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Suggest Treatment For Recurring Genital Herpes
A female friend was recently diagnosed with HSV. She contracted the virus from a man she had been dating for around a year. He did not divulge that he was HSV + until she developed symptoms, went to her ob/gyn & was diagnosed HSV+. When she told the HSV + man of her circumstance, he confessed he was HSV +. She immediately ended the relationship. This happened 10 months ago.
Since this time she has had almost constant genital breakouts. She is extremely anxious, which I think increases her chance of breakouts secondary to stress. She is an otherwise healthy 62 y/o widow who takes no other medications than Acyclovir 500 mg 5X Daily. Should her physician consider other antiviral agents (famcyclovir, valacyclovir) and an anxiolytic (mild) for possible stress-related outbreaks.
Are there other treatment options (e.g., vaccines) or the possibility of participating a research ongoing research protocol?
Since this time she has had almost constant genital breakouts. She is extremely anxious, which I think increases her chance of breakouts secondary to stress. She is an otherwise healthy 62 y/o widow who takes no other medications than Acyclovir 500 mg 5X Daily. Should her physician consider other antiviral agents (famcyclovir, valacyclovir) and an anxiolytic (mild) for possible stress-related outbreaks.
Are there other treatment options (e.g., vaccines) or the possibility of participating a research ongoing research protocol?
posted on
Fri, 16 Jun 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Answered on
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Last reviewed on
Hi,
Welcome TO HCM.
Famcyclovir and valcyclovir are in no way better than Acyclovir in the management of HSV infection as far as clinical efficacy is concerned. Similarly there is no other special drugs or vaccination trials for HSV is available.
Acyclovir is available in 200 mg, 400 mg and 800 mg tablets and not as 500 mg tablets as far as I know.
For genital herpes the dose indicated is 400 mg three times daily for 5-7 days and not 5 times a day. (only for Herpes Zoster and Chicken pox higher doses are indicated).
If there is frequent recurrences, then she may be put on a suppressive (lower) dose of Acylovir after complete healing of the present lesions for 6-12 months as directed by your physician.
Dr S.Murugan
Welcome TO HCM.
Famcyclovir and valcyclovir are in no way better than Acyclovir in the management of HSV infection as far as clinical efficacy is concerned. Similarly there is no other special drugs or vaccination trials for HSV is available.
Acyclovir is available in 200 mg, 400 mg and 800 mg tablets and not as 500 mg tablets as far as I know.
For genital herpes the dose indicated is 400 mg three times daily for 5-7 days and not 5 times a day. (only for Herpes Zoster and Chicken pox higher doses are indicated).
If there is frequent recurrences, then she may be put on a suppressive (lower) dose of Acylovir after complete healing of the present lesions for 6-12 months as directed by your physician.
Dr S.Murugan
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