long term use of valtrex

[hawaii523]

I have been taking Valtrex 500 mg once a day for 1.5 years. I have had GH for 20 years and had begun to get monthly outbreaks so i started the suppression therapy. I have had only one outbreak, lasting 2 days since beginning the Valtrex. I called the makers of Valtrex to see if there were any studies done on effects of taking the drug longer than one year or if they had any data as to whether taking it for one year and then stopping it, seemed to lessen a person's outbreaks for a period of time. They would not give me any information, stating only that the only data they have ends at one year. Does anyone have any experience with this?  By the way, i have been married for 20 years and he has never contracted the virus that we can tell and we have never used protection, we just abstain if I feel like I am getting an outbreak.

[waringblender]

1 1/2 years is nothing. I've been on it for the last 7 years more than I haven't. I use it every time I have a negative partner, and it seems like I am always dating men who don't have it.

[gracefromHHP]

There is a terrific study published by dr stephen tyring on long term use of valtrex.  http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/342966?cookieSet=1  is the link to it for reading.

I myself have been on acyclovir more than I haven't for the 22 years that I"ve had hsv2.  I did switch to valtrex for about a year at one point but ended up going back to acyclovir for multiple reasons.  The only times I stopped suppressive therapy once I started it were because of pregnancy and for 6 months I was off while I participated in a research study.  I have no plans on stopping it again anytime soon.  

grace