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 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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NOW!
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