Suppressive therapy reduces the frequency of genital herpes recurrences by 70%–80% in patients who have frequent recurrences (345-348); many persons receiving such therapy report having experienced no symptomatic outbreaks. Treatment also is effective in patients with less frequent recurrences.

Similarly, you may ask, should I take suppressive therapy for herpes?

If you have outbreaks often, you may want to consider taking an antiviral drug every day. Doctors call this suppressive therapy. If you have more than six outbreaks a year, suppressive therapy can reduce the number of outbreaks by 70% to 80%. SOURCES: WebMD Medical News: "Genital Herpes Treatment Cuts Spread." CDC.

Secondly, how effective is valacyclovir for herpes? When it comes to preventing the transmission of herpes, valacyclovir can be helpful but shouldn't be relied on as a 100% effective solution. Study data shows that people with symptomatic herpes who take valacyclovir are almost 50% less likely to transmit the virus to others than non-medicated people with herpes.

Keeping this in consideration, does suppressive therapy reduce transmission?

Benefits. The primary benefit of using suppressive valacyclovir therapy is to reduce transmission within discordant couples. As a result, it reduces transmission when the source partner does not have any recognizable symptoms but is still shedding virus, which is when most transmission events occur (18,19).

How much does valtrex reduce risk of transmission?

The study of 1,484 couples conducted in support of the application showed that once-daily suppressive therapy with Valtrex, in addition to counseling on safer sex practices, reduced the risk of transmission of symptomatic genital herpes (signs or symptoms of GH) by 75 percent and reduced the risk of overall acquisition

Related Question Answers

What is the best suppressive treatment for herpes?

Suppressive Therapy for Recurrent Genital HerpesTreatment also is effective in patients with less frequent recurrences. Safety and efficacy have been documented among patients receiving daily therapy with acyclovir for as long as 6 years and with valacyclovir or famciclovir for 1 year (350,351).

Does having herpes make you immunocompromised?

Herpes does not affect the immune system. It is rare for adults to have any health problems from genital herpes, but there are a couple of areas of concern. Additionally, having genital HSV makes it easier to get and/or transmit HIV, a virus that can cause AIDS.

What are the chances of spreading herpes while on Valtrex?

The study showed that once-daily suppressive therapy with Valtrex 500 mg caplets reduced the risk of transmission of symptomatic genital herpes by 75 percent versus placebo (0.5 percent on Valtrex vs 2.2 percent on placebo).

Can I spread herpes while on Valtrex?

Valtrex Lowers Herpes Transmission. Sept. 27, 2002 -- The drug Valtrex -- prescribed to prevent recurrences of genital herpes -- may actually help prevent the spread of the virus from one sexual partner to another. Once-daily Valtrex cut the chance of the partner getting herpes with no symptoms by 50%.

Can you pass herpes if you are on Valtrex?

When it comes to preventing the transmission of herpes, valacyclovir can be helpful but shouldn't be relied on as a 100% effective solution. Study data shows that people with symptomatic herpes who take valacyclovir are almost 50% less likely to transmit the virus to others than non-medicated people with herpes.

How do you permanently get rid of herpes?

There is no cure for herpes. However, there are medicines that can prevent or shorten outbreaks. One of these anti-herpes medicines can be taken daily, and makes it less likely that you will pass the infection on to your sex partner(s).

Is herpes less contagious over time?

Conclusions. Rates of total and subclinical HSV-2 shedding decrease after the first year following the initial clinical episode. However, viral shedding persists at high rates and copy numbers years after infection, and therefore may pose continued risk of HSV-2 transmission to sexual partners.

How can I protect my partner from herpes?

How can I make sure I don't give anyone herpes?
  1. Always use condoms and dental dams during oral, anal, and vaginal sex.
  2. Talk with your doctor about taking herpes medication every day, which can lower your chances of spreading herpes.
  3. Don't have sex during a herpes outbreak, even with a condom.

Will my partner get herpes if I have it?

Genital herpes is spread from skin-to-skin contact with someone who has it — including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. But they do lower your chances of getting herpes. Here are other ways to avoid getting herpes from your partner: Always use condoms and dental dams during oral, anal, and vaginal sex.

What are the chances of a female passing herpes to a male?

That's especially true when they have sex with men, who are more likely than women to shed the virus even when they don't have symptoms, Whiteside says. In fact, rates of transmission from men to women stand at about 10 percent, while women pass herpes to uninfected men only about 4 percent of the time, he says.

What are the chances of spreading herpes without an outbreak?

One study examined rates of genital herpes transmission in heterosexual couples when only one partner was initially infected [1]. Over one year, the virus was transmitted to the other partner in 10 percent of couples. In 70 percent of cases, infection occurred at a time when there were no symptoms.

Is it bad to take Valtrex everyday?

Acyclovir has been shown to be safe in persons who have used it continuously (every day) for as long as 10 years. Like valacyclovir, it is well absorbed, persists for a longer time in the body, and can be taken less frequently than acyclovir.

What are the chances of spreading herpes?

One study examined rates of genital herpes transmission in heterosexual couples when only one partner was initially infected [1]. Over one year, the virus was transmitted to the other partner in 10 percent of couples. In 70 percent of cases, infection occurred at a time when there were no symptoms.

How long can you take suppressive therapy for herpes?

Suppressive Therapy for Recurrent Genital HerpesSafety and efficacy have been documented among patients receiving daily therapy with acyclovir for as long as 6 years and with valacyclovir or famciclovir for 1 year (350,351).

Can Valtrex stop an outbreak?

Valacyclovir for Recurrent Herpes OutbreaksOn average, people with HSV-1 experience about one outbreak per year, while people with HSV-2 will usually experience four to five outbreaks per year. When these outbreaks occur, valacyclovir can provide fast and effective relief, helping to control herpes outbreak symptoms.