taking supressives

[texasgirl1234]

Is there any reason NOT to use supressive therapy? I've done it for 2 years, and it works pretty well. I got a wild hair that maybe taking meds every day as a relatively young person wasn't the greatest idea. It just seems bad to be on prescriptions all the time. But after a couple of weeks, I'm experiencing some issues. I wonder if I should wait it out and be off meds forever, or is there no good reason to do that if it was working?

[gracefromHHP]

well I'm suppressive therapy's biggest fan myself. I've been on it more than I haven't in the last 25 years.  Even when I don't have a partner, I still stay on it because I don't have time to wait for recurrences to heal and have already had more than enough of them in my lifetime as it is!

[texasgirl1234]

Thanks Grace. Those are good points as far as history of the drug. It just seems like people in general are over medicated. Just slap a pill at the problem. :) But if it's safe I guess who really cares, right? I had forgotten that part of the point was also for my guy's protection. Going to pop some tonight. Thanks for your input.

[gracefromHHP]

we have over 20 years of info on taking daily suppressive therapy with acyclovir non-stop. valtrex is an acyclovir prodrug and we have no reason to think that it's any less safe. we have over 15 years of info on taking valtrex suppressively non-stop now too.  there are no long term side effects.  no reason to stop taking it unless you want to.  why have more ob's than you have to is my motto plus if your partner is negative, it helps protect them too.

keep asking questions!

grace