medication treat herpes
Using Medication to Treat Herpes
If you’ve been diagnosed with genital herpes, your doctor has likely made you aware there is no cure. There are however some treatment options, some natural and some medicated. Using medication to treat herpes can help relieve some of the symptoms, as well as lesson the instances of outbreaks. In some people, outbreaks can be eliminated by using medication.
Antiviral medications may be used either intermittently or as suppressive treatment for both genital herpes and cold sores. Among common antiviral medication to treat herpes are acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex). Most forms are taken by pill, but in severe cases, acyclovir may be taken intravenously.
Those who experience frequent outbreaks may consider using medication to treat herpes. This is especially true if the outbreaks are bothersome or seem to interfere with a person’s lifestyle. Because the medication only eases the symptoms, a doctor will likely discuss with a patient how he or she feels about taking medication to treat herpes. Herpes medication mainly about increasing the comfort of the patient and decreasing symptoms.
A patient who has virtually no symptoms and rare outbreaks may wish to refrain from using medication to treat herpes. However, if that same patient experiences severe pain when outbreaks do occur, along with their doctor they may consider intermittent antiviral medications. Whereas the patient with more frequent outbreaks, may instead consider suppressive therapy with the antiviral medication to treat herpes.
Persons with a sexual partner might also find benefits in using an antiviral medication to treat herpes. This is because of the medicine’s ability to possibly decrease the frequency and severity of outbreaks. By doing this, it may help to reduce an uninfected partner’s chance of becoming infected with the herpes virus. This can help a person feel more confident sexually and aid in leading a more normal lifestyle than they may have felt they were living before.
Tags: Featured News, Herpes Information
