VALTREX
comes in 500 milligrams and 1-gram (1000mg) caplets.
Its shape is oblong and it's colored dark blue in both
concentrations. The 500-milligram caplet is smaller
in size than the one-gram caplet. The caplets come with
an easily recognizable engraving that states "VALTREX
500" and "VALTREX 1 gram".
ABOUT
HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS:
Over
80 known viruses exist within the Herpes family.
Of these, 8 are known to cause disease in humans, the
most common being Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 (HSV-1)
and type-2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 and HSV-2 look identical
under the microscope, and either type can infect the
mouth or genitals. Usually, however, HSV-1 occurs above
the waist, and HSV-2 below the waist:
- Herpes
Simplex Virus Type-1 (HSV-1) - commonly causes herpes
labialis (also called oral herpes, cold sores or fever
blisters), which is a highly infectious open sore that
crust over before healing. Although less probable, HSV-1
can also cause genital herpes.
- Herpes
Simplex Virus Type-2 (HSV-2) - a contagious viral
infection primarily causing genital herpes in men and
women. The telltale signs and symptoms of genital herpes
include recurrent clusters of blisters, bumps and rashes
in the genital areas. HSV-2 can also be responsible
for herpes labialis (cold sores), although less often
than HSV-1.
TRANSMISSION
OF HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS:
Unlike
viruses such as influenza, which can be transmitted
through the air, Herpes Simplex Viruses require
physical contact. They are frequently transmitted through
mouth-to-mouth contact (in the case of HSV-1) or genital-to-genital
contact (in the case of HSV-2), although other means
of transmission, including hand-to-genital and mouth-to-genital
contact, are possible.
HOW
DOES VALTREX WORK?
VALTREX
is selectively absorbed into cells infected with Herpes
Simplex Virus. Within the cell Herpes Simplex Virus
coded enzymes convert VALTREX into its active
form. This active form of the drug inhibits the growth
and replication of Herpes Simplex Virus by interfering
with viral DNA replication.
VALTREX
is preferentially taken up and converted into its active
form only by Herpes Simplex Virus infected cells.
Thus, VALTREX is much less toxic for normal uninfected
cells.
WHAT
IS EPISODIC THERAPY AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
With
episodic therapy, you take medication for several days
at the first sign of an oral or genital Herpes Simplex
Virus outbreak.
Episodic
therapy works by disrupting the process by which the
herpes virus reproduces itself and spreads to
other cells in the body. Medication, taken early in
the reactivation cycle, may shorten the duration or
severity of symptoms.
IS
THERE AN ALTERNATIVE TO EPISODIC THERAPY?
Yes.
If you find that the anticipation of your next outbreak
is causing you to worry constantly or if you have frequent
severe outbreaks, you might want to consider suppressive
therapy that involves taking medication every day to
suppress outbreaks before symptoms ever appear.
IS
EPISODIC THERAPY RIGHT FOR ME?
If
you have few outbreaks, or if your outbreaks don't bother
you much when they do occur, episodic therapy is probably
be right for you.
HOW
EFFECTIVE IS VALTREX FOR EPISODIC THERAPY?
In
clinical trials, VALTREX shortened the healing
time of genital herpes sores by 33% (four days v. six
days) on average compared to placebo. Perhaps as importantly,
the duration of pain associated with genital herpes
was reduced by 25% (three days v. four days) in patients
who received VALTREX as opposed to placebo. VALTREX
also stopped viral shedding 50% (two days v. four days)
faster on average than placebo. Viral shedding is the
process in which virus is released from the skin during
an outbreak of genital herpes.
HOW IS VALTREX TAKEN FOR EPISODIC THERAPY?
-
For the first episode of infection with Herpes Simplex
Virus VALTREX is taken in a dosage of 1-gram
twice daily for 10 days.
- For
recurrent episodes of infection with Herpes Simplex
Virus VALTREX is taken in a dosage of 500-milligrams
twice daily for 3 days.
WHAT
IS SUPPRESSIVE THERAPY AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
With
suppressive therapy, medication can be taken every day
to help suppress outbreaks of Herpes Simplex Virus
infection before they occur. While on suppressive drug
therapy, some people can go 6 months or longer without
an outbreak.
HOW
IS SUPPRESSIVE THERAPY DIFFERENT FROM EPISODIC THERAPY?
You
may now be taking medication as symptoms of an outbreak
begin in order to reduce the outbreak's severity and
duration. (This method of treatment is called "acute
therapy" or "episodic therapy.") However, treating genital
Herpes Simplex Virus infections this way does
not actually affect the number of outbreaks you may
experience. In contrast, suppressive therapy means taking
daily medication to help suppress outbreaks before symptoms
ever begin.
IS
SUPPRESSIVE THERAPY RIGHT FOR ME?
If
genital herpes recurs frequently and with great
severity or affects your self-esteem and confidence,
you are a candidate for suppressive therapy.
HOW
EFFECTIVE IS VALTREX FOR SUPPRESSIVE THERAPY?
-
Over half of the patients (55%) who experienced a high
frequency of outbreaks (6 or more per year) did not
have a single outbreak for 6 months while taking a 1-gram
VALTREX Caplet once a day.
- Only
7% of those taking placebo (sugar pill) avoided an outbreak
in 6 months. By the end of 12 months, 33% of the patients
taking VALTREX still had not had a single outbreak
- compared
to only 4% of those taking placebo (sugar pill).
Patients with nine or fewer outbreaks showed comparable
results with VALTREX 500 mg once daily.
There are no data on the safety or effectiveness of
suppressive therapy longer than 1 years duration.
HOW
IS VALTREX TAKEN FOR SUPPRESSIVE THERAPY?
-
The recommended dosage of VALTREX for chronic
suppressive therapy of recurrent genital herpes is 1-gram
once daily.
- In
patients with a history of 9 or fewer recurrences per
year, an alternative dosage is 500-milligrams once daily.
IF
I AM ON THERAPY, CAN I STILL SPREAD HERPES TO OTHERS?
YES,
no drug has been proven to prevent the spread of herpes
infection to other people. You or your partner should
always use condoms and avoid sexual contact during an
outbreak.
SIDE
EFFECTS OF VALTREX THERAPY:
Nausea,
vomiting, headache, loss of appetite, weakness, stomach
pain or dizziness may occur for the first several days
after therapy has begun as your body adjusts to the
medication. If any of these effects continue or become
bothersome, you may have to discontinue the medication.
PRECAUTIONS:
On
your medical history/personal profile let us know if
you have any kidney disease, blood disorders or if you
have any allergies. This medication should be used only
if clearly needed during pregnancy. It is not know if
the medicine appears in breast milk.
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