Genital Herpes - Antivirals

[BryanFL]

Hi,
Im a young college guy that normally dont take daily pills, im taking valcyclovir 500mg daily, but they are very expensive, my college health counselor told me acyclovir but its 2 pills daily.
But For me its very difficult to take 2 pills a day, he then told me take Valcivir 500mg daily, this is made by CIPLA on India but im afraid this wont work or it wont work the same as Valcyclovir.

I have Gen-Hsv Type 1, ive read this valcivir works, but many dont recommend this antiviral.

What do you sugget to take?  Something affordable and i possible 1 pill a day!

My medical plan does not covers my meds and its Costing me more than 150 monthly on Valcyclovir.
Valcivir is like 35 to 40 US, monthly; affordable.

I will appreciate your insight about this Valcivir and what don yo recommend!

Thanks

[castello80]

Edit: Once we the age of 70, approximately 90% of us will have HSV-1.

[castello80]

In the NHANES III Study, HSV-1 prevalence in 12-19 year olds was 44%, and this percentage continues to rise with age. According to this study, it's closer to 1 in 2 who have HSV-1 statistically for your age group if we don't separate race from the calculation.

Also, according to the study, once we hit 70% approximately 90% of us will have HSV-1. If you are to pass this onto your future partner (the risk of you being the source is actually very low) then rest assured that they were most likely bound to get it anyway somewhere down the line. Many doctors will tell you that you don't have to tell since so many people have HSV-1 (so they're immune or at least highly resistant to getting it in another location), but I think you should. How you want to go about specifying the location of the infection and such is up to you; disclosure is your call completely, but at the end of the day you should think if the tables were turned what would you want. I suggest you and your future partner get tested and if she comes up positive for HSV-1 then you won't need to take precautions in the bedroom.

[castello80]

NHANES Study on HSV-1 Prevalence by age and race:


Whites
20-29: 46%
30-39: 56%
40-49: 59%

Blacks
20-29: 56%
30-39: 75%
40-49: 80%

Mexican-American
20-29: 80%
30-39: 86%
40-49: 89%

[gracefromHHP]

hsv1 sheds so infrequently that it's not as easy to study rates of transmission in discordant couples.  no reason to be paranoid because we don't have multiple studies on it like we do hsv2.   the majority of discordant couples don't utilize suppressive therapy, even with hsv2 - it's not something you have to do. if you know you can't remember to take pills twice a day and can't afford once daily valtrex, just pointing out that not treating your herpes at all is a very realistic option.  It's not being irresponsible not to utilize suppressive therapy, especially for hsv1 genitally.

in your age range, 1 out of 3 has hsv1, not 57%.  Most folks never get tested for herpes either - just a fyi.  

[BryanFL]

Well,
Ive been with a couple of partners, and i have to tell you that i know that statistics say there's a 57% of the population that has it, but many wont have it also, so its a high probability that the other person WONT have this.
So we cannot assume everyone has it, and yes i got rejected cause she did not have it, she was tested couple of months ago.

So assuming the other person don't have this, i have to take all precautions to not transmit this to her.

As Terri said genital to genital is a possibility, so the very unlikelihood that many say of transmission gen to gen is because its sheds less and reoccurs less, but that said, as we all know it hasn't been studied that well either so, we are assuming this also. There's data of average but NO hard study evidence.

Thats why i asked about antivirals, at my first OB doctor gave me valcyclovir, but they are expensive, my counselor told me acyclovir but its 2 pills a day, and thats hard for me.

And here on campus, they buy them through the internet, and they are Valcivir made in India by CIPLA. They all said they work and they stopped having outbreak, ive seen the packages they are very well packed in a professional style, but meds without prescription is something im not so convinced and more made by India, even if India is the were the most generics meds are made by pharmaceuticals in the world.

I know condoms will help, but all my life having to use protection with someone if i find a partner that wants to stay with me to make a family.

I know many day partners must be aware and willing to take the risk that she will get it in sometime of their life's from me, but still I DON'T want to pass this to anyone.

Thanks for trying to help, you have been all very helpful.

[castello80]

Condoms reduce transmission by 30% for HSV-2; there isn't really much data on genital HSV-1 since it's rarely transmitted through genital-to-genital sex. It's likely that your future partner will have HSV-1 and even if her infection is oral, she would be extremely, extremely unlikely to get it (probably immune) genitally from you.

[castello80]

Genital HSV-1 sheds on average less than 12 days per year and that includes OBs. Transmission is unlikely because it sheds less and HSV-1 prefers the mouth more than the genitals. Not saying it couldn't happen, but it is rather rare to see a case of genital-to-genital HSV-1. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to take antivirals, but as grace indicated, you won't be getting a lot of bang for your buck due to it's low shedding rate and outbreak frequency. Even if you are shedding the virus during a day you have sex with someone, it is not a guarantee that they are going to get it; there are other factors that have to line up as well. Yes, you could still transmit this if you aren't experiencing symptoms although it's quite unlikely. Having sex during an outbreak is a huge no no since the viral load is much higher when blisters/ulcers are present. The girl that rejected you on campus for having this could have HSV-1 herself. In fact, 57-80% of the population has HSV-1, so most of your future partners will likely have HSV-1 and will be highly resistant (probably immune) from catching it in another location from you. It's likely that you could have a lifetime of sex with a partner and not transmit this to her; the odds are way in your favor.

[BryanFL]

Thank You for your response, well thing is that the doctor that saw my results and diagnose me physically also, told me that this year is the most contagious. And if i have a partner that its negative, i dont want to transmit this to her. So he advice me to take it daily but they are expensive. Here on college on the US a couple of people are taking valcivir sent from india, made by Cipla.
Most buying them on Internet without prescript, and they are less expensive and they have said they worked for them.
But still afraid of ordering online this meds, even of they all take them and work.
The reason of the transmission is unlikely is because it sheds less?
But if i shed and i dont have outbreak? It could still transmit this, and if i dont have symptoms (dont feel or see) and a couple of blisters are there and we have intercourse?
This means i have to use condoms all my life, even if its with a future wife?

I told a girl this friday and i was rejected by a girl on campus, she said that it was cause if we continue someday she will eventually get it!

Thanks for helping me grace

[gracefromHHP]

I read through you and Terri's discussion on her forum.   I think perhaps she wasn't as clear in a few of her points as you needed her to be.

really, no real reason to even take daily suppressive therapy for hsv1 genitally. it rarely reoccurs and doesn't shed much.  Even if your new partner doesn't have hsv1 herself, it's still really low risk of transmission to her.  Even though it can be transmitted genitals to genitals, it isn't often the case - it's still almost always oral to genital contact that transmits the virus to a partner.  

valcivir is just a generic form for valtrex. they work the exact same.  

you don't want to get in the habit of taking pills regularly so why do so?

grace

[BryanFL]

My intention is to have a relationship with someone, so thats why i want to do this.
This helps to prevent the transmission, and thats what im looking for.
Thing is that i could take one pill a day, but 2 its very difficult and i could forget very easily.

Thats why im asking about valcivir that are cheaper then valcyclovir; but many people havent heard about valcivir.
So im afraid it wont work as valcyclovir.

Pleasr let me know your thoughts about this antivirals.

Thank You

[scaredtomove]

Is it really necessary for you to take a pill everyday? I mean at signs of breakout sure. But if your symptom free without it. Why not allow your antibodies to fight it. Once they fail then take antiviral for 3 days to assist with clearing up your cold sores on your genitals.

Grace I only write here because curiosity regarding daily therapy. I mean is my thought not true?

Unless your in a sexual relationship and are actively trying to decrease the Rusk of transmission.