acyclovir dose ?

[guy445]

I was originally prescribed 400 mg of acyclovir twice daily for suppression of my herpes type 2.  Recently, I asked my doctor to increase my dosage to 800 mg of acyclovir twice daily.  Is there any negatives associated with taking a higher dose than what is normally prescribed for suppression.  Also, are there any benefits to taking a higher dose regularly for suppression like less shedding?

[guy445]

Hi grace, thanks for all your help.  One more question.  Since my initial outbreak i have never had any open sores of any kind.  However, once or twice I have had what looks like a piece of dead skin flaking off the underside of my penis.  Is this shedding?

[gracefromHHP]

Well unfortunately most websites just show herpes recurrences so obvious that even a 1st year medical student could identify them ( probably even just someone who stayed in a holiday inn express could recognize most of the ones they show online...lol ).  The reality is - most folks will get much more vague/milder symptoms and not the "classic" ob's that they show online.  I typically advise if anything is going on genitally and you are in a discordant relationship, avoid sex until it's gone to err on the side of caution. If you are getting symptoms in the same general area most of the time, try to get them pcr swabbed as soon as they appear.  

It really is hard sometimes and you do play the "is it or isn't it" game :(

grace

[guy445]

Thanks for the info.  I actually am paying the same amount regardless of the dosage amount for some reason.  The price per prescription refill did not increase. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't any negative consequences to taking such a high dose.

One more question.  Is there a good website and or video link that anyone knows about that teaches people how to properly recognize the symptoms of an outbreak or shedding?  Occasionally I will have a red bump or mark, but it does not appear to look exactly like the first outbreak that I experienced.  Also there is no itching with these bumps or marks.  I think that most of them are just from friction or something else, but would like to know how to tell the difference to help prevent spreading the disease.

If anyone know a website or video that properly explains how to identify a herpes outbreak I would appreciate it.  Also, advice on how to identify a herpes outbreak from a random mark would also be appreciated. thanks in advance.

[gracefromHHP]

During ob's it's either 400mg 3x/day for 5 days or 800mg 3x/day for 2 days. Both speed healing of recurrences and stop shedding at the same rate.  

Unfortunately you don't really get a significant increase in the blood level of acyclovir by taking 800mg 2x/day compared to 400mg 2x/day. You will still periodically shed the virus while on suppressive therapy. You will still get ob's now and then. Both will be significantly reduced though on suppressive therapy.  Taking the higher dose 2x/day for suppressive therapy doesn't increase your protection though ironically.  No harm to taking it but why pay more than you have to?

grace

[guy445]

i was taking 400 twice daily and had a very minor breakout.  I was under the impression that 800 mg twice daily was the treatment during an outbreak.  So why not take 800 mg twice daily for suppression?  Wouldn't it be more effective than 400 mg twice daily?  If not at least I would already have the recommended dose to treat outbreaks on hand.  My main question is there any negatives to taking 800 mg twice daily regularly for suppression?

[gracefromHHP]

Why did you ask for a higher dose?

grace

[petal130]

Your acyclovir dosage is correct the way it is now for suppressive therapy: 400mg 2X day. Taking more does not correlate with being more effective.