Herpes Medications – Your Options

If you have been diagnosed with, or suspect you may be having a genital herpes outbreak or infection you are likely anxious to find effective forms of treatment are available to you.

First you should know there is no cure for the virus, but there are several effective herpes medications to help manage the outbreaks and relieve the symptoms. Although genital herpes will eventually clear up without treatment, it is much better to start taking a medication which can be used to help reduce both the symptoms and the duration of the infection.

Herpes Treatments?

Several decades ago, treatment options for herpes included the direct application of deoxyglucose or the actual removal of infected areas by surgery. It was soon found that the former option was ineffective while the latter course often resulted in the spread of the herpes along the scar which was left after the surgery. This is not surprising considering how infectious the herpes virus is. Herpes is a virus that infects the nervous system and the infection is permanent. Most people suffering from herpes can expect a recurrence about four times per year. One of the big problems is that infected people can keep on re-infecting themselves either on the skin area itself or from nerve cell to nerve cell and this is why it is so important to take medication to treat the symptoms of the herpes.

If you are searching for a natural and safe herpes treatment, try H-Away and H-Prevention – two proven and very effective formulas for preventing herpes outbreaks and eliminating herpes sores and blisters including those pesky cold sores that are so common.

Less than 20-years ago anti-viral medications (Valtrex, Acyclovir, Famvir) for oral use first came on the market and studies indicated that these were safe and effective. Since then it has been found that this medication, if taken on a daily basis can reduce recurrence frequency from approximately four times per annum to about once a year. Also when the recurrence does occur, the symptoms are milder and of shorter duration.

Modern Treatments that Work!

In the last few years, a number of non-prescription medications made from essential oils and other natural products have become readily available. These too have all been shown to have anti-viral properties against herpes simplex. If they are taken in a combined format where one product treats the outbreak and actual symptoms of the herpes while the anti-viral meds provide a daily maintenance and preventative treatment, the results have been very successful.

There is ongoing research into new and improved herpes medications. It is important to keep abreast of what these developments may be. Current research is looking for ways to develop a herpes vaccine and this would certainly be a very welcome breakthrough.

How to know if you have herpes

Despite the fact that millions of Americans are living with genital herpes, the disease can be surprisingly difficult to detect in some cases. However, many people with genital herpes have at least some detectable signs, even if very mild.

The most obvious sign of genital herpes is the appearance of red bumps in and/or around the genital area, often starting around two weeks after the initial exposure to herpes. The bumps may spread to the anus and/or surrounding skin, and in some cases also develop within the vagina and/or urinary tract. These bumps turn into blisters, which in turn become sores. Often these sores become encrusted and very itchy; after a period of time, however, they will clear up. An outbreak can involve a large number of sores, but can just as easily involve just a single one.

Because genital herpes is incurable, these outbreaks will recur over time. Certain medications are available to increase the length of time in-between herpes outbreaks. There are some over the counter medications and ointments that can help as well.

Other symptoms of genital herpes may or may not accompany an outbreak. These include a reddening and/or sudden extreme dryness of the genital area; a burning, itching, and/or painful sensation in the genital area; vaginal discharge; difficulty urinating; headache; fever; and/or swollen glands.

The most difficult aspect of genital herpes, and a large contributor to its spread, is that the herpes virus can remain inactive in many individuals and never cause them to show any signs or symptoms of the condition. However, they are still able to spread genital herpes to others. Many times the symptoms of genital herpes are confused with other conditions, such as yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and even ingrown hairs.

While it’s important to know and be able to recognize the symptoms of genital herpes, you should always seek an official diagnosis from a medical professional if you are at all concerned that you may have contracted the disease. Only they will be able to say for certain whether your symptoms are the result of herpes. If you do have genital herpes, they can provide you with medication and important information necessary to handle the condition.

If you are currently experiencing an outbreak of genital herpes, a doctor can diagnose your condition visually. A blood test or a viral culture can also check for the herpes simplex virus, although results can be vague and/or inaccurate in many cases. Two different strains of the herpes simplex virus lead to genital herpes: HSV-1 and HSV-2. The former, HSV-1, can indicate any form of herpes, including mouth sores, and does not necessarily translate into a genital herpes diagnosis. However, HSV-2 is almost always linked to genital herpes, and is a more reliable sign of the disease.

Disclaimer:  This article is for information only and you should seek the advice of a professional regarding your particular situation.

Herpes is Not a Death Sentence

Everyday the number of people around the world that find that they have herpes is staggering. Over 50% of the white population, over 70% of the African American population and over 60% of the Japanese population have herpes. What most people don’t know is that it is not a death sentence. OF course people know that they won’t die from herpes but you would think that they were going to die the way that they act.

Most average citizens know that there is a genital herpes and many understand that there is also a herpes that affects the lip and eyes of either one or both sides of the face. That’s right cold sore or fever blisters are actually herpes. So how do people get these? The answer to that question varies. Sometimes it is picked up through sexual contact from genital to genital or it can be oral to genital and it can also be mouth to mouth. By the time that children are 4 years old they are exposed to the herpes virus in some shape or form through day care, school groups and other kids activities.

So what should you really be thinking if you just found out that you have herpes? The answer is that many times the mental anguish of herpes far outweighs the physical aspect of it. Genital herpes is a cold sore on the genitals that usually lasts about 7 days and often reoccurs every six months and can be attributed to a weakened state of the immune system that is often found with stress. Many people often claim that too much sugar, stress or lack of sleep can bring on an outbreak.

If you just had your first outbreak then there could be many different roads that you will travel. For many they have one outbreak – the initial one and then they never have another herpes outbreak. For some it can be more persistent and troublesome. There are products that can really help with outbreaks. However in our opinion the natural based or herbal based treatments are more effective at minimizing and effectively treating the outbreaks. Does this mean that they cure herpes? Cure is strong word but for many that use natural based herpes treatments they never have an outbreak again. Whether that is controlling the outbreaks or killing the viruses we don’t know but for many they never have another outbreak and that is vital.

Point being that there are many things that a person that now has herpes can do to prevent further outbreaks and as time goes on they do not feel the mental aspects of finding out that they have herpes as well.