Famvir for genital herpes

Genital herpes is one of the most dreadful sexually transmitted diseases affecting numerous people in the UK every year. It is not a curable health condition but fortunately with medicines such as Famvir, it can be controlled and managed effectively. This medicine is used primarily as a single-day treatment and suppressive therapy for recurrent genital herpes.

What is a recurrent herpes outbreak?

Genital herpes can recur any time in future once an initial outbreak has occurred. You may suffer from as many as 4-6 outbreaks within the 1st year of infection. Triggers such as stress, exposure to sunlight, injury, any illness accompanied by fever, steroidal medication, and foods containing a high level of arginine can trigger a herpes outbreak. Normally the likelihood of a recurrent outbreak decreases as years pass by and the herpes simplex virus may go into remission within a few years.

The symptoms of an episodic herpes outbreak are usually less severe than that of an initial outbreak. As a matter of fact, you may not experience any discomforting symptoms other than itching and mild pain. The duration of viral shedding is significantly shorter than an initial outbreak. Usually women experience milder symptoms than men.

What can Famvir do to treat herpes?

Just a single-day treatment with famciclovir can prevent or shorten an episodic herpes outbreak. The recommended dosage is 1500mg, with two 500mg pills to be taken at the earliest sign of symptoms and one more pill after 12 hours. As mentioned already, Famvir can be used either as a preventive herpes treatment or as a suppressive therapy, depending on how often the infection recurs. When used as a suppressive therapy, the recommended dosage of Famvir is 250mg twice a day for a longer duration of time. Let your doctor decide how long you need to take this medicine to suppress the herpes simplex virus.

Who cannot take Famvir?

Famvir is not an addictive medicine and it should only be purchased on prescription issued by a registered doctor. Certain health conditions may preclude you from taking Famvir. They include allergic reaction to famciclovir or any other ingredient of Famvir, liver or kidney problems, and immunological disorders. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should take Famvir only under intensive medical supervision. If you have hereditary problems such as galactose intolerance, acute lactose deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption, Famvir may not be the right medicine for you. Discuss your general as well as sexual health with your doctor before taking this medicine.