Famciclovir vs acyclovir

Common Questions and Answers about Famciclovir vs acyclovir

famvir

Avatar m tn When I started prophylactic treatment with acyclovir, I saw a reduced occurrence for a few months, then they came back to about 4-5 outbreaks/year. I recently switched prophylactic medication from acyclovir to famciclovir, and had a 18-month period free from outbreak. Come yesterday, I had another terrible outbreak (worse than usual)... will these become more commonplace now? Is this a sign of HSV-resistance to the drug? Are there any other courses of action I can consider?
20830284 tn?1526838532 There are antiviral drugs like acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir which can shorten the episodes and decrease their severity. Acyclovir reduces the pain and number of lesions in the initial case of herpes and reduces recurrence. The ointment applied topically reduces pain, healing time and limits the spread. Though rare, herpes virus can cause inflammation of membranes and the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord." https://www.medhelp.
Avatar n tn famciclovir/acyclovir. Are these the same ingredient? If I had an allergic reaction to one, is it like I am allergic to the other? During the first outbreak (3 years ago, that tested negative) I was given famciclovir, and had a very severe allergic reaction. My joints (fingers, wrist, elbows, knees, and ankles) swelled so severely that I was barely able to bend anything.
Avatar m tn Several studies in humans and mice provide evidence that treatment with the antiviral drug Famciclovir soon after the first infection with herpes can significantly lower the chance of future symptomatic outbreaks of herpes. Use of Famciclovir in this manner has been shown to reduce the amount of latent herpes virus in the neural ganglia.[5][6][7] A review of human subjects treated for five days with Famciclovir 250 mg three times daily during their first herpes episode found that only 4.
Avatar m tn But anti-viral medications like acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are known to shorten out breaks and improve symptoms. It depends on one’s immunity also. If it is good the person may have less number of reactivations. If the immunity is relative less than he is likely to have more symptoms. Hope this helped and do keep us posted.
Avatar m tn To save money, my insurance switched me to acyclovir (400 mg twice a day) with similar results as the Valtrex. Then starting about 3 months ago, I began to have outbreaks every two weeks even with the suppression therapy. My doctor changed me to famciclovir with no change in the frequency of the outbreaks. In addition to the antiviral therapies I also receive hormonal replacement therapy (testosterone injections) every two weeks. I started this a little over a year ago.
Avatar f tn Oral acyclovir or the recently developed drugs, valacyclovir (Valtrex) or famciclovir (Famvir), lessen the symptoms and frequency of fever blister recurrences for some patients. These drugs prevent HSV from multiplying and are effective when taken in pill form prior to an outbreak of the virus. Topical antiviral creams containing acyclovir (Zovirax) or penciclovir (Denavir) may also help in limiting the extent or duration of lesions if applied promptly to affected areas.
Avatar m tn So a couple things here - First, once you have antibodies to hsv1, it is very, very unlikely that you would ever autoinoculate (spread it to another part of your body). You've had this for a really long time, and antibodies develop within a few months, so I wouldn't worry about that at all. The other thing is that herpes infects nerve groups. Oral herpes infects the trigeminal nerve. That nerve affects the mouth, nose and eyes.
Avatar f tn Hence there is no permanent cure. But antiviral medications like acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are known to shorten outbreaks and improve symptoms. So, please ask her to consult her doctor for medications. Regards.
Avatar n tn Treatment with antiviral medications like acyclovir of famciclovir shorten the duration and severity of outbreak. Painkillers are generally taken to alleviate pain. It is in your best interest to seek medical help at the earliest. Best..
Avatar m tn acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex) The rabbit hole of "natural treatments" and remedies is never ending and fraught with peril, proceed cautiously.
Avatar m tn If both the infected and uninfected members of a couple consistently take any of the anti-HSV drugs (acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir), I cannot imagine transmission taking place. You are wrong about suppressive therapy and blood test results. If someone catches HSV-2, the blood test becomes positive. If it remains negative, no infection occurred. For suppressive therapy to prevent transmission, I normally rely on valacylcovir 1.0 g once daily.
Avatar f tn If you are taking antiviral medicines, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, ganciclovir, or valacyclovir (Valtrex) if can interfere with Herpes testing. This is primarily true in recent infections. The use of those medications can extend (but not prevent) seroconversion (the amount of time it takes your body to develop antibodies).
Avatar f tn But antiviral medications like acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are known to shorten outbreaks and improve symptoms. So, please follow up with your doctor for therapy. Regards.
Avatar n tn You need to be treated for this though genital herpes cannot be cured. There are antiviral drugs like acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir which can shorten the episodes and decrease their severity. Acyclovir reduces the pain and number of lesions in the initial case of herpes and reduces recurrence. The ointment applied topically reduces pain, healing time and limits the spread.
Avatar m tn Hence there is no permanent cure. But anti-viral medications like acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are known to shorten out breaks and improve symptoms. It depends on one’s immunity also. If it is good the person may have less number of reactivations. If the immunity is relative less than he is likely to have more symptoms. The rash could also be due to fungal or bacterial infections.
Avatar m tn 5 mg of entecavir cause resistance in patients who never have been on any nucs and no polymerase resistance detected vs 1mg. My doctor wants me to take 1mg vs 0.5 mg but I have been been on any nucs and show no resistance to any nucs during genotype testing.
Avatar f tn However, it is well documented that valtrex and acyclovir perform very similarly. Valtrex is actually converted into acyclovir by the liver, so essentially, the two drugs act the same way in the body to suppress the virus. If acyclovir improves your quality of life, I would stick with it and explain the similarities to your partner - they are well documented and I expect you can find information in scholarly journals that supports the suppressive activity of acyclovir.
Avatar m tn acyclovir needs to be taken twice a day for suppressive therapy.
Avatar m tn But anti-viral medications like acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are known to shorten outbreaks and improve symptoms. It depends on one’s immunity also. If it is good the person may have less number of reactivations. If the immunity is relative less than he is likely to have more symptoms. Hope this helped and do keep us posted.
152264 tn?1280354657 Hence there is no permanent cure. But antiviral medications like acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir are known to shorten outbreaks and improve symptoms. Hope this helped and do keep us posted.
Avatar m tn Oral famciclovir (¼ of 125 mg tablet twice daily or ½ of 125 mg tablet once daily) inhibits herpesvirus replication. Other prescription medications that have been used to treat herpes successfully include acyclovir, ganciclovir, cidofovir, and feline or human interferon. 0.1% idoxuridine eye drops applyed to the affected eye 6 times per day long term. This is an eye drop that can be made by a compounding pharmacy. Your vet can give you prescriptions of the above.
Avatar m tn I’m on 500mg/day of Famciclovir. I wondered if switching to Valacyclovir would be helpful, as well as upping to 1000mg/day. I started on 250 acyclovir and was having less sever breakouts but same frequency. Then changed to famvir 500mg/day and didn’t have an outbreak for 18 months. But when I did, it was more severe. And last was 5 months between outbreaks, again more severe but I haven’t been on the end that long I guess. I’d like a virologist opinion.