Drug & supplement interaction

Bovine Colostrum + Valacyclovir

Valacyclovir brand name: Valtrex.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Bovine Colostrum and Valacyclovir in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Bovine Colostrum and Valacyclovir

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Valacyclovir and Bovine Colostrum in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Bovine Colostrum at all — not against Valacyclovir, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Bovine Colostrum safety at a glance

Bovine Colostrum overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in most adults, but those with milk or dairy allergy should avoid it.
Pregnancy Use caution Not enough reliable safety data, so it is best to avoid unless your doctor approves.
Breastfeeding Use caution Safety is not well studied during breastfeeding, so use caution and ask your provider.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Valacyclovir and Bovine Colostrum? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Bovine Colostrum and Valacyclovir May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 3 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • A severe allergic reaction / Hives Worth acting on Additional detail

    Bovine Colostrum

    “Topically, there is a case report of anaphylaxis, urticaria, and itching related to bovine colostrum.”

    Bovine Colostrum · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in pruritus.

    1 source cited
    1. 101793. Porcaro F, Caminiti L, Crisafulli G, Guglielmo F, Pajno GB. Anaphylaxis to cutaneous exposure to bovine colostrum based cream. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2019;37(1):9-11.

    Valacyclovir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valacyclovir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • An allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

    Bovine Colostrum

    “Theoretical adverse effects to bovine colostrum include an allergic reaction in individuals allergic to bovine milk products. There is also some concern that bovine colostrum that is obtained from cows in countries where bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) has been reported might be unsafe, however, there is no research indicating that colostrum can be contaminated with the BSE-causing prion.”

    Bovine Colostrum · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in encephalitis.

    1 source cited
    1. 1825. Lewis CJ. Letter to reiterate certain public health and safety concerns to firms manufacturing or importing dietary supplements that contain specific bovine tissues. FDA. Available at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr05.html.

    Valacyclovir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valacyclovir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Itching Additional detail

    Bovine Colostrum

    Recorded for Bovine Colostrum in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under A severe allergic reaction / Hives above.

    Valacyclovir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valacyclovir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Diarrhea Additional detail

    Bovine Colostrum

    “Orally, bovine colostrum has caused nausea and vomiting in an individual with HIV-related cryptosporidiosis. In clinical trials of bovine colostrum, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and unsettled stomach have been reported as mild in nature by a few patients with a similar rate of occurrence as those taking a whey-based control.”

    Bovine Colostrum · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    4 sources cited
    1. 4905. Greenberg PD, Cello JP. Treatment of severe diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum with oral bovine immunoglobulin concentrate in patients with AIDS. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol 1996;13:348-54. PubMed
    2. 92414. Duff WR, Chilibeck PD, Rooke JJ, Kaviani M, Krentz JR, Haines DM. The effect of bovine colostrum supplementation in older adults during resistance training. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2014 Jun;24(3):276-85. PubMed
    3. 101792. Sanctuary MR, Kain JN, Chen SY, et al. Pilot study of probiotic/colostrum supplementation on gut function in children with autism and gastrointestinal symptoms. PLoS One. 2019;14(1):e0210064. PubMed
    4. 114819. Halasa M, Skonieczna-Zydecka K, Machalinski B, Bühner L, Baskiewicz-Halasa M. Six Weeks of Supplementation with Bovine Colostrum Effectively Reduces URTIs Symptoms Frequency and Gravity for Up to 20 Weeks in Pre-School Children. Nutrients 2023;15(16):3626 PubMed

    “Orally, bovine colostrum has caused elevated liver function tests in HIV patients treated for infectious diarrhea.”

    Bovine Colostrum · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    1 source cited
    1. 4905. Greenberg PD, Cello JP. Treatment of severe diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum with oral bovine immunoglobulin concentrate in patients with AIDS. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol 1996;13:348-54. PubMed

    Valacyclovir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valacyclovir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Vomiting / Nausea Additional detail

    Bovine Colostrum

    Recorded for Bovine Colostrum in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Diarrhea above.

    Valacyclovir

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Valacyclovir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Bovine Colostrum but not commonly for Valacyclovir: bloating or gas.

Effects for Valacyclovir come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Bovine Colostrum come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

From our Q&A

Questions About Bovine Colostrum or Valacyclovir

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Bovine Colostrum or Valacyclovir, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Valacyclovir

This page covers Bovine Colostrum only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Valacyclovir page lists 27 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), African Wild Potato (moderate), Banderol (moderate), Biofeedback (moderate) and Caffeic Acid (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 17 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Valacyclovir page

“Valacyclovir (Valtrex) works against herpes outbreaks only if enough of it gets absorbed into your blood, and most of this list threatens exactly that. Of the 27 supplements on file, 17 can change how well oral medicines like this one are absorbed, and the single major-rated entry, activated charcoal, binds drugs in the gut outright.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Valacyclovir interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Bovine Colostrum and Valacyclovir Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Bovine Colostrum
Steady interest

#1,261 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Valacyclovir
Top 5%

#30 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Bovine Colostrum reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Bovine Colostrum and Valacyclovir records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Bovine Colostrum

What is Bovine Colostrum?

Bovine Colostrum
  • Immune support
  • Gut health and digestion
  • Exercise recovery
  • Diarrhea (including infectious diarrhea)
  • Anti-inflammatory support

Bovine colostrum is the nutrient-rich first milk from cows, packed with antibodies, growth factors, and protein. Early research suggests it may help with gut health, certain types of diarrhea, and immune support, but more high-quality studies are needed. It is generally well tolerated, but people with milk allergy should avoid it, and pregnant or breastfeeding women should check with a healthcare provider first.

Colostrum (the first milk produced by cows after calving) · Powder, capsules, chewable tablets, liquid

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Bovine Colostrum is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Bovine Colostrum record says about it on its own.

Bovine Colostrum: dosing

There is no official standardized dose for bovine colostrum. Studies have used a wide range of amounts depending on the product and the condition being studied, so there is no single "right" dose for everyone.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not take more than recommended.

From our Bovine Colostrum monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Bovine Colostrum monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Valacyclovir

What Is Valacyclovir Used For?

Brand name: Valtrex

Valacyclovir tablets are used in adults to treat cold sores (herpes labialis), genital herpes (initial and recurrent episodes), and shingles (herpes zoster). They can also be taken daily as suppressive therapy to reduce how often genital herpes outbreaks occur, and to lower the risk of passing genital herpes to a partner.

In children and adolescents, valacyclovir tablets are used to treat cold sores in those aged 12 and older, and chickenpox in those aged 2 to under 18. Valacyclovir has not been established as safe and effective for most uses in immunocompromised patients, with the exception of suppressive therapy for genital herpes in HIV-infected adults.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Valacyclovir

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (70,056 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 4,317 reports
Nausea 3,985 reports
Diarrhea 3,648 reports
Headache 2,964 reports
Fever 2,753 reports
See full Valacyclovir drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bovine Colostrum

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Bovine Colostrum — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Bovine Colostrum against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bovine Colostrum list.

See the full Bovine Colostrum interactions page
See every supplement checked against Valacyclovir, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Bovine Colostrum References

The 8 references that drive our Bovine Colostrum monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Lewis CJ. Letter to reiterate certain public health and safety concerns to firms manufacturing or importing dietary supplements that contain specific bovine tissues. FDA. Available at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr05.html.
  2. Greenberg PD, Cello JP. Treatment of severe diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum with oral bovine immunoglobulin concentrate in patients with AIDS. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol 1996;13:348-54. PubMed
  3. Duff WR, Chilibeck PD, Rooke JJ, Kaviani M, Krentz JR, Haines DM. The effect of bovine colostrum supplementation in older adults during resistance training. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2014 Jun;24(3):276-85. PubMed
  4. Sanctuary MR, Kain JN, Chen SY, et al. Pilot study of probiotic/colostrum supplementation on gut function in children with autism and gastrointestinal symptoms. PLoS One. 2019;14(1):e0210064. PubMed
  5. Porcaro F, Caminiti L, Crisafulli G, Guglielmo F, Pajno GB. Anaphylaxis to cutaneous exposure to bovine colostrum based cream. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2019;37(1):9-11.
  6. Yan X, Pan X, Ding L, et al. Bovine colostrum to supplement the first feeding of very preterm infants: The PreColos randomized controlled trial. Clin Nutr 2023;42(8):1408-1417. PubMed
  7. Halasa M, Skonieczna-Zydecka K, Machalinski B, Bühner L, Baskiewicz-Halasa M. Six Weeks of Supplementation with Bovine Colostrum Effectively Reduces URTIs Symptoms Frequency and Gravity for Up to 20 Weeks in Pre-School Children. Nutrients 2023;15(16):3626 PubMed
  8. Simonsen MB, Kappel SS, Aunsholt L, Möller S, Sangild PT, Zachariassen G. Mineral supplementation for very preterm infants fed fortified human milk. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2024;78(6):1389-1397. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Bovine Colostrum and Valacyclovir Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Bovine Colostrum with Valacyclovir?
We do not list a known interaction between Bovine Colostrum and Valacyclovir. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Bovine Colostrum and Valacyclovir have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 7 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Does Valacyclovir interact with any supplements?
Yes. Valacyclovir has documented interactions with 27 supplements in our database — Bovine Colostrum is not one of them. The Valacyclovir interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Bovine Colostrum monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Valacyclovir drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Valacyclovir supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Valacyclovir, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 8 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Valacyclovir and Bovine Colostrum?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.