Questions and Answers

WHAT IS GENITAL HERPES? If you notice a rash, chafing, pimples or sores of any kind in the genital area, it could be herpes. In order to be sure if you have herpes, you must have a physical exam by your doctor. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex virus.  Once you are infected the virus remains in your body the rest of your life and one often as recurrent outbreaks.  Herpes is spread through direct body contact and once infected you can spread the virus to others even when there are no active sores present.  Genital herpes presents itself with blister-like sore on the genitals or buttocks that recur  from 4  to more than 12 times a year and each outbreak if left untreated can last about 7 to 10 days.  WHAT IS VALTREX  & HOW DOES IT WORK? VALTREX (valacyclovir HCL) is  the first and only once/day anti viral medicine that is a PROVEN to shorten herpes outbreaks and to prevent them from happening. Valtrex is FDA approved as an effective treatment for recurrent genital herpes in adults with normal immune systems.  In clinical studies Valtrex has been shown to decrease the pain and shorten the time of herpes outbreaks. Also, Valtrex when taken daily decreases the risk of recurrences and for some completely suppresses recurrences for up to a year.  Valtrex works by disrupting the process by which herpes virus replicate itself.  Although Valtrex, if taken daily,  may suppress further herpes outbreaks, it is NOT a cure and you still can potentially infect a partner.  WILL VALTREX WORK FOR ME? WHAT ARE THE INDICATIONS? Valtrex is the only proven once/day treatment that both treats a herpes outbreak and if taken regularly may even suppress all further outbreaks.  If you have ever been diagnosed by a physician to have genital herpes and suffer from recurrent outbreaks then VALTREX may work for you. WHEN DO I TAKE VALTREX? If you have only infrequent outbreaks, you can take Valtrex at the first signs of an outbreak or even as soon as you start to feel a tingling sensation. If you have several painful outbreaks a year, if an outbreak  causes you emotional distress or interferes with your social life, or if anticipation of an outbreak causes you anxiety and tension, daily suppressive therapy may be right for you.  By taking just one pill a day you may even suppress outbreaks altogether.  A doctor consultation is necessary to determine if Valtrex therapy is right for you.  Medical Wellness Center provides FREE online physician consults, if Valtrex is not right for you, there is no charge for the consult. WHAT IF I MISS A DOSE? If you miss  a dose, take it as soon as you remember; do NOT take it if it is near the time for the next dose, instead just skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosage schedule.  DO NOT Double-up the dose to catch up. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO TAKE VALTREX? Over 45 million Americans alone, have genital herpes and many have it and don't even know. Once you are infected you are never cured and may be contagious even during asymptomatic times.  For an acute outbreak, Valtrex is most effective if taken within 48 hours when the rash first appears but may be taken at the first signs of tingling.  You take Valtrex twice a day for 5 days during an acute outbreak. Valtrex will shorten the duration of the outbreak, decrease the pain, and decreases viral shedding.    For suppressive treatment to prevent future outbreaks, rather than waiting for an outbreak to begin treatment, you take one pill every day. WHEN TAKING VALTREX CAN I STILL SPREAD THE VIRUS? Yes!  There is no cure for herpes.  Valtrex decreases the amount of viral shedding by as much as 50% in some cases, but Valtrex is NOT a cure.  Once you have herpes, even if you don't have active outbreaks you are always potentially contagious and must always take necessary precautions! WHAT ARE THE  SIDE EFFECTS OF VALTREX? The most common side effects are generally mild:  headache, nausea, abdominal pain diarrhea and dizziness.  In clinical studies of up to one year suppressive therapy the most common side effects reported were headache, nausea, and abdominal pain.  During the first several days of treatment as your body adjusts to the medication you may exprience nausea, vomiting, headache, loss of appetite, weakness, stomach pains or dizziness.  These symptions should go away in a few days, if they continue and worsen discontinue medication.  WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE VALTREX? WHAT ARE THE CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR VALTREX?  CONTRAINDICATIONS:  In order to proceed to the medical consultation, you must go to the next page and read the contraindications and verify that you do not have any of the contraindications, you are not pregnant and are not breast feeding, and understand that if you have AIDS, a suppressed immune system, a bone marrow or kidney transplant, any organ transplant or kidney disease you must NOT take VALTREX!  Patients with advanced HIV disease and bone marrow recipients and kidney transplant patients have been known to get Thrombotic thrombocytopenic puerpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome when taking 8 grams per day during clinical trials. Under NO circumstance is any  child under the age of 18, anyone with an organ transplant, kidney disease or advanced HIV to take Valtrex.