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Antiviral for HerpesIn This Article
There are three primary prescription antivirals for herpes. They are Zovirax, Famvir, and Valtrex.
There are three pharmaceutical drugs that are routinely prescribed for genital herpes, the herpes simplex- 2 (HSV- 2) virus. All three of the drugs work as antivirals, meaning, they kill the herpes virus. The drugs are Zovirax (acyclovir), Famvir (famciclovir), and Valtrex (valacyclovir). All three of these antivirals are taken by mouth, and are proven to be effective against herpes. According to WebMD.com, Famvir and Valtrex are easier to absorb in the stomach, so they do not have to be taken as often as Zorifax must be taken. When are antivirals for herpes prescribed?Any of the three prescription antivirals for genital herpes can be recommended when a patient is experiencing an outbreak of the herpes simplex- 2 virus for the first time. The drugs are also prescribed when patients are experiencing multiple outbreaks per year, and they wish to reduce both the symptoms of the disease and the frequency of the outbreaks. Pregnant women who have had genital herpes may want to use the antivirals to prevent possible outbreaks during pregnancy. People who either have an auto-immune disease or have compromised immune systems for any reason may want to use one of these antivirals for herpes as a precautionary measure. Finally, people who have had genital herpes outbreaks in the past and want to prevent possibly spreading the disease to a new sexual partner may elect to use an antiviral for extra protection. Diagnosing herpesGenital herpes, whether caused by HSV- 1 or HSV- 2, has to be considered a chronic, life-long condition. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that at least fifty million people in the United States alone are infected with the herpes simplex- 2 virus. The symptoms for genital herpes can be so mild that they can go completely missed. An infected person may not know they are carrying the virus until his or her partner becomes infected and is diagnosed. Because of this, patients should realize treatment will be ongoing. In the doctor’s office, a lab test is performed to determine whether the patient has HSV-1 or HSV- 2, because there has been a sharp increase in HSV-1 genital herpes in younger populations. A lab test for syphilis is usually performed as well. Patients who test “negative” for genital herpes must understand that these lab results may be a “false negative.” This is because the herpes simplex virus is intermittent- it flares up and goes dormant. Anyone who suspects herpes should be retested if the results come back “negative.” Taking antivirals for herpesThe following dosages are recommended for oral antivirals for the first outbreak of herpes simplex virus- 2:
Suppressive antiviral therapy for herpesSince the first outbreak of herpes is usually the worst, subsequent outbreaks are usually more mild and less frequent. However, even if the virus seems to go completely “silent,” the herpes virus is still in the body and can possibly erupt in periods of stress and under other conditions. Because of this, doctors often recommend that herpes patients undergo what is called suppressive antiviral therapy. This type of drug therapy reduces the intensity and recurrence of genital herpes by 70- 80% in people who have frequent episodes of the disease. Some patients report not ever having another symptom of genital herpes again. Zovirax (acyclovir) has been proven to be safe and effective for up to six years of use, while Famvir (famciclovir) and Valtrex (valacyclovir) have been proven to be safe and effective for up to one year. Quality of life is reported to be better with suppressive therapy rather than with using the antiviral drugs only during outbreaks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suppressive therapy should be considered to be a part of an overall protocol to treat genital herpes. Couples should still use condoms during all sexual activity and should refrain from sex during outbreaks. People with multiple partners should also consider suppressive therapy.
Comparing antivirals for herpesListed below are a list of facts and side effects of each antiviral drug, from Drugs.com:
Greater than 10% of Zovirax users have experienced the following side effects:
Greater than 10% of Famvir users have reported the following side effects:
Here are a few warnings about Valtrex:
Greater than 10% of Valtrex users have experience the following side effects:
SourcesWebMD.com, “Antiviral Medications for Genital Herpes” HIV Insite. University of California, San Francisco.edu, Xu F, Sternberg MR, Kottiri BJ, et al. "Trends in herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 seroprevalence in the United States." Journal of the American Medical Association 2006;296:964–73. Sexually Transmitted Infections. British Medical Journal.com, Scoular A. "Using the evidence base on genital herpes: optimizing the use of diagnostic tests and information provision." Sexually Transmitted Infections 2002;78:160–5.
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