Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
|
|
 |  |
 |
 |
Reccurring Herpes Infection
Oct 8, 2003
I am not on any ARV treatment because I can no longer afford what I was presribed after being on Triomune for one month, 4 months ago when I had to stop its use as it induced hepatitis.I have now got very frequently recurring herpes infection, at least twice a month, even after acyclovir treament each time they appear. Is there a stronger and more effective medication ofr herpes or is acyclovir it.
|
 |
|
 |
|
Response from Dr. Aberg
I am assuming that you are taking acyclovir only at the time you develop herpes. Anyone with recurrent herpes, should consider taking acyclovir daily to prevent recurrent infections. Have you tried that? Alternatively, one could also take famciclovir or valacyclovir. Valacyclovir has been associated with the development of a syndrome that including lowering of the platelets (blood cells responsible for clotting) so this would have to be considered as part of the risk vs benefit of once daily vs the twice daily acyclovir.
Depending where you live, your provider may be able to send a culture from one of your lesions and perform susceptibility tests on the herpes to see if it is resistant to acyclovir. If it is acyclovir resistant, treatment is much more difficult as one would need to use medicines that are available in intravenous (through a vein) forms only.
The first thing I would do is take acyclovir every day to see if it prevents or decreases the number of recurrences. I do not know what your financial situation is or where you live, but please ask your provider if there are any compassionate programs or other ways to access meds to treat your HIV. Having your HIV infection controlled will reduce your outbreaks of herpes as well as prolong your life if your CD4 count is of the range where you need treatment.
|
|
|
 Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
Copyright notice.
|
|
|
|
