Heather Locklear Sends Supportive Message to Charlie Sheen Following HIV News: 'My Heart Hurts'

By Naja Rayne

www.people.com

Following the news regarding Charlie Sheen's HIV-positive status, Heather Locklear has taken to Instagram to share a supportive message for her longtime friend. 

"My heart hurts. Prayers for Charlie and his family," Locklear wrote in a photo of the two she shared on Monday – the same day that news of Sheen's status broke. 

According to top Hollywood publicist and crisis manager Howard Bragman, Sheen, 50, has had the disease for some time and has been "getting treatment.' He adds that various people close to the actor knew about his condition. 

"It's been going on for quite awhile," Bragman said. "He's not necessarily comfortable talking about it. It was very had to get up the courage for him to talk about it." 

Sheen has never been shy about his promiscuous behavior, having been open about his relationships with women and drugs; while also hosting a posse of live-in girlfriends he referred to as "goddesses" in 2011. 

And although one ex says that the actor would not have knowingly infected his sexual partners with HIV, Bragman worries that his Today show interview on Tuesday could open him up to lawsuits. 

However, despite his diagnosis, Sheen is claiming that there is virtually no HIV in his system. 

"He is saying there is virtually no trace of HIV in his blood," a source close to Sheen tells PEOPLE. "He's taking antiretrovirals and is sticking to the regime. He is telling people the virus is now undetectable."Heather Locklear Sends Supportive Message to Charlie Sheen Following HIV News: 'My Heart Hurts'