Herpies Treatment Options

The bad news: there is no cure for genital and oral herpies. The good news: there are different herpies treatment options available to help prevent the symptoms from getting worse.

Herpies treatment

Herpes Treatment Guideline

Generally, the genital herpies treatment of choice is the use of antiviral medications. These can either be topical or oral formulations. However, between the 2, oral medications have been found to be more efficient and reliable. Sometimes, doctors would prescribe both, depending on the severity of the symptoms. In patients with severe cases, antiviral medications are given via intravenous injections.

Currently, there are 3 drugs that are considered effective and safe for treatment of genital herpies. These are:

  • Acyclovir (Zovirax). Acyclovir is used primarily for both primary and recurrent outbreaks of herpes infection. If taken within 24 hours upon the onset of symptoms, it can help speed up the healing of the lesions caused by the virus. For some, it can actually stop the lesions from developing.
  • Valacyclovir (Valtrex). This drug is designed primarily to treat recurrent cases of genital herpies. It is recommended to take the drug within 24 hours upon the onset of symptoms, 3 times daily.
  • Famciclovir (Famvir). This drug, on the other hand, is used for immunocompromised patients with frequent outbreaks. Because it is easily absorbed by the body, this drug is taken less frequently than the 2 other drugs. It is recommended to take famciclovir within 6 hours after the onset of the symptoms.

    • First Outbreak Treatment

    This treatment regimen is for when you first experience herpies outbreak. You can take any of the above mentioned antiviral medications but you should take note of the right dosage as it differs from one another. For example, the recommended dosage for acyclovir is 1200mg divided into 3 to 5 doses in a day. But when given with valacyclovir, you should take 1g twice a day while with for famciclovir, 750mg divided into 3 dosages.

    Recurrent Outbreak Treatment

    This is the intermittent therapy for herpes. You don't have to take it everyday. You take the drugs only when you see the signs and symptoms. Usually, it only last for about 3 to 5 days.
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