Valacyclovir oral herpes
Common Questions and Answers about Valacyclovir oral herpes
valtrex
Oral herpes risks HSV-1 genital infection, but the chance of getting it for any particular epiosde of oral sex is vanishingly low if the oral partner isn't having a visible oral herpes outbreak. Anyway, there's a 50-50 chance you're already infected with HSV-1 (half of all adults), in which case you're immune.
In theory, shaving might increase the risk slightly.
Welcome to the STD forum. Oral herpes isn't an STD, I'm but happy to answer. (In the future, you can use the MedHelp herpes forum.)
1) Valacyclovir and Valtrex are identical: Valtrex is the dominant brand name, valacylcovir the generic name. Do not take both; it would be an overdose. (Probably not harmful, but not recommended.
ll be glad to comment. My guess is that what is going on here is neither a new manifestation of your oral herpes nor ARS related to recent HIV acquisition. While I, like your doctor would have probably initiated valacyclovir because of concern that your sore throat and palate lesions might be HSV, my suspicion is that this is not a recurrence of your HSV-1.
I got infected with genital herpes about 5 months ago, from unprotected oral sex from a striper.... I took valacyclovir 1 g twice a day within 24 hours of the initial episode, and kept taking it until I got better, which took a while (a month almost)....
My symptoms (ulcers, itchiness and pain/discomfort) have been recurrent and very persistant since. I think I have had symptoms 3-4 out of every 5 days since day one.
GYN is tomorrow.
Dermatologist said blisters were hsv2 instead of 1. But blood tests were negative (too soon). Culture will tell
Don't they "look" the same?
More later this week when tests are back.
Some such persons have symptoms of recurrent oral herpes, but most do not. In other words, there is no evidence you acquired your HSV-1 from the sexual exposure last April. (Unless you had a previous negative HSV-1 blood test, that became positive after the April event.) Even your penile and scrotal lesions don't fit; initial herpes symptoms almost always start within a few days or catching it, and always within 2 weeks. "Several weeks" is much too long.
By the way, the currently recommended treatment for recurrent oral herpes is only 2 large doses of valacyclovir (2 grams), 12 hours apart. In fact, you probably could even skip the second dose; just one 2 gram dose probably would do it.
Ok first, there are a lot of acronyms with stds, and I think you are getting them all confused, which is super easy to do.
HSV = herpes simplex virus, two types, 1 and 2
HPV = human papiloma virus - can cause warts and lead to some cancers, though that;s rare.
It sounds like you have tested positive for hsv1, which in your case, is an oral infection. You will have that for the rest of your life, but its very common, and most people have it.
Doc now has me on valacyclovir because he thinks i have oral herpes. The valacyclovir has taken much of my fever away. And the nystatin and valacyclovir have together mostly cleared up my tongue sores and blisters. But I feel like without the valacyclovir, i'd be very very sick. Also my lymph node on the right side of my groin is still quite swollen.
any opinions about what this might be? two ER doctors said they thought my oral infection was fungal/yeast. only my GP thought it was herpes.
consistent condom use; and taking anti-herpes suppressive therapy like valacyclovir. Genital to oral transmission is uncommon, but could occur. However, if it's HSV-1, the risk of transmission (for either genital or oral sex) probably is quite low.
Also, has your partner been tested to determine for sure whether she has genital herpes? She could be tested to learn whether she is susceptible to HSV-1 or HSV-2, or perhaps previously infected and therefore immune to a new infection.
A related discussion, <a href="/posts/Herpes/Oral-herpes-2-transmission-risks/show/2662121">Oral herpes 2 transmission risks</a> was started.
There are several ambiguities to your condition. How did you conclude you had HSV 1 (oral herpes)? DId a doctor test and confirm this? I ask because it is rare to have HSV 2 (genital herpes) in the oral religion. They are different viruses (HSV 1 and HSV 2) because they gravitate toward different parts of the body. Every so often, through oral sex, HSV 1 (oral) transmits to the genital region, and the HSV 2 (genital) transmits to the oral region. But that is atypical.
Antiviral suppressive therapy with valacyclovir, acyclovir or famciclovir for herpes is effective in both reducing outbreaks and the risk of transmission of infection. Valacyclovir is the drug which has been best studied for this purpose.
There are several things that can be done to reduce transmission of herpes. These include taking antiviral suppressive therapy as mentioned above, consistent condom use and not having sex when you have a recurrent outbreak.
Is it a false positive, or at 3 weeks could I have oral HSV-2 and the antibodies are in the process of developing? What is the realistic probability I got oral-to-oral HSV-2, or genital-to-oral HSV-2 with ~5-10 seconds of performing oral sex? I know I should probably test again in 3-4 weeks. Thanks.
But for any single exposure, you have to factor in a) the odds the oral partner has oral herpes, b) if so, whether or not s/he is having an outbreak at the time of exposure, c) if no outbreak, whether asymptomatic viral shedding might be present, d) whether the genital partner already has HSV-1, which would make him or her immune (or at least highly resistant) to a new infection, and e) perhaps other factors, like the duration and vigor of exposure, perhaps circumcision status, and maybe still
I went to a doc in the box, (a few days later) who said it looked like it might be herpes, although she was surprised when I told her my exposure was oral only. (Did'd actually see the doc just a NP). Was perscribed an antiviral med (Valtrex) which I have been on for four days. Some improvement - not much pain, no blisters, or scabs.
You certainly could acquire oral herpes due to HSV-2 by performing oral sex on your partner, if he happened to have an outbreak or to be shedding virus without symptoms at the time of the exposure. Similarly, oral sex by you on him could transmit HSV-1 to his penis. In the absence of an obvious outbreak, both of these are unlikely for any individual episode of oral sex, but either could happen -- and the chances will rise with the number of such events occur.
I have a follow up visit with the dermatologist next week and need to know what type of test I should have him do to make sure I do not have genital herpes. Also what type of test should he do to determine what type of oral herpes do I have?
The recurrences you experienced after you stopped valacyclovir- were they all on your gums and has starting the valacyclovir helped. The reason I as is that recurrent oral HSV is more typically involving the lips than gums. Lesions on the gums are more likely to be aphous ulcers which don't respond very well to antiviral therapy.
As for your genital lesion, it is most unlikely that this is HSV-2. Here are the reasons I say this:
1.
You might want to consider taking an oral anti-herpes antibiotic (acyclovir, valacyclovir) either constantly or else before a wrestling match to prevent an outbreak--that's to prevent spreading it to someone else, not to prevent you're getting it more or again.
Best.
Dr.
The first issue is to be certain your recurrent oral sores really are herpes. Such frequent outbreaks are rare, even without valacyclovir, and I suspect something else is going on. You should see a doctor, preferably one experienced in herpes, such as a dermatologist. Set it up so you can be seen promptly (within a day or two) when the next oubreak starts so you can be examined and have an HSV PCR test from the outbreak (or culture, but PCR is preferred).
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