HERPES: TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF OUTBREAKS
March 27th, 2009 | Posted by admin | Category: Men's Health-Erectile DysfunctionNo Comments
There is no cure for herpes, but there are very good medications that can prevent symptoms from occurring and can treat symptoms when they do occur. Some of these medications are useful for both type 1 and type 2 herpes. They are available only by prescription in the United States, and they are expensive. Acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are all available in pill form to be taken by mouth; acyclovir is also available as a cream; and penciclovir, the active ingredient of famciclovir, is available as a cream as well. Acyclovir has been available by prescription since 1982; valacyclovir and famciclovir became available in 1996.
These medications do not prevent infection if an uninfected person takes them. They only benefit people who have herpes. Steroids should not be used to treat herpes, because they can make the infection worse.
Acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are converted into their active forms by an enzyme present in the herpes virus but not in the human body. These antiviral medications act by interrupting the virus’s ability to replicate itself. They do not remove the virus from the body, but by stopping its replication they shorten the duration of an outbreak and decrease the severity of the symptoms (if taken episodically, that is, during an outbreak). To prevent outbreaks in one who is infected, these medications can also be taken daily [suppressively]. All three are useful for both the prevention and treatment of genital herpes outbreaks, whether caused by HSV-1 or HSV-2.
The cream form of acyclovir has not been proven effective in preventing or treating outbreaks of oral or genital herpes. A newer cream form of famciclovir has recently been approved for the treatment of recurrent cold sores (but not genital herpes). It shortens the duration of outbreaks and diminishes their symptoms. Someone with a history of penciclovir cream.
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