Five questions to ask your doctor about suppressive therapy

     Wow. I was really happy to see your post. It clarified some things for me.  I take 1 gram of Valtrex a day. I am on suppressive due to having developed post herpetic neuralgia. It has been quite painful for me, itchy and uncomfortable day in and out.  Valtrex is really helping me keep outbrakes under control. Its very important that I do not get outbrakes because that would ultimately mean less nerve pain or neuralgia.  It has been really hard for me to cope with neuralgia more than anything, since I am 34 years old and never in my life had to worry about anything else other than a yeast infection twice or three times a year.  Thank Godness for Valtrex; Thank Godness for Lyrica (Nerve pain) and Thank Goodness for Lexapro (antianxiety;antidepressant and med for OCD); trust me one can get pretty OCD consumed with symthoms of itchiness down there etc.. specially if one is OCD already.  That's what happened to me.  At first I had no clue I had pain/itchiness/ and just than discomfort on the nerve, even more so when I sat down.  I thought to my self, oh my God, what is happening to me.  If It weren't for Valtrex and Lyrica, I truly do not know where I d be.  Now I am beginning to try vitamin B12 shots. I was told by the general physician they help with Neuralgia.  Also my gyn works closely with an acupunturist and suggested accupunture in addition to my usual treatment of valtrex and lyrica to help with continued vaginal pain. I have a feeling that many women probably have pain or itchiness and might be having a form of neuralgia and not even know it.  I mean if I weren't on suppressive and I had to deal with outbrakes right and left I truly wouldn't be able to cope. It certainly wouldn't be quality of life.  Thank you so much for your post.  Its great to get reassurance with one's suppressive dosage.  I feel like I am doing the right thing.  Also, thank you for easing my mind about possible long term side effects of valtrex. 

I started on acyclo 500 bid 8/08 and have taken it faithfully.  I now have one single large hard lump with a slight fluid filled sac, but very hard to see.  My first outbreak had specific clusters with fluid in them and this one is so different but with the same stinging and pain.  I was just wondering why it's only one?  It's so big it hits the seam in my pants. (wearing loose ones now)

Is there anything you can put on blister or whatever this is to sooth it?  Does a warm compress make it worse?  Better? 

How much does stress really contribute to an outbreak even tho someone is on the proper dose?

Hi- I have recently gotten the diagnoses of having genital HSV-1 from my gyn... I feel like my life has been turned upside down. I have been with the same man for 3yrs and we have a 5month old daughter. Apparently I have contracted it through oral sex with my partner when he was seemingly getting over a cold sore. My question is : should I be looking into daily medication?? My physician told me the commercials are just trying to sell a medication and that I shouldn't worry about that once I complete this initial treatment that I am on. Next, I wanted to know if I could unknowingly infect my daughter through simple contact (i.e. changing diapers)?? And then can I still have kids with this diagnosis??

Can someone point me to these studies?  My girlfriend is experiencing unpleasant side effects from the daily Valtrex and I need to understand the actual reduction in risk we are achieving for the symptoms she is suffering.

ddelzell@roadrunner.com

Thank you for the very informative info on dosages.. that is not something Ive seen around before. 

I've had herpes for almost 2 yrs.  I started going online looking for things that would help curve my outbreaks (I didn't want Valtrex since I wanted to know when I was having an outbreak).  I found 2 things, BHT and Oil of Oregano.  OOO burned like crap, but it supposedly kills herpes on contact and in time by outbreaks started moving towards my, for lack of a better term, crack and spine.  I take BHT orally since it crosses the BBB.  I don't know if anything is working, but no one I have spoken to who has herpes has ever had this happen to them.  I don't even get lesions in my vaginal area anymore, not even a blip.  What's going on? 

I'm not seeing any clear up of my outbreak and I've been on it for a month. Does it take longer to get results or should I be asking my doctor for an altnernative suppressant therapy?