Considered an antiviral drug, valacyclovir is generally available in either 500 mg or 1 gram dosages. The patient should take the medication as prescribed. Common side effects of the medication include, but are not limited to nausea, headache, vomiting, dizziness, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, painful periods and diarrhea among others.

This is very important. Valtrex does not prevent the spread of genital lesions. You can infect others while on the medication. To avoid spreading the virus to your sexual partners, you should continue to use latex condoms and avoid letting infected areas come into contact with others. Wash hands frequently. If you are pregnant, do your best to clear up your any genital lesions prior to giving birth. Herpes can be passed on to a newborn during a natural childbirth.

Before taking valacyclovir, you should provide your doctor with the following information:

• A list of all medications you are taking including prescription, over the counter and herbal/dietary supplements
• Other conditions you have including kidney problems, medical procedures especially kidney and/or bone marrow transplants
• Family medical history
• Allergy and other drug interactions, if known
• Whether or not you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant while taking the medication or are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed a baby.

In some instances, very serious side effects or interactions can occur while a patient is on Valtrex. Please contact your doctor or seek immediate medical assistance if any of the following occur:

• Seizure,
• Mental/mood changes (agitation, hallucination),
• Confusion,
• Speech problems,
• Shakiness,
• Unsteady movements,
• Vision changes,
• Loss of consciousness,
• Signs of infection,
• Fever,
• Persistent sore throat,
• Rash,
• Itchiness,
• Swelling,
• Severe dizziness,
• Trouble breathing, etc.

If you miss a dose, please do not double up next time. If you suspect an overdose, go to an emergency room immediately. Overdose symptoms may include urinating less than usual or NOT at all.

If you suspect you have herpes, getting tested is a good idea. Accurate testing will lead to a proper diagnosis and help you get on the path to treatment. Some people diagnose themselves by symptoms alone and that can lead to years of problems. Testing can accurately (in a vast majority of cases) determine whether you have the herpes and what type of herpes you do have.

There are two main types of herpes tests – blood and viral culture. This article will focus on blood tests specificially. Why? The main advantage of taking a blood test is that no symptoms need to be present at the time of the test. These diagnostics don’t actually detect the virus; rather, they look for antibodies (items that are created as a way to defend the body from foreign matter such as bacteria and viruses).

These types of tests are referred to as serology. Serology can help show that the infection has occurred when it’s difficult to obtain or transport a sample of the virus. When performed corrected serological testing can determine whether the person has the HSV-1 or HSV-2 form of the Herpes Virus. Of course, it is possible to get a false positive (or negative) from one of these tests, especially if you perform it yourself … it is possible to purchase these testing kits over the internet these days…so it is usually preferable to have a reputable lab do the blood work and have your doctor oversee the results.

Currently, there are four Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved blood tests. These are:

• biokitHSV-2 Rapid Test
• HerpeSelect® HSV-1 and HSV-2 tests
• Herpes Western blot
• CAPTIA™ HSV IgG Type-Specific ELISAs

You may wish to ask for them for name when discussing the possibilities with your health care provider.

An affected person can, in some instances, transmit the illness from one part of their body to another. This is called auto-inoculation. Auto-inoculation occurs when an infected individual touches an area that is shedding the virus and then touches, scratches or rubs another area of his/her body that is susceptible to infection. They can spread the virus with their hands or a moist towel that they’ve used to dry off one area of the body and use directly on another such as after a shower.

Here are a few more facts about gential herpes transmission that can help:

• The herpes simplex virus can be passed along when one person has the virus present on the skin ormucosa*. In order to transmit the virus, the infected person has to touch the uninfected person with an infected part of their body in an area on the uninfected’s body that can become infected.
• The herpees virus is generally present on the skin from the time prodrome begins and will remain there until the sores have completely healed and new skin is rebuilt in its wake.
• Using latex condoms every time you have sex, regardless of whether the virus is present or not, greatly reduces herpes transmission.
• Herpes is often transmitted by infected individuals who don’t know they’re infected. Perhaps, then, the best defense against infection (or transmitting it) is getting tested. When you know you’re infected (or if your loved one does), you can better manage the condition and prevent anyone else from becoming infected.

* Note: The plural of mucosa is mucosae. The mucosa are located at various points on the body such as the nostrils, lips, genital area and anus. They are so named because they release mucus, a thick and slippery liquid containing enzymes and immunoglobins.

Some theories suggest that HSE is caused when the herpes virus travels to the brain, usually through the nasal cavity through the sinuses. Of course, there is evidence that viruses can reach the brain through the brain directly. Perhaps, it’s possible that the virus moves from its state of latency in the body into the spinal cord, reaching the central nervous system and the brain via this back-door route.

Regardless, symptoms of Herpes Simplex Encephalitis include:

• sore throat,
• fever,
• headache,
• stiff neck,
• runny nose,
• vomiting,
• drowsiness,
• hyperactivity,
• and general weakness.

If you suspect that you have HSE, you should seek medical attention immediately. It is a very serious condition that can be potentially fatal. A proper diagnosis will require a lumbar puncture (aka spinal tap), or perhaps an EEG to detect the HSV DNA. If he test(s) come back positive, you will then need to be treated intravenously with antiviral medications.

As the disease progresses, more serious symptoms might present themselves such as:

• personality changes,
• paralysis,
• hallucinations,
• convulsions,
• coma,
• and even death.

Obviously, with treatment, the incidence of death is significantly reduced.  Unfortunately, when the herpes virus reaches the brain, damage that results to the organ and the inflammation it causes is often severe. The sooner you seek treatment for your condition, the better.

Of course, there are several brands of ocular herpes. When herpes affects the cornea, it is referred to as Herpes Keratitis. It is the most common type of ocular herps. Herpes Keratitis is usually superficial in nature and involves the top layer (epithelium) of the cornea. It heals without scarring in the variety of cases.

However, when herpes goes deeper into the cornea, it is referred to as stromal keratitis. Thought to be caused by a late immune response to the original infection, stromal keratitis is relatively rare. It is also the leading cause of corneal scarring (or cold sore of the cornea) and can lead to temporary or permanent vision loss.

Iridocyclitis is a very serious form of ocular herpees in which the iris, a thin diaphragm of connective tissue and smooth muscle fibers unique to each individual, becomes inflamed. This causes severe sensitivity to light, blurred vision, pain and redness. An inflammation of the inner eye, iridocyclitis can go deeper into the eye than the other forms of eye herpes we’ve discussed. If it reaches as far as the retina, then it’s referred to as herpes retinitis.

Signs and symptoms of ocular herpes include:

• swelling
• tearing
• recurrent infection
• irritation
• feeling like there’s something stuck in your eye
• redness
• soreness
• sores
• watery discharge
• sensitivity to light
• and more

If you suspect that you have eye herpes, or struggle with one or more of these symptoms, it’s wise to consult with an eye doctor. He or she is best equipped to make an accurate diagnosis and set up a treatment plan. Treatments for eye herpes depend on where the infection is located. The further inside the eye the infection is, the more comprehensive the treatment will be.

Pills, drops and ointments are commonly employed to treat eye herpes. In some instances, the eye doctor will scrape away the infected corneal epithelial cells with a cotton swap or ‘spatula’. After such treatment, which is called debridement, the patient will wear an eye patch or soft contact lens until the eye is considered healed.

Sometimes, steroid drops will be deemed necessary. These can help decrease corneal inflammation and prevent scarring. Steroids are almost always used in conjunction with antiviral drops. Just like other steroid medications, the drops will decrease the eye’s immune system. It’s unwise to use any steroid medications that are NOT prescribed by your eye doctor. In some cases, steroid drops can cause recurrent infections in susceptible patients. The doctor can then use an antiviral medication and a patch or contact lens to protect the eye from further infection while giving you time to heal.

In rare instances, surgery may be required to help clear the center of the cornea. If all else fails, a corneal transplant may be recommended to help restore lost vision.

Although there’s no cure for ocular herpes, proper treatment can help control and even prevent recurrent outbreaks. The most important thing you can do to keep your eyes healthy is to make sure you have your regular check-ups and go to the eye doctor if you suffer from any of the symptoms mentioned in this article.

The first symptom of herps zoster is usually the existence of widespread pain and/or sensitivity on one side of the body. This tends to be widespread but localized to that one side of the corpus. This sensation may or may not be accompanied by itching, tingling, burning, aching or shooting pain. After a few days (1-3), red bumps and blisters erupt on the skin. This rash generally occurs on the torso region and can be mistaken for hives.

These “hives” will eventually become pus-filled and form scabs. Those scabs fall off within 2-3 weeks on average. At the time, the pain tends to subside. Scars may remain, however.

Other symptoms can include:

• Fever and/or chills,
• Malaise (a general feeling of being unwell),
• Headache,
• Swelling of the lymph nodes,
• Vision disturbances,
• Problems with taste,
• Ptosis (aka drooping eyelids),
• Ophthalmoplegia (aka decreased eye motion),
• Hearing difficulties,
• Joint pain,
• Genital lesions
• And abdominal pain.

Shingled can have other symptoms. These depend on which dermatone (area of skin supplied by one spinal nerve) is affected. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus, which affects the eyes and occurs in about 10 – 25% of all cases of shingles, can yield eye infections such as conjunctivitis, or pink eye. It can also cause loss of vision and severe ocular pain. Herpes zoster oticus, also known as Ramsay Hunt Syndrome type II, involves the ear and can lead to hearing loss as well as vertigo.

Vertigo is a certain kind of dizziness that causes the sensation of spinning or swaying while the body remains stationary. Vertigo may contribute to nausea and/or vomiting and create challenges in standing and/or walking for those afflicted with the condition.

Shingles usually disappears on its own after several weeks. However, if you are undergoing chemotherapy or have conditions that comprise the immune system such as HIV, leukemia and so forth, you will want to seek medical attention. It’s also important to talk to your doctor if these symptoms of the herpes zoste virus persist for longer than 2-3 weeks.

Generally occurring in people over the age of 60, an estimated 500,000 cases of shingled are reported in the US annually. It’s important to note that the herps virus responsible for shingles and, of course, chickenpox, is not the same one that causes genital and oral herpes.

An outbreak of shingles can be very painful – and itchy. Because the virus resides in the nerves, it usually affects one side of the body or face during an outbreak. Beginning as a rash, herpes zoste can lead to blisters and sores on the surface of the epidermis (skin). If the nose has any outbreaks, it is safe to assume that the eye is also affected.

Eye problems can occur. These can range from the mild to severe and may include:

• Inflammation and scarring of the cornea,
• Conjunctivitis,
• Iritis,
• Glaucoma,
• Cataract,
• Double vision,
• And scarring of cornea and/or eyelids.

The active phase of the infection usually lasts for several weeks although pain and neuralgia (which is pain that is centered on a specific nerve pathway) can linger for much longer. Widespread or recurrent herpes zoster outbreaks might be indicative of a larger problem with the immune system including HIV infection, some types of cancers and other serious illnesses. If you suspect or know you have an outbreak of shingles, contact your doctor for immediate treatment.

Secondly, it’s best to keep the area surrounding the outbreak clean and dry. Avoid wearing tight-fighting clothing such as jeans. Don’t rub the lesions with a towel after you shower. Instead, you can apply cool, dry air to the area. Some sufferers report relief from putting a hair dryer on the COOL setting and drying the area that way. For those with genital herpes, you should wear loose underwear. Cotton is best, preferably white. Nylon and synthetics can be worn when you feel better.

You can also apply ice packs to alleviate the pain of an outbreak. If urination is painful, then try to pee in a cool shower if and when you can. Avoid sexual contact during an outbreak of genital herpes and kissing with an outbreak of oral herpes. Over the counter medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Advil) can also be taken to reduce pain and swelling.

Finally, make sure you rest a lot and keep stress to a minimum. These are the two best tools to help you get over the hump of a herpes outbreak. Over time, you’ll learn what methods work best for your body and how to best manage your condition.

It can be done!

Herpes affects about 80 million people in the United States alone. The biggest variety of the disease is genital herpees, which is usually shared between sexual partners. However, herpes can be spread by touching and kissing as well. All that is needed is brief skin-to-skin contact. Genital herpes is not only painful, but can cause emotional pain to those affected. Feelings of low self-esteem, isolation, shame, regret, embarrassment, and undesirability are common, and society’s reaction to any sexually transmitted disease (STD) is often harsh.

Spreading at rapid levels, genital herpes has increased 30 percent since the 1970s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 45 million people in the United States are infected with henital herpes. More than 1 in 5 adults and adolescents are infected with genital herpes, according to the CDC. More likely to affect women, rather than men, and blacks, rather than whites, more awareness of genital herpes is needed to prevent even further infections.

Disclaimer: This document is for informational use only and should not be used in place of the advice and diagnosis of a doctor or healthcare professional. This document is also not a recommendation for any particular treatment plans. The advice of a doctor or healthcare professional is important for your particular condition or disorder

However, prior to that outbreak, an individual can struggle with the following symptoms:

• Increased skin sensitivity
• Tingling
• Burning
• Itching
• Pain at the site where blisters will appear

Genital herps doesn’t just affect the genital area. In fact, a person with the HSV-2 virus will often face flu-like symptoms such as:

• Malaise (general feeling of being unwell)
• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Head aches
• Decrease in appetite

Once the outbreak of blisters begins, people often report tenderness and swelling in the lymph nodes, especially those in the genital area. Women generally develop vaginal discharge and painful urination. Men will also develop pain upon urinating especially if a sore or lesion rests near the opening of the urethra.

Click here for some tips on how you can handle an outbreak of genital herpes.