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Herpes Treatments AdviceHerpes cannot be cured but the symptoms can be treated. Treatments are used only during outbreaks and these treatments are referred to as episodic therapy to reflect the fact that treatment is only required and administered during outbreaks. The use of treatments for herpes during an outbreak can effectively reduce the time required for healing, lessen the itching and pain and help to prevent future outbreaks. The benefits of treating the symptoms include returning you to a comfortable state sooner and helping you to curb the transmission of the disease since most transmissions occur during an outbreak. There are currently three popular treatments for herpes including Acyclovir (Zovirax), Famciclovir (Famvir), Valacyclovir (Valtrex). Acyclovir is a treatment for oral and genital herpes that has been available for years. This drug is available in a topical cream, a pill and intravenous fluid. Although the topical cream is readily available, it has not been proven to be an effective treatment. The pill and intravenous fluids have been proven to be effective for moderate to severe outbreaks respectively. An oral dose of the pill is typically administered in 400 mg doses three or four times per day for seven to ten days while symptoms are present. A daily 400 mg dose taken three to four times per day or a daily 800 mg dose taken twice per day can be an effective way to prevent future outbreaks. Famciclovir is one of the newest drugs on the market that is used to treat outbreaks of herpes. This drug is available in a pill form. A dose of 500 mg is typically taken daily for seven to ten consecutive days during an outbreak. Smaller does of 250 mg can be taken daily as a preventative method against future outbreaks. Valacyclovir is another drug that is used to treat herpes. This drug is used specifically for those who have herpes as well as HIV. Mild outbreaks respond well to a once daily dose of 1000 mg. When it is being used to treat outbreaks, the duration of the treatment is usually seven to ten days. Smaller doses of 500 mg can be taken daily as a preventative measure. |
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