Always speak to your doctor or medical professional before making any decision based on your health and well being when it comes to taking antiviral medication.
The article below is for informational purposes only and is not to be used as a replacement for medical advice you have received from your doctor or medical professional. Always follow doctors' orders.
Many people who are newly infected with herpes assume that antivirals will kill the virus; this is not the case. Antivirals do not destroy herpes; they simply interrupt their reproductive capabilities. It's kind of like birth control for the virus. And we all know how effective birth control can be (hello, all the “oopsie” out there).
Once the virus emerges from the nervous system and makes its way to the outer layer of the skin, it begins to replicate.
Your immune system’s response to the virus (how well it was able to identify the virus upon the first infection and any re-occurrences) will depend on how quickly it can attack and remove the virus that has made itself present.
Some people will experience short periods of an outbreak lasting 3-5 days, and others may take more time (approx. 1-2 weeks). Your mileage may vary, which is why many opt to take antivirals for prevention and shorter healing time.
People who never experience outbreaks have a very favorable response. Their immune system is working just fine, and they rarely need antivirals, if at all. The decision is yours, but the chances of you lowering your risk factor {1} any further will not be likely and very hard to measure. How low can you go?
It's important to be well informed and to be aware of what you are putting in your body, including vitamins and supplements.
Did you know that taking a daily dosage of antivirals longer than 6 months can decrease immunity to the virus over time (in most people)? This is why many will experience an outbreak immediately after discontinuing their daily regiment. More info here {2}
In people who experience regular symptoms, it is evident that their immune response is not up to par. There are many reasons for this.
Among them:
In the end, what matters to a person is making these outbreaks and symptoms simply go away, and antivirals are the only option for the moment.
In a basic sense, antivirals act by impeding the entry of viruses into host cells; interfering with viral assembly, and inhibiting replication. Source {3}. Antivirals will NOT prevent the infection of a person who has tested negative for herpes. Giving antivirals to a partner who is negative for herpes will not protect them from becoming infected, sorry.
Antivirals work best if they are taken within the first 24 hours of noticeable symptoms. It's important to note that it will take a few days to build up or accumulate these antiviral properties within your body to get the full benefit. This can be 3-7 days on average.
Some people may still experience an outbreak because it started a few days before you noticed it. Most people will experience prodrome, tingling, or sharp pains right before an outbreak. This is the immune system engaging the virus. (Much of the factual research that backs this up has been done with herpes zoster and its relations to shedding).
However, many people may not experience any prodrome at all when the virus makes its way to the original site of infection. These symptoms can vary greatly depending on your immune response.
"When it comes to the subject of antivirals, there are a few worth mentioning. Many of you are quite intimately acquainted with them. Acyclovir,® otherwise known as Zovirax,® is the oldest of the antiviral medications. Available since 1982 as a topical treatment, it wasn't until 1985 that it was made into a pill form for easy use. Years later, the FDA approved other drugs to treat genital herpes. Famciclovir® or Famvir® and Valacyclovir,® otherwise know as Valtrex.® Valtrex® was approved by the FDA at the end of 1995."
"It's important to note that these antivirals are not all the same. The difference between Valtrex® and Acyclovir® is "that when Valtrex® is absorbed, the liver converts it into Acyclovir®. T
his is so that the body absorbs most of the drug; as a consequence, this reduces the amount that needs to be taken. Famvir® is also a common drug made by a company called Novartis®. Much like Valacyclovir®, it works well and has a much longer duration and this means it can be taken less frequently than Acyclovir®."
"Of course, not all drugs work for everyone. I have heard many stories of a person taking a particular brand of antiviral with less than desirable results, but after switching to a different brand of antiviral, getting better results and more relief."
Information on antiviral comparisons paraphrased from the end. com, WebMD. com, ashasexualhealth. org Excerpt From my book Asking for a friend. 2017© {4}
The quick answer is yes, in individuals who suffer regular outbreaks and symptoms, antivirals can reduce the risk and can reduce shedding of the virus, but this is not 100%. Risk estimates are fully explained here. {5}
While this information is factual, it is not without room for error when it mentions percentages and how well a person's immune system responds to the virus.
If a person is taking antivirals as prescribed, but they are not working, please communicate this with your doctor. Your doctor may change your dosage, or they can switch you to a different brand, as some people may get better results simply by trying a different brand.
I can't tell you that, only your doctor can. Many will recommend that you take them daily and others will suggest that you take antivirals only when needed, again it’s up to your doctor and your individual needs. The idea of taking antivirals only when needed is common.
The thinking here is that by not interfering with the infection process, you are allowing your body to learn and acclimate to the virus.
If this is a new exposure to the virus (not a dormant previous exposure), over the next few months your body will be working very hard at identifying the proteins that make up the herpes simplex virus (75 of them) and will hopefully make antibodies for all of them, creating a very favorable immune response.
With any luck, this first outbreak will be the only one that you experience, and you will never see another outbreak ever again. This is common with most people on the planet who acquire herpes.
It is highly unfortunate for a small population of people who carry herpes (about 100 + million or so) who will experience constant symptoms and outbreaks.
These people are left with very few options, and antivirals may be the only option that works for them. Whether or not a person decides to begin or stop taking medication is a personal choice, and this should be discussed with their OBGYN, personal doctor, or another medical professional. I do not make any recommendations on this matter.
It is not recommended, even if you cover the outbreak. Whether you are taking antivirals or not, it will not stop an active outbreak from being highly infectious. An outbreak is a substantial amount of infectious material and should not be played around with. I know some people are giving bad advice by saying you can have sex during an outbreak as long as you cover it, but this is medically irresponsible and terrible advice.
This is because you may be shedding viral material from other areas of your body that may have been previously infected, but you are entirely unaware.
It’s true that at the end of the day, it’s always your body - your choice, however, I would simply ask that you consider the following as food-for-thought…
The herpes simplex virus will infect one dermatome {8} (specific sections of your body) at a time and, as a general rule, will move back and forth through the original nerve branch of that infection. This is why many people see outbreaks in the same area every time.
Credit; https://www.aic.cuhk.edu.hk/web8/Dermatomes.htm
I don't know about you, but most people that have sex are doing more than one thing and more than just one single position, so the chances of introducing the virus to other dermatomes (during the first infection or other recurrences) are probable.
Still, you may never know this unless you experience an outbreak in that area as proof positive. This is one of a few reasons why you should not be messing around with an active outbreak, antivirals, or not. More info here.{9}
"While the invention of antivirals has helped many millions of people get through their daily lives, there is a percentage of the population for whom these medications just don’t work.
Many people wonder why antiviral medication doesn't work for them, and even after switching to a different brand, they still fail to see any improvements with their symptoms.
It would be a guess to pinpoint the exact reasons for this (for a specific individual and their symptoms), but there may be an explanation hiding within. It has much to do with the words “mutation,” and “antiviral resistance.”
Article Here. {10}
For most people, antivirals are quite safe. However, there are always side effects when it comes to Drugs.
Side effects of Acyclovir. Source {11} WebMD {12}
Side effects of Valtrex. Source {13}
It's really up to you and your doctor. It's your body and your choice. For most people, antivirals are safe and quite tolerable. Many physicians that are familiar with herpes may send you for regular blood work every 6 months if you’re on medication. This is to monitor your kidney and liver enzymes (if you are a patient that takes antivirals daily for suppression).
It's a standard procedure and most will never have problems, but some may experience kidney issues. Usually, though, antivirals have a very short life inside the body and rinse out pretty quickly through urination. This is why some people who miss a dose may experience symptoms within a day or two.
Taking antivirals may also be something to consider if your significant other is seronegative for herpes simplex and you wish to partially protect them from becoming infected. By-the-way, antivirals do not provide 100% protection.
Okay, there is a significant number of opinions when it comes to the subject of taking antivirals for people who do NOT experience symptoms or outbreaks. I have heard a few scientists say. . .
I have also heard the counter-argument from other scientists. . .
If you do experience symptoms and outbreaks, taking antivirals will indeed lower your risk substantially. That's a fact.
So, what do you do? Well, at the end of the day, the decision to take or not take antivirals is entirely up to you, your partner, and your doctor. I cannot tell you what would be best for you, because I'm not you.
I am simply providing you with the information to help you understand this complexity. Remember, there will always be a risk within the realm of herpes, whether it is low or high.
I know this is a lot of information and it can confuse people, so I apologize for overloading you. As you might suspect, this is probably why many doctors will give you basic answers to your questions with no elaboration to the extent that I have.
Doctors have limited time to spend with each patient, so unless you come prepared with all of your questions written down beforehand, you likely won’t have much time to sit and think some up during your appointment.
When I was diagnosed (over 30 years ago), the answers to my hundreds of questions were simply not available. This is my attempt at giving you the “Full Monty” of information. Why? Because you deserve to be fully informed in making the best decision that works for you and I hope I helped.
I wish you the best of luck and good health.
Medical photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com
Original post https://askingforafriend.us/articles/f/what-about-antivirals?blogcategory=Antivirals
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