Medical doctors often treat herpes with antiviral drugs and steroids. While antiviral prescription drugs should be reserved for acute infections, they are available and prescribed by medical doctors to just about anyone who wants to try them. Antiviral prescription drugs are believed to lower the ability of the virus to multiply in your body, thereby reducing your symptoms, but there can be terrible side effects.
Depending on the location and severity of a breakout, an antiviral medication may be the only way to stop the progression of the herpes virus in some instances. However, any anti-infective chemical can increase the occurrence of resistant organisms, which means prescription drugs can make HSV breakouts WORSE by causing the virus to surface here and there all over the body. Topical steroids can make the herpes virus more active. They DO NOT cure HSV and DO NOT work for everyone to halt a breakout. Furthermore, most medicines only work if taken at your first breakout.
Sometimes, doctors suggest taking a low-dose prescription antiviral, such as Acyclovir, to help prevent breakouts. Here's why. The body has an enzyme called Thymidine Kinase (the human form). The Herpes Simplex Virus also has a thymidine kinase enzyme (the viral form). When herpes activates, the drug acts against the virus by entering herpes DNA as it begins to replicate, which prevents lesions from forming, which is good news. At least, that's the idea. However, the drug can no longer enter the viral DNA when the virus goes dormant (back into hiding). Herpes is still there, slumbering away in your nerves.
The bad news? Antiviral drugs cause herpes to mutate into superbugs resistant to antiviral drugs. It's said these new superbugs are less virulent than original herpes. But less virulent doesn't equivalate to fewer breakouts, and here's the danger. Your new "brand" of herpes will resist all previously taken antiviral drugs. Why? Because herpes encodes the next generation to do so.
Most of the time, you can put HSV in remission naturally, which isn't to say that medical intervention can't be helpful in emergencies to get you "over the hump" when first applying more natural methods. If you need to take antiviral medications, don't feel bad about it. Just look at it as a part of your holistic approach to getting herpes under control. Just know that if you are taking medications, optimizing your immunity will be that much more essential in offsetting the negative side effects of your medication. Keep reading.
Each of these antiviral medications is used for specific symptoms related to Herpes Simplex Virus and is dispensed in varying dosages depending upon the severity of the symptoms they are to combat. Acyclovir is the generic name for the prescription antiviral drugs listed below.
Famciclovir fights against the same viruses as acyclovir but has a longer duration of action. Meaning it can be taken less frequently during the day. Like other antiviral medications, it does not cure or stop the spread of herpes infections. However, it can help to relieve symptoms such as pain, burning, and itch. It also helps to heal and prevent sores associated with herpes infections. Famciclovir treats adult genital herpes within 6 hours of a breakout. It is also used as suppressive therapy for chronic genital herpes breakouts and for treating herpes zoster (shingles) within 72 hours of a breakout. It is unknown whether famciclovir is safe for those under 18 years of age or whether it will work after the initial 6 hours of a genital herpes breakout or 72 hours of a Shingles breakout.
"The efficacy and safety of taking famciclovir for the suppression of recurrent genital herpes beyond one year have not been established...the efficacy of famciclovir tablets, when initiated more than 72 hours after onset of rash, has not been established." ~ Drugs.com
I don't know how you might interpret the statements above, but what they don't know about famciclovir seems to be a lot.
The most common side effects include headaches and nausea, but those with kidney problems can suffer acute renal failure. Other side effects significantly found in studies are diarrhea, vomiting, pruritus (all-over itching), and fatigue.
Sitavig (acyclovir) is commonly used for treating cold sores and is applied to the upper gum of the mouth. Sitavig may cause pain where it is applied or a headache.
Valtrex (Valacyclovir Hydrochloride) has been shown to reduce the duration of cold sore episodes. In clinical studies, people with genital herpes treated with valtrex experienced fewer recurrences, and more than half were recurrence-free at six months. Valtrex has been shown to prevent new shingles blisters from forming and to treat Chickenpox in children. Most children's complaints consist mainly of headaches, while adults complain about headaches, nausea, and abdominal pain in the stomach area.
Serious side effects include but are not limited to, the following symptoms.
- An allergic reaction including difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or hives
- Fever
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Red spots on the skin not associated with herpes
- Bloody diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Pale or yellowed skin
- Weakness or fainting
- Seizures or convulsions
- Kidney problems such as little or no urination or painful or difficult urination
- Mental or mood changes such as confusion, difficulty concentrating, aggression, or hallucinations
- Pain in the lower back
- Drowsiness
- Feeling shaky or unsteady
- Problems with speech
- Problems with vision
- Loss of appetite
- Increased thirst
Less serious side effects may include:
- ·Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Headaches or dizziness
- Joint pain
- Menstrual pain
- Mild skin rash
- Stuffy nose and sore throat
- Swelling of ankles or feet
- Feeling tired or out of breath
Valtrex's less common side effects are blood clots, which can form anywhere in the body, and coma. It is recommended you do not take valtrex if you are allergic to it, any of its ingredients, or to Acyclovir.
Xerese (acyclovir/hydrocortisone) contains two medicines to shorten the healing time and prevent the worsening of cold sores. It is a topical medicine applied directly to the skin. Xerese may cause drying or flaking of the skin; burning, tingling, or redness after application; changes in skin color at the application site; application site reactions, including inflammation.
Zovirax Cream (acyclovir) is a topical medicine applied directly to the skin used to treat cold sores. Zovirax cream may cause dry or cracked lips, dry, itchy, flaky skin, burning or stinging feeling of your skin, or irritation.
Zovirax Ointment (acyclovir) is a topical medicine applied directly on the skin used to treat herpes, including cold sores and genital warts. Zovirax ointment may cause burning or stinging.
Zovirax Oral (acyclovir) is a medicine used to treat shingles (a painful rash caused by the chickenpox virus), genital herpes, and chickenpox. Zovirax oral is available as capsules, tablets, and a suspension. Zovirax oral may cause a shingles breakout, general discomfort, illness or lack of well-being, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blood clots, and severe kidney problems. The side effects of zovirax on an unborn child (during the months of pregnancy) are unknown. However, it is known that traces of zovirax can be transferred through breast milk to a nursing child.
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