FDA grants final approval for generic form of anti-herpes drug Valtrex

Individuals in the United States suffering from conditions such as genital herpes, cold sores, chickenpox, and herpes zoster(shingles) can now receive the generic form of the prescription antiviral drug Valtrex, (valacyclovir hydrochloride), thanks to the approval granted recently by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) to drug manufacturer, Ranbaxy Laboratories. Ranbaxy is the first pharmaceutical manufacturer entitled to offer an affordable alternative to the brand.

Herpes more common than thought

Genital herpes is known for the sores and blisters it causes. According to Larry Shockley, a health educator for the Oklahoma State Department of Health, there are two types of herpes. Herpes 1 is associated with the lips and herpes 2 is associated with the genitals. The sores caused by herpes 2 come in clusters that cause stinging or burning when urinating. The place where the sores appear is the original site where the virus entered the body. The first outbreak usually occurs within two weeks after the virus enters the body, and generally takes two to four weeks to heal. Other symptoms include a second set of sores and flu-like symptoms, including fevers and swollen glands. Â However, people infected with herpes often have no symptoms, or might mistake mild symptoms for insect bites or another skin condition. According to Shockley, every cold sore and fever blister is a type of herpes virus.

Health Buzz: 1 in 6 Americans Has Genital Herpes

The sexually transmitted strain of herpes simplex virus infects 1 out of every 6 Americans, HealthDay reports. Luckily, the rate of infection is not increasing, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the agency did find that certain groups are more at risk. The infection rate in women, for example, was almost double the rate in men, while three times as many blacks as whites were infected, the report showed. Among those who reported having a history of 10 or more sex partners, 27 percent had herpes, compared with 4 percent of those with one lifetime sex partner, HealthDay reports.