Hi there.  First of all, hang in there--the first episode is always the worst, and each subsequent one gets better, and after some time many people naturally don't get many outbreaks at all.  But that's probably far from your mind after a tough first outbreak.   Valtrex/Valacyclovir is generally considered the most effective antiviral currently available on the market.  It's actually a new derivative of acyclovir, which has been around for some time, but the way the drug is formulated it has a special mechanism that delivers it better within the body.  People use it very effectively to treat outbreaks (the trick is to learn to recognize when you're about to have one and start using it immediately) as well as for ongoing suppressive treatment (for which it has been clinically proven to reduce transmission between partners).  Some people report headaches as a side-effect of treatment, although I thought it was interesting to note in their clinical trials that 29% of patients given Valtrex reported headaches and 26% of those given placebo (a sugar pill) also reported headaches!  So maybe that's just pyschological.   As with any medication, consult your doctor.   Hope that helps!