Valtrex is a prescription medication taken by mouth that is effective in the treatment of genital infection, mouth ulcers and lip blisters caused by the herpes simplex virus.
Prescribed by U.S. doctors and dispensed by U.S. pharmacists.
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 VirusValtrex
is taken in a dosage of 1-gram twice daily for 10 days.
- For recurrent episodes of infection with Herpes Simplex VirusValtrex
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.
