How Much Does Herpes Medication Cost

How Does At Home Herpes Testing Work

myLAB Box offers testing for HSV-2 antibodies which are always due to a sexually transmitted infection. myLAB Box does not offer testing for HSV-1.

If you want to test for herpes at home, heres what to do:

If you test positive with myLAB Boxs herpes test kit, we will connect you with a free phone consultation with a physician. You can use this consultation to ask questions, discuss your concerns, and learn what steps you should take next to protect yourself and your sexual partners.

Testing for herpes has never been easier, more convenient, or more discreet thanks to the at-home testing option.

What Is The Shingles Vaccine

The shingles vaccine prevents herpes zoster, otherwise known as shingles. Shingles is a condition that causes a painful, blistering rash on one side of the face or body. This rash usually appears in a limited area on the skin, sometimes in the form of a stripe or patch. In many cases, the rash shows up after strange sensations, such as tingling or itching, have occurred in the same area. The rash turns into blisters and can be intensely painful. Shingles can also cause:

• Fever

• Headache

• Upset stomach

The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia, the lingering nerve pain after the rash goes away . It can be long-lasting and debilitating. Other complications can occur, depending on which part of your body shingles affects. Complications can include:

• Hearing loss

• Brain inflammation

• Vision changes or blindness

The vaccine is not intended to treat shingles or its complications, only to prevent them. It is given as an injection into the upper arm muscle in two doses that are spaced 2 to 6 months apart.

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We’re working on accepting insurance for these visits, but we’re not there yet. Of course you can still use your insurance at the pharmacy to help pay for any medications that we prescribe you, and our doctors will always work with you to find a prescription and a pharmacy that will be affordable. As always, every consult includes a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and we will refund the cost of your visit if you aren’t satisfied or if we are unable to offer a diagnosis/treatment!

If you don’t have insurance and want to see how much your prescription will cost before completing your visit at GoodRx Care, GoodRx is a great resource. This website shows a price breakdown for different categories of drugs , compares prices across different pharmacies in your area , and also has free printable coupons that can get you up to 80% off at the pharmacy.

For example, a search for “Birth Control” on GoodRx will take you to this list, where you can browse the different brands and see prices for each. Put in your zip code to the website to get results specific to your area and to see which pharmacy offers the lowest price.

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Treatment For Genital Herpes

There are three antiviral medications that are FDA-approved for the treatment of genital herpes:

• Acyclovir: The oldest antiviral medication for herpes is acyclovir. It has been available since 1982 in a topical form and sold since 1985 in pill form. Acyclovir has been shown to be safe in persons who have used it continuously for as long as 10 years.
• Valacyclovir: A newer drug, valacyclovir, actually uses acyclovir as its active ingredient. This medication delivers acyclovir more efficiently so that the body absorbs much of the drug, which has the advantage of taking the medication fewer times during the day.
• Famciclovir: Famciclovir uses penciclovir as its active ingredient to stop HSV from replicating. Like valacyclovir, it is well absorbed, persists for a longer time in the body, and can be taken less frequently than acyclovir.

Antiviral medication is commonly prescribed for patients having a first episode of genital herpes, but they can be used for recurrent episodes as well. There are two kinds of treatment regimens: episodic therapy and suppressive therapy.

Valtrex Coupons And Rebates

Valtrex offers may be in the form of a printable coupon, rebate, savings card, trial offer, or free samples.Some offers may be printed right from a website, others require registration, completing a questionnaire,or obtaining a sample from the doctor’s office.

There are currently no Manufacturer Promotions that we know about for this drug.

Read Also: How To Avoid Genital Herpes Outbreaks

How Much Does Valtrex Cost With Insurance

The cost of Valtrex with your insurance plan generally depends on the level of coverage you have and the type of health insurance policy you are enrolled in. If you need help to determine the cost of Valtrex with insurance, just visit your local pharmacy and ask your pharmacist to check the exact prescription cost. Using a SingleCare Valtrex prescription discount card can also help you to save money for your Valtrex prescription.

What Are The Complications Of Having Herpes Infection

People infected with herpes simplex virus will have the virus for the rest of their lives. Even though the virus is inactive in the body, certain stimuli result in the outbreak. Some of them are

• Fever or illness

The following people are at a higher risk of getting the herpes infection.

• Having multiple sex partners
• Having unprotected sex at a younger age
• Infected with other sexually transmitted diseases
• Having a weakened immune system
• Females

Read Also: Is Genital Herpes An Autoimmune Disease

And Now A Word About Over

If you are concerned about cost-effective utilization of medications , a bigger source of wasted pharmaceutical dollars is over-prescribing. If any medication is prescribed to a patient who has no chance of benefiting from that prescription, then that money has been absolutely wasted! The obvious example is antibiotics prescribed for viral illnesses. In my experience, drugs for Herpes are often prescribed inappropriately both in correctional facilities and in the community at large. Here are some mistakes I have seen:

1. Prescribing anti-virals for non-herpetic problems. Patients sometimes do not know exactly what genital herpes is. They sometimes will say I have herpes’ but if you look, they really have a genital wart or fungal crotch rot or pickin pox or even a syphilitic chancre! The key here is looking. Herpes, of course, has a characteristic appearance that is unlike any other lesion you will see on the groin: a bunch of blisters on a red base. Anything else is something else and will not benefit from valacyclovir.

2. Prescribing acyclovir or valacyclovir too late in the illness.

Too late to treat

The herpetic anti-virals only have clinical efficacy if they are prescribed within the first 48 hours of the outbreakeven better in the first 24 hours. At this stage, the blisters look like blisters. During the several day course of the illness, the blisters will rupture and weep and then crust over and finally resolve.

How Much Does The Herpes Std Testing Cost

Herpes STD testing cost ranges between $55 and $130 in different labs and facilities across the U.S. The cost of herpes STD testing also depends on the choice of your specific herpes testing or testing for herpes infection as a package

No prior appointment is required. Order your test online and visit the lab during lab business hours. Complete the procedure and get the results in your email in 2 to 3 business days.

The following table shows the Herpes test cost at 3 of our partner laboratories network located across the U.S.

Read Also: How Soon Can Herpes Be Detected

What Are The Main Differences Between Acyclovir Vs Valacyclovir

Acyclovir is a prescription medication used in the treatment of herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus . It belongs to a class of antiviral drugs known as synthetic purine deoxynucleoside analogues. This class is also sometimes referred to as nucleoside and nucleotide DNA polymerase inhibitor antivirals. Acyclovir fights viral infections by incorporating itself into the viral DNA and then prohibiting viral DNA synthesis. Acyclovir is available in a variety of forms including topical cream and ointment, ophthalmic ointment, solution for injection, oral capsules, oral tablets, oral dissolving tablets, and oral suspension. The oral acyclovir formulation has poor bioavailability because it is altered in first-pass metabolism, resulting in poor absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.

Dosage For Oral Herpes

Adult dosage

• Typical dosage: 2 g, twice per day for 1 day, taken 12 hours apart.
• Note: Treatment should be started at the first sign of cold sore symptoms.

Child dosage

• Typical dosage: 2 g, twice per day for 1 day, taken 12 hours apart.
• Note: This drug should be started at the first sign of cold sore symptoms.

Child dosage

• This drug has not been studied or approved for treatment of oral herpes in children younger than 12 years.

Senior dosage

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, a higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a different treatment schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

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What Is Feline Herpes

Feline herpes is caused by feline herpesvirus type 1 , also known scientifically as feline viral rhinotracheitis . This virus infects cats and uses the cats own cells to make more of the virus. Because of this, herpesvirus is very challengingif not impossibleto treat.

Once herpesvirus has infected a cat, most cats will be infected with the virus for a lifetime, including inside cells of the nervous system . During times of stress, cats will develop symptoms again and again.

Understanding Herpes With H Hunter Handsfield Md

Herpes expert H. Hunter Handsfield, MD, explains the basics about genital herpes, including the difference between genital HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection, testing options and the importance of knowing virus type, and the three-prong strategy for prevention. See more herpes videos at sexualhealthTV.com.

Have a question about herpes youd like Dr. Handsfield or our other experts to answer? Visit our Ask the Experts page to learn how.

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Herpes Std Testing Cost With Insurance

Many health insurance policies in the U.S. do not cover the herpes screening antibody test cost. They might cover only the cost of the viral culture. However, this coverage also depends on your insurance plan.

Our herpes STD testing providers offer herpes screening blood tests and do not accept any health insurance. But, if the insurance company accepts to reimburse the cost, they can provide you with an itemized receipt containing all the details like the name and code of the test, and CPT code which is necessary for insurance reimbursement purposes.

Antiviral Drugs For Herpes Treatment

The major drugs developed to work against herpes simplex virus are antiviral agents called nucleosides and nucleotide analogues, which block viral reproduction. They include acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. All three oral antiviral drugs are very effective and reasonably safe. These medications differ in their chemical structure, dosage regimen, and price.

The antiviral medications available in pill form acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir have been specifically developed for the treatment of genital herpes. They stop the growth of the herpes simplex virus. Antiviral medications may significantly lessen the severity of a primary outbreak and reduce the time it takes genital herpes outbreaks to heal. The medication also decreases the number of days of painful symptoms and for some people, the number of days you can spread the virus. Antiviral medication is most effective if it is taken when you first notice the prodromal symptoms of a recurrent genital herpes outbreak and if they are taken for the next 5 to 7 days or until symptoms go away. Some people with frequent recurrent outbreaks take antiviral medication every day to help reduce the frequency and duration of recurrent outbreaks. Antiviral medication can reduce the number of outbreaks by 70% to 80%.

Also Check: How Long Does It Take For Herpes To Show

How To Save On Valtrex

Patient assistance programs are typically sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and offer discounted medications to low income or uninsured patients. Rx Outreach Medications and HealthWell Foundation Copay Program are Valtrex patient assistance organizations that help eligible patients to save on their Valtrex prescriptions. Contact these programs directly to learn more about their eligibility requirements and how much you can save on your medications.

You can also contact GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Valtrex, to learn about more ways that you can save on this medication such as Valtrex manufacturer coupons, rebates, free samples, and online coupons.

SingleCare is one of the most convenient ways to save on your prescription and over-the-counter medications. Our customers save significantly on their medications when they use their SingleCare discount coupon at participating neighborhood pharmacies.

Is The Shingles Vaccine Safe

As with any vaccine, its possible to have some side effects after receiving it. In clinical studies, the side effects linked to this vaccine usually lasted only 2 to 3 days, and the most common ones were:

• Pain and redness at the injection site

• Muscle pain

• Fatigue

• Headache

Most people report at least some arm pain after the injection. Some people reported that their side effects kept them from doing their usual daily activities. For this reason, its a good idea to plan to not do anything right after receiving your injection, just in case.

Severe allergic reaction to this vaccine is very rare. Symptoms of such a reaction include:

• Hives

• Swelling of the face or throat

If you notice these symptoms in the hours after your vaccination, get medical help immediately.

Also Check: What Types Of Herpes Are There

How Much Do Acyclovir And Valacyclovir Cost

The average retail price for 30 acyclovir 400 mg tablets is $25.85. The average retail price for 30 valacyclovir 500 mg tablets is $124.46. Keep in mind that you may need to take acyclovir more frequently than valacyclovir, and your therapy may require more pills.

If your insurance does not cover your medication, you can use a prescription discount card to get the lowest prescription price at a pharmacy near you.

Patient Assistance Programs For Zostavax

Patient assistance programs are usually sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and provide free ordiscounted medicines to low income or uninsured and under-insured people who meet specific guidelines.Eligibility requirements vary for each program.

There are currently no Patient Assistance Programs that we know about for this drug.

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When To Seek Treatment

If you notice sores around the genitals or around the mouth, speak with a doctor to determine if you have herpes. Upon diagnosis, the doctor will likely recommend certain treatments. Unfortunately, there is no cure for herpes, although certain medications and treatments exist that may lessen the side effects of herpes and make outbreaks less common.

Can I Buy Valacyclovir Online

Valacyclovir OTC is not currently available in the United States and one cannot simply buy valacyclovir online as the first step to getting valacyclovir prescription medication is consulting a medical provider. Instead, valacyclovir requires a prescription in order to be dispensed by a pharmacy. Push Health can connect people who need a valacyclovir prescription with a medical provider who can, when appropriate, prescribe valacyclovir medication, including valacyclovir 500 mg tablets.

Also Check: Can You Have Sex If You Have Herpes

Who We Cant Help

Our online treatment protocols mean we cant give herpes medication to everyone. If any of the following apply to you, please dont use our genital herpes service and instead see a doctor or nurse practitioner in person.

• Under 18

• The Squeeze

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Lemonaid Health is a national online doctors office. Our services are provided by one of our four medical groups. All four medical groups do business as ‘Lemonaid Health’. In all states other than Kansas, New Jersey and Texas, Lemonaid services are provided by LMND Medical Group, Inc., A Professional Corporation, doing business as Lemonaid Health. In Kansas, Lemonaid services are provided by LMND Medical Group, A Professional Association, with registered office 112 SW 7TH Street, Suite 3C, Topeka, KS 66603. In New Jersey, Lemonaid services are provided by LMND Medical Group Professional Corporation, with registered office 820 Bear Tavern Road, West Trenton, NJ 08628. In Texas, Lemonaid services are provided by LMND Medical Group, A Professional Association, with registered office 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 900, Dallas, TX 75201. Our team is based at 870 Market Street, Suite 415, San Francisco CA 94102, USA. You can call us on .

Lemonaid Health Inc provides a variety of administrative and management services to the four medical groups.