Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) + Valacyclovir
Valacyclovir brand name: Valtrex.
We found no known interaction between Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) 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.
Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) 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 Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) 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.
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.
Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) safety at a glance
Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Why No Interaction Is Listed for Valacyclovir
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Valacyclovir is filed under 3 classifications — organic anion transporter 1 (oat1) substrates, seizure threshold lowering drugs, oral drugs. Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) has documented interactions with 8 drug classes — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate), carboplatin (paraplatin) (moderate) and cholinergic drugs (moderate) — and none of Valacyclovir’s classifications are among them.
Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.
Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) Does Interact With Other Medications
Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) has 339 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Valacyclovir isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)
We haven’t checked that one against Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso). Pick one to open its full report.
Questions About Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) 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 Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) 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:
- Provitalize With Levothyroxine, Valacyclovir, and Citalopram ›
- Is Valacyclovir Safe To Take With Acetaminophen And Guaifenesin? ›
- Alternatives To Valtrex For The Treatment Of Herpes ›
Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Valacyclovir
This page covers Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) 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
Where Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) 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.
#659 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#30 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
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 Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) reference on this page ↓
- Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) 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.
About Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)
What is Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)?
- Muscle and joint pain
- Arthritis
- Sprains and strains
- Interstitial cystitis (bladder pain)
- Skin penetration enhancer for other medicines
DMSO is a colorless liquid solvent that people apply to the skin for pain and inflammation, and it is FDA-approved (as a prescription) only for interstitial cystitis placed directly into the bladder. Most over-the-counter uses for pain and arthritis have limited or low-quality evidence, and DMSO can carry impurities or push other chemicals through your skin. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid industrial-grade products.
Industrially produced chemical compound (a byproduct of wood pulp processing) · Topical cream, gel, liquid solution; bladder instillation solution (prescription); industrial-grade and pharmaceutical-grade liquids
An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) record says about it on its own.
Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso): dosing
There is no single standardized over-the-counter dose of DMSO for pain or arthritis.
From our Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.
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.
Other Drugs & Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
339 interactions
- Diclofenac Sodium ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Metronidazole ›
- Diphenhydramine ›
- Sodium Sulfacetamide ›
- Aspirin ›
- Hydrocortisone ›
- Naproxen ›
- Nitroglycerin ›
- Estradiol ›
- Minocycline ›
- Tetracycline ›
- Lidocaine ›
- Testosterone ›
- Levonorgestrel ›
- Cyclosporine ›
- Fentanyl ›
- Flurbiprofen ›
- Oxybutynin ›
- Tacrolimus ›
- Triamcinolone ›
- Clindamycin ›
- Diclofenac Potassium ›
- Dipyridamole ›
- Fluticasone ›
- Miconazole ›
- Tazarotene ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Aluminum Chloride ›
- Benzocaine ›
- Buprenorphine ›
- Conjugated Estrogens ›
- Diazepam ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Ketoprofen ›
- Pilocarpine ›
- Sumatriptan Succinate ›
- Tretinoin ›
- "phentolamine ›
- Amcinonide ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Bacitracin ›
- Benzyol Peroxide ›
- Betamethasone ›
- Bivalirudin ›
- Ciclesonide ›
- Dapsone ›
- Doxepin ›
- Edrophonium ›
- Fluticasone Propionate ›
- Imiquimod ›
- Minoxidil ›
- Mitomycin ›
- Neomycin ›
- Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride ›
- Progesterone (prescription Drug) ›
- Scopolamine ›
- Sulindac ›
- Travoprost ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
Showing 60 of 339 moderate interactions — see all 339 on the Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) page.
No interaction 2,490 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Sertraline ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Docusate ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Prednisone ›
- Propranolol ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Bupropion ›
- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Letrozole ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Bisoprolol ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Acetaminophen, Oxycodone ›
- Cyclopentolate ›
- Candesartan Cilexetil ›
- Mannitol ›
- Cephalexin ›
- Roxithromycin ›
- Pegunigalsidase Alfa-iwxj ›
- Atorvastatin Calcium ›
- Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Doxylamine ›
- Daptomycin ›
- Mirtazapine ›
- Finasteride ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,490 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) list.
Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) References
The 27 references that drive our Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) 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.
- Ludwig CU, Stoll HR, Obrist R, Obrecht JP. Prevention of cytotoxic drug induced skin ulcers with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and alpha-tocopherol. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol 1987;23:327-9.
- Barker SB, Matthews PN, Philip PF, Williams G. Prospective study of intravesical dimethyl sulphoxide in the treatment of chronic inflammatory bladder disease. Br J Urol 1987;59:142-4. PubMed
- Fowler JE Jr. Prospective study of intravesical dimthyl sulfoxide in treatment of suspected early interstitial cystitis. Urology 1981;18:21-6.
- Shirley SW, Stewart BH, Mirelman S. Dimethyl sulfoxide in treatment of inflammatory genitourinary disorders. Urology 1978;11:215-20. PubMed
- Marshall LF, Camp PE, Bowers SA. Dimethyl sulfoxide for the treatment of intracranial hypertension: a preliminary trial. Neurosurg 1984;14:659-63. DOI
- Karaca M, Bilgin UY, Akar M, de la Torre JC. Dimethyl sulphoxide lowers ICP after head trauma. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1991;40:113-4.
- Rosenstein ED. Topical agents in the treatment of rheumatic disorders. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 1999;25:899-918. PubMed
- Trice JM, Pinals RS. Dimethyl sulfoxide: a review of its use in the rheumatic disorders. Semin Arthritis Rheum 1985;15:45-60. PubMed
- Merlini G. Treatment of primary amyloidosis. Semin Hematol 1995;32:60-79.
- Thiers BH. Unusual treatments for herpesvirus infections II, herpes zoster. J Am Acad Dermatol 1983;8:433-6. PubMed
- Burton WJ, Gould PW, Hursthouse MW, et al. A multicentre trial of Zostrum (5 percent idoxuridine in dimethyl sulphoxide) in herpes zoster. N Z Med J 1981;94:384-6.
- Juel Jensen BE, MacCallum FO, Mackenzie AM, Pike MC. Treatment of zoster with idoxuridine in dimethyl sulphoxide. Results of two double-blind controlled trials. Br Med J 1970;4:776-80. PubMed
- Wildenhoff KE, Esmann V, Ipsen J, Harving H, et al. Treatment of trigeminal and thoracic zoster with idoxuridine. Scand J Infect Dis 1981;13:257-62. PubMed
- Williams HJ, Furst DE, Dahl SL, et al. Double-blind, multicenter controlled trial comparing topical dimethyl sulfoxide and normal saline for treatment of hand ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Rheum 1985;28:308-14. PubMed
- Takacs T, Montet JC. In vitro dissolution of cholesterol biliary stones. Gut 1995;37:157-8. PubMed
- Rowley SD. Hematopoietic stem cell processing and cryopreservation. J Clin Apheresis 1992;7:132-4. PubMed
- Zambelli A, Poggi G, Da Prada G, et al. Clinical toxicity of cryopreserved circulation progenitor cells infusion. Anticancer Res 1998;18:4705-8.
- Wolf P, Simon M. Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) induced serum hyperosmolality. Clin Biochem 1983;16:261-2. PubMed
- Jacob SW, Herschler R. Pharmacology of DMSO. Cryobiology 1986;23:14-27. PubMed
- Hucker HB, Ahmad PM, Miller EA, et al. Metabolism of dimethyl sulphoxide to dimethyl sulphone in the rat and man. Nature 1966;209:619-20. PubMed
- Brien S, Prescott P, Lewith G. Meta-analysis of the related nutritional supplements dimethyl sulfoxide and methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2009 May 27. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
- Shirley, H. H., Lundergan, M. K., Williams, H. J., and Spruance, S. L. Lack of ocular changes with dimethyl sulfoxide therapy of scleroderma. Pharmacotherapy 1989;9(3):165-168. PubMed
- Hall MD, Telma KA, Chang KE, Lee TD, Madigan JP, Lloyd JR, Goldlust IS, Hoeschele JD, Gottesman MM. Say no to DMSO: dimethylsulfoxide inactivates cisplatin, carboplatin, and other platinum complexes. Cancer Res. 2014 Jul 15;74(14):3913-22. doi: 10.1158/00 PubMed
- Clinoril (sulindac) prescribing information. Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, 2005. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/017911s074lbl.pdf. Accessed 7/27/2020.
- Visudyne (verteporfin) prescribing information. JHP Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Rochester, MI, 2016. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/021119s027lbl.pdf. Accessed 7/27/2020.
- Capriotti K, Capriotti JA. Dimethyl sulfoxide: history, chemistry, and clinical utility in dermatology. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(9):24-6.
- DOMOSO SOLUTION (90% Dimethyl Sulfoxide). Fort Dodge Animal Health, Fort Dodge, Iowa. Avaliable at: https://www.zoetisus.com/_locale-assets/mcm-portal-assets/products/pdf/domoso_solution_pi.pdf. Accessed 8/3/2020.
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.
Taking Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) and Valacyclovir Together: Common Questions
Is it safe to take Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) with Valacyclovir?
Do Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) and Valacyclovir have any of the same side effects?
How was the Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) and Valacyclovir combination checked?
Does Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) interact with any other medications?
Does Valacyclovir interact with any supplements?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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