People who experience recurrent herpes outbreaks can benefit by taking oral antiviral treatment; outbreaks are briefer and more comfortable for those who do. According to "Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Physician Tells You What You Need to Know" by Lisa Marr, MD, 25 percent of adults who engage in sexual activity have genital herpes. Marr says the herpes patient should begin treatment as soon as he is aware he has an outbreak or senses that one is imminent. Keep a filled prescription on hand so that there is no delay in initiating treatment. The three types of antiviral medications available for herpes vary by cost and simplicity of use.
Acyclovir
Acyclovir is an antiviral medication that has been prescribed in the United States since 1982 and is sometimes referred to by the brand name "Zovirax." Acyclovir has been around the longest of the antiviral medications and tends to be the least expensive. Terri Warren, a highly regarded researcher on the herpes simplex virus and the author of several books on herpes, says the drawback of acyclovir is that it must be taken relatively frequently to be effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise taking acyclovir three times a day for five days at the 400 mg dose, twice a day for five days at the 800 mg dose, or three times a day for two days at the 800 mg dose.
Valacyclovir
Doctors began prescribing valacyclovir in the United States in 1996, fourteen years after acyclovir was made available. It works the same way as acyclovir and according to Warren is converted into acyclovir as it moves through the liver. Because of this, valacyclovir is considered to be just as safe as acyclovir. Valacyclovir is also known by its brand name "Valtrex." One advantage of valacyclovir is that it can be taken less often. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that valacyclovir be taken twice daily for three days at the 500 mg dose or once daily for five days at the 1 g dose.
Famciclovir
Famciclovir works much the same way that acyclovir and valacyclovir do. Like valacyclovir, famciclovir was introduced in 1996. Some people refer to it by the brand name "Famvir." Famciclovir does not need to be taken as often as acyclovir. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest taking either 125 mg of famciclovir twice daily for five days or 1 g of famciclovir twice daily for one day.
Side Effects
Most people do not experience adverse effects when taking any of these medications. The side effects that do exist are the same for all three antivirals. The most common ones are headache, nausea, and dizziness.
References
- "The Good News about the Bad News Herpes: Everything You Need to Know"; Terri Warren, RN, MP; 2009
- "Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Physician Tells You What You Need to Know"; Lisa Marr, MD; 2007
- "Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2006"; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2006
