Acyclovir is one of three antiviral medications available in the United States to treat herpes. In her book "The Good News About the Bad News Herpes: Everything You Need to Know," author Terri Warren, RN, MP notes that antiviral medications treat viral infections, whereas antibiotics are intended to cure bacterial infections. Because they work differently than antibiotics, there are no concerns about long-term use, completing the course of each prescription, or building up resistance to the drug when taking acyclovir.
History
Acyclovir, also known by the brand name Zovirax, was first approved by the Federal Drug Administration in 1982.
Oral Acyclovir Dosage
If a patient has never before had herpes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends either 400 mg of oral acyclovir three times a day for seven to 10 days or 200 mg or oral acyclovir five times a day for seven to 10 days. Following that course of treatment a patient may either elect episodic therapy or daily therapy. Daily therapy is also called suppressive therapy. For those who choose episodic treatment with oral acyclovir, the CDC advises taking either 400 mg three times a day for five days, 800 mg twice a day for five days, or 800 mg three times a day for two days, unless the patient is infected with HIV, in which case the CDC recommends taking 400 mg three times a day for five to 10 days. For those who choose suppressive treatment with oral acyclovir, the CDC advises 400 mg two times a day unless the patient is infected with HIV, in which case the CDC recommends taking 400 to 800 mg 2 to 3 times a day.
Cream Acyclovir
Acyclovir is also available in a cream, but this form is less effective. Lisa Marr, the author of "Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Physician Tells You What You Need to Know," writes that the acyclovir cream has not been demonstrated to prevent the occurrence of outbreaks.
Considerations
Because the human body can make use of only a relatively small amount of the drug, acyclovir needs to be taken more often than the other two antiviral drugs available by prescription. Side effects, which are relatively mild and uncommon, include dizziness, nausea, and headaches.
Advantages
Topical acyclovir helps decrease the duration of outbreaks and helps sores to heal more quickly. Oral acyclovir has been shown to decrease both the length and the severity of outbreaks when used as either a suppressive or episodic treatment. When taken as a suppressive treatment, oral acyclovir also decreases the number of outbreaks and lowers the chances of giving the virus to a lover. According to Warren, acyclovir has been demonstrated to be quite safe, even with long term use.
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: Summary of 2006 CDC Treatment Guidelines"; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2006
- "Contagious Diseases Sourcebook"; Joyce Brennfleck Shannon, editor; 2010
- "Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sourcebook"; Laura Larsen, editor; 2009
