Medication
Self-care
Is there an effective treatment for genital herpes?
There is no cure for genital herpes. However, daily use of antiviral medicines can prevent or shorten outbreaks. Antiviral medicines also can reduce the chance of spreading it to others.
What is the most effective treatment for herpes?
Acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir appear equally effective for episodic treatment of genital herpes (466–470). *Acyclovir 400 mg orally 3 times/day is also effective, but are not recommended because of frequency of dosing.
Which treatment is the most effective at lessening the symptoms of herpes?
Antiviral drugs directly treat herpes infections and may help reduce the severity or duration of an outbreak. This includes Abreva (docosanol), a topical antiviral available over the counter, and prescriptions antivirals like Zovirax (acyclovir) and Valtrex (valacyclovir).
How can you live a normal life with herpes?
There's no one way to talk about having an STD, but here are some tips that may help:Keep calm and carry on. Millions of people have herpes, and plenty of them are in relationships. ... Make it a two-way conversation. Remember that STDs are super common, so who knows? ... Know your facts. ... Think about timing. ... Safety first.
What causes herpes flare ups?
Triggers for recurrence — Illness, stress, sunlight, and fatigue can trigger recurrent herpes outbreaks. In women, menstrual periods may trigger an outbreak. When did I become infected? — The first time a person has noticeable signs or symptoms of herpes may not be the initial episode.
Can I buy acyclovir over the counter?
You can buy aciclovir cold sore cream at most pharmacies and supermarkets without a prescription.
Should I take antivirals daily for herpes?
Some people with genital herpes choose to take antiviral medication daily to reduce the number of symptom outbreaks they have. In some cases, daily therapy prevents outbreaks completely.
How effective is Valtrex for herpes?
Yes, while daily Valtrex has been shown to reduce genital herpes outbreaks by 70% to 80%, it is still possible to have an outbreak while taking the medication. However, the frequency of outbreaks tends to go down over time for a lot of people.
Is herpes less contagious over time?
Patients with newly acquired genital herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) infection have virus frequently detected at the genital mucosa. Rates of genital shedding initially decrease over time after infection, but data on long-term viral shedding are lacking.
Does herpes shorten your life?
Becoming infected with the herpes virus seriously complicates your social, emotional and sexual life, but it is not otherwise a terribly dangerous condition to have. Having genital herpes does make it easier to get HIV (and thus AIDS), but otherwise, the condition is not disabling, and does not reduce lifespan.
Do I have to disclose herpes?
No, it is not illegal to not tell someone you have herpes. However, if you are in an intimate relationship with someone, it is best to let your partner know that you have an STD. This will allow you both to take precautions to minimize the spread of the STD.
Does herpes go away with age?
Sometimes people get their first symptoms months or even years after they're infected. The herpes virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. After the first outbreak, it becomes inactive. Then, in most people, it gets active again from time to time and causes blisters and sores.