Valtrex

You think you're careful by not having sex during herpes outbreaks.

But you can pass the virus to your partner even when you are not having an outbreak. Genital herpes is spread during close skin-to-skin contact, like oral, vaginal, or anal sex.

The virus enters your body through the skin and travels to the base of the spine, where it goes to sleep and can stay asleep for months. But from time to time, the virus wakes up and travels back to the surface of your skin where it sheds and makes copies of itself. This shedding can occur with or without signs or symptoms like blisters, itching and burning. In other words, when you have genital herpes, you may be at risk of spreading the disease both during outbreaks and in between.

Your Doctor Can Help You.

Here is an example of how the genital herpes virus may act in any given month.

No matter how few outbreaks you get, you can still spread herpes at any time. Patients frequently spread genital herpes when there are no signs or symptoms of an outbreak. In fact, one study found that up to 70% of people who had herpes got it from their partner when they had no signs or symptoms of an outbreak.
	HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS: outbreak signs or symptoms present; do not have sexual contact.
	CONTAGIOUS: virus shedding, but no signs or symptoms present; practice safer sex.
	INACTIVE: virus at rest in nerves near the base of the spine; practice safer sex.
Virus activity varies from person to person.


		Do not have sexual contact with your partner when you get a herpes outbreak or think you are about to get an outbreak.
		Always use a condom when you have sex, even between herpes outbreaks. Remember that the virus is always with you.
		Ask your doctor about daily VALTREX® (valacyclovir HCI) Caplets, the only medication proven to reduce the risk of spreading herpes. Safer sex practices should be used with daily therapy. Click here for more information.

There is no cure for herpes.

VALTREX is intended for healthy adults and is available by prescription only. To avoid a potentially serious complication, tell your doctor if your immune system is not normal because of advanced HIV disease, bone marrow or kidney transplant. Even with treatment, it may be possible to spread herpes.

Common side effects are headache, nausea, and abdominal pain. It is not known if VALTREX reduces the risk of spreading GH in same sex couples.

Take VALTREX every day as prescribed.

Please see additional important information about
VALTREX® (valacyclovir HCI) Caplets.
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You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.