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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.
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”.
| DRUG |
DOSAGE |
QUANTITY |
CONSULT |
PRICES |
|
 |
|
|
Valtrex |
500mg |
30 caps |
FREE |
177 |
Order |
| Valtrex |
500mg |
60 caps |
FREE |
326 |
Order |
|
Valtrex |
500mg |
90 caps |
FREE |
440 |
Order |
| Valtrex |
1000mg |
30 caps |
FREE |
300 |
Order |
|
Valtrex |
1000mg |
60 caps |
FREE |
525 |
Order |
|
 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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