Single-day therapy: an expert opinion on a recent development for the episodic treatment of recurrent genital herpes.

Abstract

One common method for treating recurrent genital herpes outbreaks is 3-5 day episodic therapy with nucleoside analogues. However, since maximum viral replication occurs within 24 h after the onset of symptoms, short-term patient-initiated episodic therapy started at prodromal onset or at the first appearance of lesions in patients without a prodrome may represent an important option. In a recent randomized trial, single-day famciclovir treatment decreased lesion healing time and the duration of pain and other symptoms by approximately 2 days compared to placebo, and prevented progression to a full outbreak in almost one in four patients. Because single-day treatment is more convenient than traditional therapies, it may lead to improved patient compliance and better overall management of recurrent genital herpes outbreaks.

• Authors: Stephen Tyring, Gary Richwald, Kamal Hamed
• Journal: Archives of gynecology and obstetrics (Arch Gynecol Obstet) Vol. 275 Issue 1 Pg. 1-3 (Jan 2007) ISSN: 0932-0067 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 16957911 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• 2-Aminopurine
• Famciclovir

Topics

• 2-Aminopurine (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives)
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Famciclovir
• Herpes Genitalis (drug therapy, prevention & control)
• Humans
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Recurrence
• Self Administration
• Treatment Outcome