How Can You Treat Herpes?

Herpes is a virus that causes infection. Herpes mainly occurs in the genitals and the mouth. It can also occur in any part of the body. There are certain treatments available for herpes.

The oldest antiviral medicine for herpes is acyclovir. Antiviral medication is usually prescribed for individuals having an initial episode of sex organ herpes, but they may be used for repeated episodes as well.

In this type of treatment, a person starts taking medication at the initial indication of an outbreak and carries on taking medicine for several days, so as to accelerate healing or prevent an outbreak from completely happening.

Episodic treatment offers a useful way to manage episodes by cutting the duration of an outbreak by a couple of days, on average. The advantages can be greater for all those whose outbreaks have a tendency to last longer.

Since the drugs differ in their absorption speed and length of effectiveness, doses vary with episodic therapy treatment which range from one to five tablets each day for three to five days during an outbreak. People with sex organ herpes who want to eliminate outbreaks may take antiviral medicine everyday to keep it under control so that it does not flare up.

For people who have frequent recurrences, research has shown that suppressive therapy may reduce the number of episodes by at least seventy five percent while the medication has been taken. For many, taking an antiviral on a regular basis can prevent outbreaks altogether.

But does suppressive therapy lower the potential risk of unrecognized herpes reactivation as well as curb acknowledged outbreaks?

One study addressing this question found that ladies on suppressive acyclovir had a ninety four percent decrease in subclinical shedding while taking daily treatment. Since the medicines differ in their assimilation rate and length of usefulness, doses vary with suppressive therapy treatment which range from one to two tablets each day.

The antiviral medicines available in tablet form have been specially developed for the treatment of sex organ herpes. It is not uncommon for health professionals to prescribe the antiviral drugs to those who have frequent or severe outbreaks of oral herpes.