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How Must Acyclovir Be Taken For Genital Herpes When The Outbreak Is Recurrent?
Question: I take acyclovir for genital herpes, I am confused about how I am suppose to take it, pharmacist said take everyday, the nurse practitioner says take when I feel the outbreak coming on until I feel better, but then the label says don’t stop taking the medication. So do I need to take daily or just take daily during outbreak? I usually get outbreak every 2-3 months.
Brief Answer:
depends on if using it for suppression or to treat specific infections
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
It can be taken in different ways, it depends on the exact reason for its use eg some persons use it to prevent or reduce the chance of an outbreak occurring- this is called suppressive therapy- it suppresses the infections
Some persons use it to only treat the infections as they occur, it is called episodic therapy
(1) Suppressive therapy (reducing infections starting up) is taken every day, it is used in persons with frequent infections. For suppression, acyclovir is used 400mg twice daily, can be taken for years when used for this reason
Dose recommended by CDC
(2) Episodic therapy ( treat infections as they occur)- taken when outbreak starting or persons thinks may start.
Acyclovir is used 3 times daily when used to treat an outbreak, seen on CDC site.
If your infections are occurring too often then you can use the suppressive therapy which is daily
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
depends on if using it for suppression or to treat specific infections
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
It can be taken in different ways, it depends on the exact reason for its use eg some persons use it to prevent or reduce the chance of an outbreak occurring- this is called suppressive therapy- it suppresses the infections
Some persons use it to only treat the infections as they occur, it is called episodic therapy
(1) Suppressive therapy (reducing infections starting up) is taken every day, it is used in persons with frequent infections. For suppression, acyclovir is used 400mg twice daily, can be taken for years when used for this reason
Dose recommended by CDC
(2) Episodic therapy ( treat infections as they occur)- taken when outbreak starting or persons thinks may start.
Acyclovir is used 3 times daily when used to treat an outbreak, seen on CDC site.
If your infections are occurring too often then you can use the suppressive therapy which is daily
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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