Treatment

There are no cure for herpes.

However, there are medications that significantly reduce the frequency and duration of outbreaks. These medications have few side effects in most people.
There are 3 prescriptive medications They work by interfering with DNA synthesis to prevent the virus from reproducing. Herpes treatment options include:

• Acyclovir (Zovirax): This is the oldest and there is a generic of this medication so it is cheaper.





• Famcyclovir (Famvir)

• Valacyclovir (Valtrex): There should be a generic of this medication in approximately one year.
  
  
  
  
  
  

All of these medications are effective in suppressing HSV 1 and HSV 2 and can be taken episodically or continuously.

Episodic therapy

This means taking the medication when there is an outbreak or feel a sore coming on.If the treatment is soon enough, the drugs can lessen the severity and shorten the healing time.

Suppressive therapy

This means taking the medication continuously to prevent an outbreak or a sore.Up to 70 percent of new cases of herpes are transmitted from someone showing no apparent symptoms at the time they infect their partner. This is called asymptomatic shedding of the virus. When taken suppressively, the drugs don't always prevent outbreaks, but help them to occur less frequently

Symptom relief

• Wear loose clothing.
• Wear cotton underwear.
• Urinate in the tub or pour water over the genitals while urinating.
• Use a drying agent in your tub water. You can sprinkle cornstarch lightly on your genitals while in the tub. Soak twice a day for 15 minutes.
• Tannic acid found in black tea has been found to reduce itching and pain. Place a moist tea bag over the sore.
• Ice packs to the lesion may be soothing.

Prevention

STOP RISKY BEHAVIOUR
AVOID SEXUAL CONTACT WHEN SIGNS OR SYPTOMS ARE PRESENT!