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Acyclovir as an immune suppressant therapy?

Posted , 4 users are following.

peter67274
peter67274

I want to start taking acyclovir as an immune suppressant therapy as opposed to just as and when an OB occurs. Can you advise what dosage and how regularly I should take it, and how long I should be taking it before it has 'kicked-in', as it were? Advice gratefully received! Thank you.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • FelizCastus
    FelizCastus peter67274

    Posted

    First of all, it is only really necessary for genital HSV-2 (not HSV-1) where: (a) you suffer from frequent outbreaks, and/or (b) your partner is confirmed negative and you wish to minimise transmission.

    If suppressive therapy is still appropriate, then you need to take 400 mg acyclovir twice daily (morning and night), or 500 mg valacyclovir once daily (if you have 10+ outbreaks a year, or breakthrough outbreaks on 500 mg, then it's 1,000 mg valacyclovir once daily). Google the CDC herpes treatment guidelines for details.

    It takes five days of continuous usage at the correct dosage to kick in, and five days without for the meds to clear your system.

    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus

      Posted

      Breakthrough recurrences/shedding are possible, even on daily suppressive therapy. Avoid sex during such recurrences, should that happen, and still use condoms if you want to minimise transmission as much as possible.
  • Sadpanda75
    Sadpanda75 peter67274

    Posted

    The doctor that prescribed it didn't give you that information? I can tell you that if you're going to take it for suppressive therapy you will need to take it daily.

  • patty10286
    patty10286 peter67274

    Posted

    Valcyclovir is more effective than Acyclovir.  I was taking 400 mg of Acyclovir daily with no success.  Went to 500 mg of Valcyclovir which then became ineffective.  I am now taking 1000 mg Valcylovir daily and 3000 mg Val per day for outbreaks.  Have begun to take supplements to boost my immune system as well.
    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus patty10286

      Posted

      Acyclovir didn't help you, because you weren't taking the correct dosage. It's 400 mg *twice* daily. Both meds are very similar in their efficacy, just that valacyclovir is more easily taken (only once daily) due to greater bioavailability, so there is no problem with acyclovir, although some people have different reactions to the two meds despite them essentially being the same drug.

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