Herpes Treatment: Acyclovir Medication

Acyclovir is an antiviral drug that although cannot cure any herpes viruses, can treat the outbreaks and symptoms of herpes.

Acyclovir is an antiviral agent used to treat different types of Herpes viruses like herpes simplex 1 (causes oral herpes also known as cold sores); Herpes Simplex 2 (causes genital herpes); Varicella Herpes Zoster (causes shingles and chickenpox) and Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis).

Acyclovir has been available for over a decade and the most common brand name is Zovirax, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

Acyclovir can't cure any Herpes viruses. There is no cure for any Herpes viruses. Once you've caught a Herpes virus, it stays in your body for life although it is latent most of the time. Acyclovir can treat the outbreaks and symptoms of Herpes as well as reduce future outbreaks of some Herpes viruses.

Acyclovir is often used to treat oral Herpes caused by Herpes Simplex 1. Episodic treatment means you treat when there are symptoms.

Most common is the Zovirax cream which is available over counter in pharmacies and is used when there is an outbreak. When you use the cream, you should try to use it as soon as you feel any irritation around the mouth prior to an outbreak because that will have the best effect. Be careful when you use the cream: (1) Do not use your fingers to apply the cream, use a cotton ball; (2) Wash your hands first; (3) Avoid touching the tip of the cotton ball; (4) Do not dip the cotton ball more than once in the cream, use several if needed.

This may seem a little exaggerated but you avoid cross contamination which may slow down or even eliminate the effects of the cream. You should apply the cream several times (2-4) a day for full effect. The cream will reduce the frequency, duration and severity of outbreaks as well as reduce the risk of future outbreaks and the risk of spreading.

Episodic Treatment of Herpes Simplex 2

Acyclovir is available as a prescription tablet used to treat Genital Herpes. The dosage will be determined by your doctor. It is very common to prescribe a 5 day course of 3 tablets a day taken with 4 hour intervals, but this may vary. It is very important that you don't miss any doses as you need to keep the level of Acyclovir up in your body. This episodic treatment will reduce the severity, frequency and duration of your outbreak as well as reduce future outbreaks and reduce the risk of spreading.

If you experience severe outbreaks of Genital Herpes more than 6 times a year, you may consider asking your doctor about suppressive treatment with an antiviral agent, for example Acyclovir. There is a risk of developing resistance to Acyclovir so suppressive treatment should only be considered in severe cases and only as long as needed.

Suppressive treatment with Acyclovir means that you take an Acyclovir tablet once every day for 6 or 12 months to prevent outbreaks. You should see a doctor after you finish a course of Acyclovir to evaluate the effects.

In severe cases of chickenpox, your doctor may prescribe Acyclovir tablets or another antiviral agent to fight the Varicella Herpes Zoster virus that causes chickenpox. Acyclovir will reduce healing time, limit the number of lesions and reduce fever and pain if administered within 24 hours of the first symptoms.

In most cases of shingles, your doctor will prescribe Acyclovir tablets or another antiviral agent to fight the Varicella Herpes Zoster virus that causes chickenpox. Acyclovir will reduce healing time, limit the number of lesions and reduce fever and pain if administered within 24 hours of the first symptoms as well as reduce the risk of Post-Herpetic Neuralgia. There are rarely any side effects of Acyclovir, but these have been registered including nausea, vomiting, headaches and skin rash.

If you are pregnant, breast feeding or you have any drug allergies or you have impaired renal function or you take any other drugs or you have other illnesses you should inform your doctor before you get a prescription for Acyclovir.

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Herpes Treatment: Acyclovir Medication

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