Sexually active people, especially those with multiple partners, are at a high risk of contracting genital herpes. An effective medication that doctors prescribe to treat outbreaks of genital herpes is acyclovir. This medication is available as tablets, capsules, and liquids for oral intake. You can also get acyclovir creams for topical application.

What is genital herpes?

A sexually transmitted disease (STD), genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2). Since the standard screening for sexually transmitted infections does not test for HSV-2, many sexually active people do not realize they have contracted genital herpes until the symptoms appear.

The common symptoms of genital herpes are ulcers on and around the vagina, penis, scrotum, anus, buttocks, and thighs. The lymph in the legs and the groin will swell and feel tender. There will be fever, fatigue, headache, and joint pain. The sufferer will experience a burning sensation or pain when urinating.

Currently, there is no known cure for this health condition, and the infected individuals will continue to experience periodic outbreaks of genital herpes for the remainder of their lives. The initial herpes sores are generally the most painful ones, but their frequency, severity, and physical pattern may change over the years. Aside from the pain, having genital herpes can be difficult to accept on an emotional level for most people.

The patients may obtain some physical relief by taking acyclovir oral medication and using acyclovir creams.

What is acyclovir?

Acyclovir is an antiviral medication that most doctors prescribe to treat genital herpes, chickenpox, and shingles. The medication is quite effective in stopping the spread of the herpes virus in the body, reducing the pain of the genital herpes sores, and speeding up the healing process of the blisters. It can also prevent outbreaks or reduce their severity in infected people. However, acyclovir will not cure genital herpes permanently, nor will it prevent the spread of the virus from the infected individuals to other people.

How is acyclovir taken?

People with genital herpes or other conditions should follow their doctor’s instructions in taking acyclovir. The doctor is likely to prescribe different doses and applications to the infected individuals per the severity of their symptoms. It is essential to begin the medication course right after the infected individuals experience mild symptoms like tingling, itching, or pain. These symptoms usually appear after stressful situations, overwork, overexposure to the sun, illnesses, or menstruation. Immediately starting the acyclovir oral and topical treatment may stop the severity of the sores.

It may be necessary to take the tablets, capsules, and liquids before or after meals two to five times a day. The infected individuals may also need to apply acyclovir creams several times during the day. The duration of taking the medication can range from five days to 12 months. Doctors may recommend a suppressive therapy that involves taking low doses of oral acyclovir medication daily to prevent or reduce herpes outbreaks. They may also recommend episodic therapy, where the treatment can start just after the herpes outbreak occurs.

Following the doctor’s instructions precisely and taking the medications in the correct doses and on time is crucial for the therapies to be effective. It is also essential to eat properly and drink plenty of water while the treatment is on-going.

What are the side effects of acyclovir?

Some patients may experience mild to severe side effects after taking acyclovir. These side effects can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, headaches, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, joint pain, vision issues, skin rashes, and itching. Some people may experience insomnia, difficulty breathing and swallowing, fast heartbeat, vocal hoarseness, difficulty speaking, numbness in the limbs, decreased urination, confusion, anger or aggressive behavior, and seizures. It is crucial to inform the doctor immediately about these types of side effects, any pre-existing allergies, or if the patient is already taking any other medications.

How to store acyclovir?

For keeping the acyclovir oral and topical medication viable, it is necessary to store it at room temperature in a tightly-closed container. There should be no exposure to excessive heat or moisture. It is also imperative to keep the medication in a safe location that is out of reach of children and pets.