What Medication Is Used For Herpes

What Are Side Effects Associated With Using Acyclovir

Common side effects or health problems may include:

• Oral medication

• Severe allergic reaction

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems may occur as a result of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What Are Antiviral Medications For 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.

Washing The Genital Area Before And After Sex Can Help Prevent The Transmission Of Genital Herpes

Washing the genital area doesnât help prevent any sexually transmitted disease , including genital herpes. The best way to prevent any STD is to abstain from sex or engage in sex only with someone you know is not infected. Condoms are not guaranteed to prevent infection, but research has shown that they provide some protection.

Also Check: What Is The Treatment For Genital Herpes

Does Cold Sore Cream Work On Genital Herpes

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. Also know, can you use Zovirax on genital herpes?

BRAND NAME: Zovirax. USES: This medication is used to treat cold sores/fever blisters . This medication may also be used to treat genital herpes. Other medications taken by mouth may be more effective for genital herpes.

Additionally, what can I put on genital herpes sores? To ease symptoms: Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin to relieve pain. Apply cool compresses to sores several times a day to relieve pain and itching. Women with sores on the vaginal lips can try urinating in a tub of water to avoid pain.

Also know, can I use cold sore cream for genital herpes?

Acyclovir topical cream is used to treat cold sores on the lips and face. Acyclovir topical ointment is used to treat genital herpes lesions. There is no cure for herpes and acyclovir will not prevent you from developing symptoms in the future.

Can abreva be used for genital herpes?

CAN ABREVA BE USED TO TREAT GENITAL HERPES, CANKER SORES OR SHINGLES? Abreva cream is indicated only for the treatment of cold sores caused by Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1.

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Complementary And Alternative Medicine

Some people use natural therapies to treat herpes, either on their own or to support standard medical care. The research supporting their use is generally weak, with little evidence that they can reduce either the severity or duration of an outbreak. Even so, many people swear by their effectiveness and consider them a vital part of managing herpes outbreaks.

Complementary and alternative therapies sometimes used to treat herpes include:

• Propolis: This is a sticky substance produced by bees that may help speed the healing of genital herpes. A 2017 study found that people who used propolis ointment experienced better healing by the 10th day of treatment compared to those who used a sham ointment.
• Algae extract: Lab studies suggest that algae extract can inhibit the growth of HSV-2 in test tubes. Whether it can do so in humans has yet to be proven.
• Acupuncture: A 2011 study concluded that acupuncture was mildly effective in reducing pain caused by the herpes zoster virus , the type of herpes virus that causes shingles. While this suggests that acupuncture may be useful in easing genital herpes pain, this has yet to be proven.

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Baking Soda Paste Or Cornstarch Paste

Baking soda and cornstarch paste both help with drying out sores and lesions, as well as, relieve itching. These pastes can be used by using a damn q-tip or cotton ball and dabbing it into the baking soda or cornstarch to create a thick paste. Put a generous amount of the paste on your sores and reapply the paste when necessary.

How Are Initial Outbreaks Treated

Antiviral medications can help to control the symptoms and shorten the duration of initial herpes outbreaks by 2 to 4 days. The treatment of an initial outbreak should be started within the first three days the earlier, the better.

The medications are taken as tablets. The number of tablets per day depends on the active ingredient and the dose. The World Health Organization recommends the following doses and amounts for treating an initial outbreak:

• aciclovir: 200 mg five times per day or 400 mg three times per day,
• famciclovir: 250 mg three times per day, or
• valaciclovir: 500 mg two times per day.

The WHO recommends that the treatment last ten days.

These three medications are about as effective as each other. Aciclovir is the most commonly used because doctors and patients have the most experience with this medication.

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Drug Treatment For Genital Herpes

If you are infected with genital herpes, your doctor may prescribe oral antiviral drugs to help ease your symptoms during both a first episode and recurrent episodes. Your doctor may also suggest taking antiviral drugs daily as a suppressive therapy to reduce symptoms and protect partners.

Remember, though, that antiviral drugs do not wipe out the virus completely. It continues to live in your body, so if you stop taking the drugs that suppress it, you may have more frequent or more intense symptom outbreaks, and the risk of your transmitting the virus to others rises.

Three antiviral drugs, all taken by mouth, are used to treat genital herpes:

Zovirax Side Effects List For Healthcare Professionals

Adverse Drug Reaction Overview

The most frequent adverse reactions associated with the use of Zovirax are headache and nausea.

Neurological side effects have also been reported in rare instances. Elderly patients and patients with a history of renal impairment are at increased risk of developing these effects. In the reported cases, these reactions were generally reversible on discontinuation of treatment.

Clinical Trial Adverse Drug Reactions

Because clinical trials are conducted under very specific conditions the adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials may not reflect the rates observed in practice and should not be compared to the rates in the clinical trials of another drug. Adverse drug reaction information from clinical trials is useful for identifying drug-related adverse events and for approximating rates.

Treatment of Herpes Simplex

Short-term administration : The most frequent adverse reactions reported during clinical trials of treatment of genital herpes with oral Zovirax in 298 patients are listed in Table 1.

Table 1 : Adverse Reactions Reported in Clinical Trials of Treatment of Genital Herpes with Acyclovir

Less Common Clinical Trial Adverse Drug Reactions

Abnormal Hematologic And Clinical Chemistry Findings

No clinically significant changes in laboratory values have been observed in clinical trials for the treatment of chickenpox and zoster, and for the treatment and suppression of genital herpes with Zovirax.

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Over The Counter Cream For Herpes Is Effective

The most common OTC for herpes is a cream. An over the counter cream for herpes is quite effective remedy which is not very costly. Creams and topical ointments can reduce the intensity of the sores and accelerate the healing process. There are anesthetic cold sore ointment such as Dynamiclear and Herpecil-L which protect his lip area, and reduce the chance of possible outbreak. To relieve pain Neosporin and Polysporin are used. An antiviral medication, Docosonal, is even available without prescription it helps greatly to those suffer from oral herpes to recover.

If you need more choice for the herpes cream over counter, there are some other names:

Penciclovir heals HSV-1 sores, and it take like a half a day faster than if they are healed without treatment. It stops viral shedding and reduces the duration of pain. It is good to apply the cream during the first hour since the symptoms appeared. The treatment usually takes four days, and should be reapplied every 2 hours while awake.

The only FDA-approved non-prescription ointment for oral herpes is Docosanol cream . It is used 5 times a day from the first sign of symptoms.

Acyclovir cream is very well know remedy for herpes if is applied early, the best results can be achieved.

The anti viral pills like Acyclovir , valacyclovir and famciclovir are used to cure genital herpes, but can also treat cold sores.

herpes cream over counter

When And How Are Later Outbreaks Treated

Later outbreaks with only mild symptoms dont necessarily need to be treated. The blisters can then simply heal on their own.

But antiviral medication can also shorten the duration of later outbreaks by an average of about two days. If you decide to have treatment, its important to start it within the first 24 hours of the outbreak ideally, as soon as you notice the first symptoms. So its a good idea to always have a few tablets at home or to take them with you when you travel so they are ready to use. You can get a prescription from your doctor.

In later outbreaks you can take them for a shorter time. The WHO recommends the following:

• aciclovir: 400 mg three times per day or 800 mg two times per day for five days, or 800 mg three times per day for two days,
• famciclovir: 250 mg two times per day for five days, or
• valaciclovir: 500 mg two times per day for three days.

A different dose and treatment duration may be a good idea for people who have immune system disorders, such as an HIV infection.

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How Do Herpes Drugs Work

Herpes medications like valacyclovir, acyclovir and famciclovir belong to a class of medications called antiviral drugs.

Antiviral drugs are designed to inhibit the multiplication of viruses in the body. Unlike antibiotics, which eliminate the bacteria that cause infections, antiviral drugs simply control viral proliferation, rather than completely eliminating the target virus from the body.

None of the antiviral drugs on the market today can cure herpes. However, consistent use of an antiviral drug can make living with herpes much easier by speeding up healing after an outbreak and reducing your risk of transmitting the virus to other people.

Herpes drugs are taken for several reasons. People with active HSV-1 or HSV-2 infections can take them during outbreaks to control and treat their symptoms. Antiviral drugs are also used as part of suppressive therapy for herpes to reduce the severity and frequency of outbreaks.

Even people with asymptomatic herpes can benefit from using antiviral drugs to lower their risk of spreading the virus to other people through sexual or oral contact.

What Is The Best Medication For Herpes

The effectiveness of a particular medication varies depending on the person, so thereâs no single âbestâ herpes treatment. Doctors prescribe the most suitable drug for each patientâs condition, medical history, and current medications. That said, here are a few of the drugs most commonly used to treat HSV:

This doesnât encompass the full scope of potential side effects, just the most common ones. Anyone considering treatment with one of these medications should speak with a healthcare professional for a more comprehensive list.

Read Also: How Often Does Genital Herpes Flare Up

How Does Genital Herpes Affect A Pregnant Woman And Her Baby

Neonatal herpes is one of the most serious complications of genital herpes.5,16 Healthcare providers should ask all pregnant women if they have a history of genital herpes.11 Herpes infection can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth, or babies may be infected shortly after birth, resulting in a potentially fatal neonatal herpes infection. 17 Infants born to women who acquire genital herpes close to the time of delivery and are shedding virus at delivery are at a much higher risk for developing neonatal herpes, compared with women who have recurrent genital herpes . 16,18-20 Thus, it is important that women avoid contracting herpes during pregnancy. Women should be counseled to abstain from intercourse during the third trimester with partners known to have or suspected of having genital herpes. 5,11

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How Is Herpes Diagnosed

The herpes virus is almost always spread through sexual intercourse, oral sex, or kissing. Although sometimes HSV-1 can spread via shared lip balm, utensils, or other items that come in contact with saliva.

In most cases, healthcare providers can diagnose herpes with a visual examination and by discussing various symptoms. If theres any doubt, they can take a viral culture to confirm, which involves lab analysis of a swab or scraping.

If the patient has no history of herpes simplex and is a new patient, I always do a viral culture, says , MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of 5th Avenue Aesthetics. Also, if I am suspicious of HSV-2 or if it is an immunocompromised patient, I will order a viral culture. I start treatment right away before results come back. These results can take one week and it is best to start treatment early.

But again, symptoms arent always present. Fortunately, its also possible to diagnose HSV with a blood test. Your body produces antibodies to combat viruses, and doctors can use a blood sample to detect the specific antibodies that fight the herpes simplex virus.

A primary care physician can perform the examinations and tests necessary for an accurate diagnosis. However, sexual health clinics offer similar, reliable services.

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Chlamydial Infection Among Neonates

Prenatal screening and treatment of pregnant women is the best method for preventing chlamydial infection among neonates. C. trachomatis infection of neonates results from perinatal exposure to the mothers infected cervix. Initial C. trachomatis neonatal infection involves the mucous membranes of the eye, oropharynx, urogenital tract, and rectum, although infection might be asymptomatic in these locations. Instead, C. trachomatis infection among neonates is most frequently recognized by conjunctivitis that develops 512 days after birth. C. trachomatis also can cause a subacute, afebrile pneumonia with onset at ages 13 months. Although C. trachomatis has been the most frequent identifiable infectious cause of ophthalmia neonatorum, neonatal chlamydial infections, including ophthalmia and pneumonia, have occurred less frequently since institution of widespread prenatal screening and treatment of pregnant women. Neonates born to mothers at high risk for chlamydial infection, with untreated chlamydia, or with no or unconfirmed prenatal care, are at high risk for infection. However, presumptive treatment of the neonate is not indicated because the efficacy of such treatment is unknown. Infants should be monitored to ensure prompt and age-appropriate treatment if symptoms develop. Processes should be in place to ensure communication between physicians and others caring for the mother and the newborn to ensure thorough monitoring of the newborn after birth.

Protecting Your Partner And Preventing Herpes Transmission

Research shows that the single greatest fear is the fear of transmission to partners, says Dr. Handsfield.

The main ways to avoid transmitting herpes are:

• Learn to recognize how you feel when an outbreak is on the way, and stop having sex immediately.
• Dont have sex during active outbreaks.
• Always use condoms but dont rely on them during outbreaks. They dont completely cover infectious areas.
• Only after all sores have scabbed over and healed should you have sex again.
• Avoid touching your herpes sores, because you can spread them to other places on your body that way. Whenever you touch a sore, wash your hands immediately.
• Dont kiss people or have sex if you have a cold sore.
• Tell potential partners about having herpes before having sex with them, even though it may be hard.
• Ask your doctor about taking antiviral drugs regularly.

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How Can I Protect Myself From Chlamydia

Its not always possible to know if a current or potential partner has chlamydia, though, especially since many people with chlamydia never notice symptoms. With prevention in mind, its a good idea to make safer sex practices a regular part of your sex life:

• Dont share sex toys, but if you do, wash them after each use and cover toys used for penetration with a condom.
• Have sex with only one partner, who only has sex with you.

Read Also: How Long Does Genital Herpes Last With Medication

Related Resouruces For Herpes

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