Drug & supplement interaction

Chymotrypsin + Valacyclovir

Valacyclovir brand name: Valtrex.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Chymotrypsin 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

Chymotrypsin 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 Chymotrypsin 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 Chymotrypsin 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.

Chymotrypsin safety at a glance

Chymotrypsin overall Use caution Generally tolerated for short-term use, but quality evidence is limited and some people may react to this animal-derived enzyme.
Pregnancy Avoid There is not enough safety information, so it is best to avoid use during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid Safety while breastfeeding has not been established, so avoiding it is the safer choice.

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

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

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Chymotrypsin 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. 4 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Shortness of breath / Hives Worth acting on Additional detail

    Chymotrypsin

    “Rarely, chymotrypsin has been reported to cause anaphylactic reactions characterized by dyspnea, urticaria, edema, shock, vascular collapse, and unconsciousness, which can lead to death (9,509).”

    Chymotrypsin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in pregnancy-related edema.

    2 sources cited
    1. 9. Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.
    2. 509. Dukes, MNG. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 13th ed. Elsevier: Amsterdam, 1997.

    Valacyclovir

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

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

    Chymotrypsin

    “There is currently a limited amount of information available about the adverse effects of chymotrypsin. Orally, hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported (9). When injected into the eye, chymotrypsin has been reported to cause increased intraocular pressure and uveitis (9,509).”

    Chymotrypsin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in uveitis.

    2 sources cited
    1. 9. Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.
    2. 509. Dukes, MNG. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 13th ed. Elsevier: Amsterdam, 1997.

    Valacyclovir

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

  • Swelling Additional detail

    Chymotrypsin

    “Intraocular injections of chymotrypsin have been reported to cause increased intraocular pressure, corneal edema, striation, uveitis, iridoplegia, and filamentary keratitis (9,509).”

    Chymotrypsin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in uveitis.

    2 sources cited
    1. 9. Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.
    2. 509. Dukes, MNG. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 13th ed. Elsevier: Amsterdam, 1997.

    Valacyclovir

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

Effects for Valacyclovir come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Chymotrypsin 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 Chymotrypsin 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 Chymotrypsin 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 Chymotrypsin 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

One more smart check

Taking Chymotrypsin as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 281 real supplement products containing Chymotrypsin, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Chymotrypsin. Even though Chymotrypsin itself has no known interaction with Valacyclovir, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Chymotrypsin 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 Chymotrypsin
Top half

#409 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 Chymotrypsin reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Chymotrypsin 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 Chymotrypsin

What is Chymotrypsin?

  • Swelling and inflammation after injury or surgery
  • Wound healing
  • Cataract surgery (intracapsular)
  • Sports injuries and sprains
  • Easing soreness and bruising

Chymotrypsin is a protein-digesting (proteolytic) enzyme, usually taken from the pancreas of cattle or pigs, that is mainly used to help reduce swelling and support healing after injury or surgery. The evidence for many of these uses is limited or low quality, so it should not replace standard care. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a bleeding or clotting condition.

Enzyme derived from animal (typically bovine or porcine) pancreas · Oral tablets (often enteric-coated), topical preparations, injectable forms (in clinical settings)

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

Chymotrypsin: dosing

There is no well-established standard dose of chymotrypsin for supplement use. Strengths vary widely between products, and it is often combined with other enzymes such as trypsin.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the recommended amount.

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

Read the full Chymotrypsin 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 & Chymotrypsin

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Chymotrypsin — 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
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Chymotrypsin References

The 6 references that drive our Chymotrypsin 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. Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.
  2. Dukes, MNG. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 13th ed. Elsevier: Amsterdam, 1997.
  3. Latha B, Ramakrishnan M, Jayaraman V, Babu M. Serum enzymatic changes modulated using trypsin: chymotrypsin preparation during burn wounds in humans. Burns 1997;23:560-4. PubMed
  4. Shaw PC. The use of a trypsin-chymotrypsin formulation in fractures of the hand. Br J Clin Pract 1969;23:25-6. DOI
  5. McCue FC, Webster TM, Gieck J. Clinical effects of proteolytic enzymes after reconstructive hand surgery. Int Surg 1972;57:479-82.
  6. Sun HJ, Xiao JQ, Qiao QH, et al. Chymotrypsin with sialendoscopy-assisted surgery for the treatment of chronic obstructive parotitis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017;46(7):877-82. doi: 10.1016/j.ijom.2017.02.1267. 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 Chymotrypsin and Valacyclovir Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Chymotrypsin with Valacyclovir?
We do not list a known interaction between Chymotrypsin 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 Chymotrypsin and Valacyclovir have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 5 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 — Chymotrypsin 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

Still Have a Question About Valacyclovir and Chymotrypsin?

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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.