herpes labialis) in adult patients and adolescent patients ≥ 12 years of age. 1.1. Pediatrics Pediatrics (<12 years of age): No data are available to Health Canada; therefore, Health Canada has not authorized an indication for pediatric use. 1.2. Geriatrics Geriatrics (>65 years of age): Use in the geriatric population may be associated with differences in safety due to age-related changes in renal function and a brief discussion can be found in the appropriate sections (see 7.Warnings and Precautions, Renal) https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00083875.PDF PM date: 2026-03-13 Source product: VALTREX; DIN 02219492; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.