Suppressive Therapy for Recurrent Genital Herpes
Treatment also is effective in patients with less frequent recurrences. Safety and efficacy have been documented among patients receiving daily therapy with acyclovir for as long as 6 years and with valacyclovir or famciclovir for 1 year (350,351).Herpes does not affect the immune system. It is rare for adults to have any health problems from genital herpes, but there are a couple of areas of concern. Additionally, having genital HSV makes it easier to get and/or transmit HIV, a virus that can cause AIDS.
The study showed that once-daily suppressive therapy with Valtrex 500 mg caplets reduced the risk of transmission of symptomatic genital herpes by 75 percent versus placebo (0.5 percent on Valtrex vs 2.2 percent on placebo).
Valtrex Lowers Herpes Transmission. Sept. 27, 2002 -- The drug Valtrex -- prescribed to prevent recurrences of genital herpes -- may actually help prevent the spread of the virus from one sexual partner to another. Once-daily Valtrex cut the chance of the partner getting herpes with no symptoms by 50%.
When it comes to preventing the transmission of herpes, valacyclovir can be helpful but shouldn't be relied on as a 100% effective solution. Study data shows that people with symptomatic herpes who take valacyclovir are almost 50% less likely to transmit the virus to others than non-medicated people with herpes.
There is no cure for herpes. However, there are medicines that can prevent or shorten outbreaks. One of these anti-herpes medicines can be taken daily, and makes it less likely that you will pass the infection on to your sex partner(s).
Conclusions. Rates of total and subclinical HSV-2 shedding decrease after the first year following the initial clinical episode. However, viral shedding persists at high rates and copy numbers years after infection, and therefore may pose continued risk of HSV-2 transmission to sexual partners.
How can I make sure I don't give anyone herpes?
- Always use condoms and dental dams during oral, anal, and vaginal sex.
- Talk with your doctor about taking herpes medication every day, which can lower your chances of spreading herpes.
- Don't have sex during a herpes outbreak, even with a condom.
Genital herpes is spread from skin-to-skin contact with someone who has it — including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. But they do lower your chances of getting herpes. Here are other ways to avoid getting herpes from your partner: Always use condoms and dental dams during oral, anal, and vaginal sex.
That's especially true when they have sex with men, who are more likely than women to shed the virus even when they don't have symptoms, Whiteside says. In fact, rates of transmission from men to women stand at about 10 percent, while women pass herpes to uninfected men only about 4 percent of the time, he says.
One study examined rates of genital herpes transmission in heterosexual couples when only one partner was initially infected [1]. Over one year, the virus was transmitted to the other partner in 10 percent of couples. In 70 percent of cases, infection occurred at a time when there were no symptoms.
Acyclovir has been shown to be safe in persons who have used it continuously (every day) for as long as 10 years. Like valacyclovir, it is well absorbed, persists for a longer time in the body, and can be taken less frequently than acyclovir.
One study examined rates of genital herpes transmission in heterosexual couples when only one partner was initially infected [1]. Over one year, the virus was transmitted to the other partner in 10 percent of couples. In 70 percent of cases, infection occurred at a time when there were no symptoms.
Suppressive Therapy for Recurrent Genital Herpes
Safety and efficacy have been documented among patients receiving daily therapy with acyclovir for as long as 6 years and with valacyclovir or famciclovir for 1 year (350,351).Valacyclovir for Recurrent Herpes Outbreaks
On average, people with HSV-1 experience about one outbreak per year, while people with HSV-2 will usually experience four to five outbreaks per year. When these outbreaks occur, valacyclovir can provide fast and effective relief, helping to control herpes outbreak symptoms.
