Most often, people call herpes rash on the lips. In fact, there are 8 types of this disease, each of which has its own characteristics, distinguishing features and forms of treatment. Herpes suppressive therapy is a technique that allows you to forget not only about the manifestations of the disease, but also about the disease itself. What treatment results can be expected and what it is - read below.
More about the method
Most people suffering from the herpes virus in the blood get rid of its manifestations on the skin at the time of the rash. Many experts talk about a more effective method of dealing with unpleasant symptoms. Herpes suppressive therapy is a treatment method in which medications are taken continuously, suppressing the virus itself and preventing its symptoms from occurring. This method requires that the patient pay special attention to the means taken and the course of treatment itself. After all, if you stop taking medications after the disappearance of unpleasant signs, the necessary positive effect will not be. In addition, after stopping the use of medicines, herpes can manifest itself even more. But with proper adherence to the drug regimen, you can completely forget about the disease for good.
Treatment benefits
The patient always has a choice: you can use antiviral therapy against herpes only during an exacerbation of the disease or receive suppressive treatment (taking medications for a year). The advantage of the latter is as follows:
- In some cases, after its completion, a full recovery occurs.
- With prolonged use of drugs, exacerbations are easier: itching and pain are less of a concern, and the period of exacerbation is significantly reduced.
- Herpes patients can infect others. Even during remission, you can pass the virus to your partner during sex. When conducting suppressive therapy, the likelihood of such an infection decreases.
- Pathogenic microorganisms living in humans negatively affect the immune system. With prolonged antiherpetic treatment, the negative effect of the virus on the immune system decreases, and the body's defenses suffer less.
Main effects
What can the suppressive therapy of herpes give:
- Control over the course of the disease.
- Reducing virus isolation and the possibility of infection in other people.
- Improving the quality of life.
- Complete destruction of the virus. It is worth noting that this happens rarely and only if herpes therapy began during the first attack of the virus (in the first 24 hours), when it has not yet had time to go into a latent state.
After conducting therapy for one year, experts recommend taking a short break (at least two months) and assessing the effectiveness of the method. If necessary, in addition to preparations against herpes, a vitamin-mineral complex and immunomodulators are prescribed.
Cons of therapy
Since suppressive treatment involves the long-term administration of drugs, such therapy also has negative aspects. During the course of the course, the patient may complain of nausea and vomiting, bloating, or abdominal pain.
In rare cases, diffuse alopecia (baldness) and skin rashes are manifested. The medicine may not be suitable for the patient. In such cases, a person may experience drowsiness, lethargy, note stiffness of muscles, pain in them, allergic rhinitis. In severe cases, even choking and anaphylactic shock, convulsions are possible.
Pregnancy and herpes suppressive therapy are incompatible. Drugs are not prescribed during gestation and during lactation, since the components that make up the drugs can be transmitted to the baby through blood and milk. And because of the unformed immune system, drugs are not prescribed for children under the age of three, as they can do more harm than good.
It is worth knowing that during the course of suppressive therapy, the virus can show itself as an active rash. This is considered a normal response to treatment, and the frequency of exacerbations will gradually decrease, and they will completely disappear.
Action of drugs
Suppressive therapy of genital herpes, as well as other types of the disease, is recommended if the disease appears five or more times a year. With an exacerbation of the disease less than 5 times a year, long-term treatment is not prescribed. In this case, antiviral drugs are prescribed only during the period of exacerbation. As a rule, long-term treatment is prescribed for a period of one year, it includes daily use of the following drugs:
- "Acyclovir."
- Famciclovir.
- "Valacyclovir".
In pharmacies, you can find many analogues of these funds. Each manufacturer in its own way calls such a drug.
"Famciclovir" and "Valaciclovir" are inactive compounds that, when ingested, are converted to penciclovir and acyclovir. The mechanism of action of these drugs is based on the suppression of DNA cells in dividing herpes viruses.
A derivative of acyclovir is embedded in a viral cell. Such DNA can no longer reproduce new viral cells. Modern anti-herpes drugs do not affect cells affected by the virus that are in a dormant state. Therefore, a complete cure for the disease is almost impossible.
In rare cases, the virus is immune to medications. This happens in HIV-infected people and those who have been undergoing suppressive therapy for a long time. Most often, drug tolerance is good. These drugs do not have mutagenic and teratogenic effects. Allowed the combined use of antiherpetic drugs with drugs from other pharmacological groups.
These drugs do not suppress intestinal microflora. In addition, they do not adversely affect the kidneys and liver. After taking antiherpetic drugs, the main active substance enters the cells and is rapidly absorbed, starting to affect the DNA of the virus. It is worth noting that in some situations, herpes suppressive therapy can be prescribed to a pregnant woman. This happens only in cases where the expected benefit is higher than the possible risk to the child.
Distinctive features of drugs
Each of the presented medicines is distinguished by its mechanism of action and properties:
- Suppressive therapy of herpes "Acyclovir" is effective in the first attack of the virus.
- Valacyclovir is less toxic than Acyclovir and its analogues. It allows you to achieve the required concentration of acyclovir in cells at a lower dosage. This drug is contraindicated in persons under 18 years of age. Therapy with herpes "Valacyclovir" is considered more effective than "Acyclovir".
- Famciclovir. This is the most expensive drug. It is effective in immunodeficiency. It is prescribed for severe forms of herpes infection.
Price
The cheapest of the above funds is Acyclovir. "Valacyclovir" will cost a little more. The course of "Famciclovir", designed for a year of treatment, will cost about $ 6,000. Each patient chooses a drug that is affordable for him. The lower cost of the product does not mean that it is less effective. Rather, it is just domestic production. And foreign drugs are always more expensive, because the price of such a drug includes the cost of transportation.
Comparative characteristics of drugs
When choosing a drug for the suppressive treatment of herpes, it is necessary to pay attention to the advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Acyclovir:
- Low price.
- It is assigned to children.
- Few side effects.
- Well studied.
- In some cases, it is prescribed during pregnancy.
The disadvantage is the low bioavailability. To achieve the necessary concentration of the drug in the cells, a large dose of the drug is needed.
Advantages of Valacyclovir:
- Absorption of the drug does not depend on food intake.
- High bioavailability (a small dose is required to obtain the desired effect).
- A lower frequency of intake during the course.
The disadvantages of "Valacyclovir" include high cost.
Benefits of Famciclovir:
- Absorption of the drug does not depend on food intake.
- It acts only on infected cells.
- Affects viruses that are resistant to Acyclovir.
- High bioavailability.
The disadvantage of the drug is the high price.
Each patient can choose medications for treatment, based on their preferences, according to the following parameters: dependence on food intake, cost, frequency of administration, side effects. It should be understood that self-medication is not worth it. The therapeutic course should be prescribed by a specialist who will recommend the most effective medicine in each case.
Supplement to treatment
Immediately after suppressive therapy, exacerbation of herpes can occur against the background of a decrease in the body's defenses. That is why, in addition to treatment, immunomodulators are often prescribed. Some doctors do not agree with this, especially if immunomodulators are prescribed without a preliminary immunogram.
In some cases, a vitamin-mineral and antioxidant complex may be useful to reduce the number of relapses and improve the general condition of the patient. In pharmacies, you can find several drugs that contain all the necessary useful substances.
What patients say
On various forums and in thematic communities, you can find many reviews about the suppressive therapy of herpes. It is impossible to talk about the absolute effectiveness of this method. After all, it is known that every organism is individual. Such treatment brings a tangible result to someone, while someone goes through various drugs for months to find the right one. Absolutely all patients are prescribed treatment by their attending physician. Many patients complain of frequent exacerbations at the initial stage of taking the drugs. Experts argue that such a phenomenon is considered the norm, and over time, negative symptoms appear much less frequently. The most popular drug is Acyclovir. This is due to the effectiveness and low cost of the tool.
Conclusion
Long-term antiviral therapy for herpes is an effective treatment only in cases where the virus makes itself felt more than five times a year. It is not recommended to choose a drug on your own. Only a specialist after conducting diagnostic tests can prescribe a suitable medicine.