What medication should be taken for genital herpes?

Jul 05, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

I have genital herpes myself and have been undergoing active treatment recently. I would like to know, what medications are best for treating genital herpes?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhao Xiaodong
The treatment of genital herpes mainly involves antiviral therapy. Commonly used oral medications include acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. These drugs can effectively inhibit the replication of the herpes virus, thereby alleviating symptoms and promoting recovery. The specific treatment plan should be determined by a physician based on a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition, frequency of recurrence, and overall health status. For initial episodes of genital herpes, the usual course of treatment lasts 7 to 10 days. For recurrent cases, especially those with frequent recurrences, long-term low-dose oral antiviral therapy may be required, with treatment duration extending to several months or even one year. To prevent secondary bacterial infection, topical antibiotic ointments such as Bactroban (mupirocin) or Dabang (fusidic acid) may also be used. During treatment, patients should keep the affected area clean and dry to avoid secondary infection. Additionally, enhancing immunity is an important measure in preventing recurrence of genital herpes. Immunomodulators such as thymopentin pentapeptide or transfer factor oral solution may be used for this purpose.