Suppression

[socrates]

Hi thanks for the opportunity to ask my question.

I was diagnosed with herpes after my first outbreak about 3 weeks ago. I have accepted this.

I want to confirm everything I can about suppression.

Which medication and at what daily dose is the best for suppression?

I would also like to know how likely it is that the daily medication will stop future outbreaks.

Is the cost (unclear if daily use is safe) worth the benefit of taking the medicine daily? If so, I don’t understand why everyone with herpes doesn’t take the medicine daily.
Thanks

[Terri Warren]

I recommend both acyclovir and valacyclovir. The difference is price and dosing schedule. Acyclovir is twice per day (400 mg) and valacyclovir is once a day (500 mg). The medicines reduce recurrences by about 70% and transmission by about 50%. The cost of acyclovir, if you buy it on the $4 drug plan that big pharmacies have, the cost is about $16 a month. Valacyclovir is more but it all depends on the insurance one has.
Were you diagnosed with HSV 1 or 2 and by what method?

Terri

[socrates]

I was diagnosed with herpes by swabbing the actual sores. I was unfortunately not typed tested so I don’t know if I have HSV 1 or HSV 2.

My long term partner tested positive for both on the IGg test. She has had cold sores all her life but never genital (that she was aware of). She has not had a lot of sex partners.

I tested negative for both on IGg test.

Are there any negative consequences of taking Acyclovir or Valacyclovir for rest of life? It’s so many pills — I worry.

Is itchy genitals a common symptom after the sores are healed. My sores are healed completely and gone by it’s very itchy.

I will beed to be re tested for sure.

Thank you!

• This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by socrates.

[Terri Warren]

There are no negative consequences for long term use of acyclovir or valacyclovir. This has been studied for long term use. If for any reason in the future you develop kidney issues (not from the medicine), you should tell the prescriber and they may change the dose according to kidney function.
The itching could be from the herpes or from any other bacterial or fungal issue that might be going on.
It would be good to know your type for future sexual relationships and to predict frequency of recurrences, yes.

For the record, and it is stated clearly on the website, it can take 3-4 days to get a response here.
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Terri

[socrates]

Thanks for the clarification. Please pardon my frustration with the expectations.

Is it normal to have skin sensitivity and a little tingling in the are where the sores have already disappeared?

My sores are gone completely but the skin is still sensitive there where they were 2 weeks ago.

[Terri Warren]

Yes, I would say that it not uncommon with new infection. The virus is more active right now as the immune system is trying to get familiar with the virus and learn to suppress it as much as possible. You maybe feeling a bit of that but it should pass

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Terri

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