[Question #7422] Re herpes
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57 months ago
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Hi. I have hsv 2 on my genitals, I get outbreaks every couple of months at least. What I want to know is should I go valaciclovir once a day for the rest of my life to stop the very annoying outbreaks?
Its been like this for 3 years now. Sometimes il get an outbreaks, take my tablets, it goes away but then comes bak again a week later.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
57 months ago
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Taking the medication every day is called suppressive therapy. It works very well for most people. Taking it every day does not guarantee that you won't have recurrences nor does it mean that you wouldn't shed virus (give it off from your body) with no symptoms, but it will greatly reduce both risks and probably make your life a lot more comfortable. And it is safe.
Terri
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57 months ago
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Is there a reason why it would come one week, go away after my medication and then come bak a week later. Does that mean the tablets didnt work?
I dont really want to take antibiotics for the rest of my life so was just taking them per breakout, but the breakouts seem to be coming too regularly.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
57 months ago
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To be clear, antivirals are NOT antibiotics. Completely different. Sometimes, a period of perhaps 3 months on antiviral medicine, taken every day, lets the virus settle down a bit. You could try that and see how it works for you, as an alternative to taking the medication every day.
Terri
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