I took Valtrex for three or four years and Acyclovir for a few more years. For some people, an antiviral drug eliminates outbreaks, others it helps reduce the frequency and severity, and oters it doesn't stop them. Many people stop having outbreaks all together-- not me. 

I have always had outbreaks. In the beginning, the outbreaks were four or five times a year (on Valtrex) but very mild. A few years ago, the outbreaks became vmore frequent and worsened. I tried Acyclovir but it made no difference.

I was reading a medical article about herpes and they have identified the cell's protein (I blelieve that what they callled it), that prevents the virus from going into latency like chicken pox. My body just can't fight this protein and I keep shedding.