Medical doctors often treat herpes viruses 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 an outbreak, 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 outbreaks 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 an outbreak. Furthermore, most medicines only work if taken at your first outbreak.
Sometimes, doctors suggest taking a low-dose prescription antiviral, such as Acyclovir, to help prevent outbreaks. 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 that are resistant to antiviral drugs. It's said these new superbugs are less virulent than original herpes. But less virulent doesn't equivalate to fewer outbreaks, and here's the danger. Your new "brand" of herpes will resist all previously taken antiviral drugs because herpes encodes the next generation to do so. In other words, herpes teaches its offspring everything it knows.
Most of the time, you can put HSV in remission naturally, which isn't to say that medical intervention can't be helpful. 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're taking medications, optimizing your immunity will be that much more essential in offsetting the adverse side effects of the drug.
Each of these antiviral medications listed on this page is used to treat specific symptoms related to the Herpes Simplex Virus and is dispensed in varying dosages depending on the severity of the symptoms it is to combat. Acyclovir is the generic name for the prescription antiviral drugs listed below.
Famciclovir
Famciclovir fights against the same viruses as Acyclovir. You can take it less frequently (a plus) but it takes longer to act. It can help to relieve symptoms such as pain, burning, and itch. It also helps to heal and prevent sores. Like other antiviral medications, it does not cure or stop the spread of herpes infections. Famciclovir treats adult genital herpes within 6 hours of an outbreak. It is also used as suppressive therapy for chronic genital herpes outbreaks and for treating Shingles within 72 hours of an outbreak. 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
The most common side effects of Famiciclovir 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
Sitavig is commonly used to treat cold sores. It is applied to the upper gum of the mouth and may cause pain at the application site and a headache.
Valtrex
Valtrex (Valacyclovir Hydrochloride) has been shown to reduce the duration of cold sores (HSV-1). 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 complain mainly about 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. You should not take Valtrex if allergic to its ingredients or Acyclovir.
Xerese
Xerese (acyclovir/hydrocortisone) is a topical medicine applied directly to the skin that contains two medicines to shorten the healing time and prevent the worsening of cold sores. It may cause drying or flaking of the skin, burning, tingling, or redness after application, changes in skin color at the application site, and application site reactions, including inflammation.
Zovirax
Zovirax Cream 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 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 is a medicine used to treat shingles (a painful rash caused by the Chickenpox virus), genital herpes (HSV-2), and Chickenpox. Zovirax oral is available in capsules, tablets, and as 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.
For all-natural ointment alternatives, see HSV Remedy Recipes.
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