Genital herpes treatment

Genital herpes is a common viral sexually transmitted infection (STI) that’s caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It is spread through skin-to-skin contact during oral, vaginal, or anal sex, and causes sore and painful blisters on the genitals and around the anus. Many people can be infected with HSV and not know about it because they do not have any symptoms.

There is no cure for genital herpes once you are infected, but there are genital herpes antiviral medications available that can help manage the symptoms, recurrent outbreaks, and reduce the chance of passing it on to others.

Genital herpes symptoms include:

• tingling, burning, or itching around your genitals – usually an early sign of an outbreak
• small blisters that burst, leaving red, open sores on or around your genitals, buttocks, thighs, or anus
• painful sensation when going for a pee
• unusual discharge from your vagina or penis

Genital herpes cannot be cured, which means you may have outbreaks that keep coming back (recurrent genital herpes). Although the symptoms may go away on their own, there are genital herpes treatments available to help clear up the symptoms and stop you from spreading it to your sexual partners.

Genital herpes antiviral medication

At Asda Online Doctor, we can provide 3 different types of genital herpes antiviral medication.

Aciclovir

Aciclovir is an oral tablet that contains 400mg of aciclovir per tablet. It works by stopping the herpes virus from growing and spreading, helping your immune system to clear it from the body.

The usual dose for your first genital herpes outbreak is 1 tablet taken 3 times a day for 5 days. Research shows that aciclovir can reduce the release of new virus particles, also known as viral shedding, which can cause the infection to spread, by 7 days compared to a placebo.

Valaciclovir

Valaciclovir is also an oral tablet that contains 500mg of valaciclovir in each pill. It is what is known as a prodrug because it is transformed into the active form, aciclovir, when inside the body. This makes it stronger than aciclovir and can be taken less often. Once converted into its active form, valaciclovir interferes with the viral DNA to stop it growing.

The usual dose for valaciclovir is one 500mg or two 250mg tablets twice a day for 5 days. This could be longer depending on how severe the infection is. Your doctor will tell you how long you need to take it for. Valaciclovir can lower the chance of spreading genital herpes by 75%.

Famciclovir

Famciclovir tablets contain 250 or 500mg of famciclovir, a prodrug that is converted into penciclovir once inside the body. Penciclovir enters the body’s cells and blocks the enzymes the herpes virus needs to survive, helping your body to fight off the infection.

The usual dose of famciclovir for genital herpes offered through our service at Asda Online Doctor is two 500mg tablets, 2 times a day for 1 day. In recurrent genital herpes, 79 to 86% of people did not have another outbreak within 6 months when using famciclovir 125mg or 250mg 3 times daily or 250mg twice daily as a suppression treatment to prevent outbreaks.

Note: These can also be prescribed as genital herpes suppression treatment at lower doses to stop future outbreaks of the symptoms and to stop you spreading it to your sexual partners.

The differences between aciclovir, valaciclovir, famciclovir are:

Genital herpes medication can be prescribed for your first outbreak or a new one, or it can be given to stop future outbreaks of genital herpes from happening, also known as recurrent genital herpes. Genital herpes cannot be cured, so it can lie dormant in your body for weeks, months, or years before you get symptoms again.

Asda Online Doctor service offers:

As with any medication, genital herpes treatment can cause side effects, although not everyone will get them. The side effects you might get will depend on which treatment you are prescribed.

The most common side effects of aciclovir, affecting up to 1 in 10 people, are:

• headache
• dizziness
• feeling or being sick
• diarrhoea
• stomach pains
• rash
• skin reaction after exposure to light (photosensitivity)
• itching
• tiredness
• unexplained high temperature (fever) and feeling faint, especially when standing up

A full list of up-to-date aciclovir side effects is available in the patient information leaflet.

Headaches are a very common side effect of valaciclovir, but other common side effects are:

• feeling sick
• dizziness
• being sick (vomiting)
• diarrhoea
• skin reaction after exposure to sunlight
• rash
• itching

For a full list of side effects, check the patient information leaflet for valaciclovir.

The most common famciclovir side effects are:

• headaches (very common)
• feeling or being sick
• stomach pain
• diarrhoea
• dizziness
• rash
• itching
• abnormal liver function tests

You can find a full list of famciclovir side effects in the patient information leaflet that is supplied with your medication.

How to manage the side effects

Most of the side effects of genital herpes medication are mild and can be managed at home, by:

• eating smaller, more frequent meals if you are feeling or being sick
• avoiding spicy, greasy, or fatty foods and choosing plain, bland foods, like toast and crackers
• drinking plenty of water and clear fluids to help manage headaches or to stop you getting dehydrated if you are sick or have diarrhoea
• taking over-the-counter painkillers for headaches and stomach pain
• getting some rest until you feel better

In rare cases, genital herpes treatment may cause serious side effects. Call 999 or get someone to take you to A&E if you get any of the following:

• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• shortness of breath, wheezing, or difficulty breathing or swallowing
• rash, itching, or hives on your skin
• collapsing

Genital herpes treatment is a prescription-only medication, which means you’ll either need to see your doctor or visit a sexual health clinic, or you can request treatment from reputable online doctor services.

Can you buy genital herpes tablets online?

Yes, you can request genital herpes tablets online from Asda Online Doctor using our quick and easy service. To access treatment, you will need to:

1. Complete a short online health assessment for one of our doctors to review, including 2 photos of the affected area if you have not already been diagnosed by a healthcare professional or if you have and your symptoms are different from usual outbreaks..
2. Place your order.
3. If approved, your order will be dispatched and sent to your home address in discreet packaging, or you can choose to collect it from your local Asda Pharmacy 4 hours after a doctor’s approval.
4. If your order is not approved, one of our doctors will contact you via your account with alternative treatment options.

If you think you have genital herpes, you might feel uncomfortable, but you should not be embarrassed. Our service is quick and simple to use, requiring only a short questionnaire and you may be required to upload up to 2 photos of your symptoms for our doctors to review. This allows for a convenient alternative to a face-to-face appointment, especially if you do not feel ready or comfortable going in person. We can even deliver your medication as early as the next working day, or you can choose to collect it. And if you need any further advice, you can send us a message through your account for free.

Is genital herpes treatment available over the counter?

No, genital herpes tablets, like aciclovir, famciclovir, and valaciclovir, are not available over-the-counter as they are prescription-only medications. There are some treatments that you can buy over the counter, which you apply directly to the affected area, but these are not available from Asda Online Doctor.

Can I get genital herpes treatment on the NHS?

Yes, you can get genital herpes treatment on the NHS. You’ll need to make an appointment with your GP or visit a sexual health clinic first, so they can assess your symptoms and decide which treatment will be best for you.

Genital herpes treatment should be taken if you have been diagnosed with genital herpes and you have:

• painful sores and blisters (active lesions)
• had outbreaks in the past and need to take medication to stop them coming back (suppression treatment)

If you are not sure if you have genital herpes, you should get tested, either by visiting a sexual health clinic, your GP, or by ordering an at-home genital herpes test kit from Asda Online Doctor.

If you have been diagnosed with genital herpes and are currently having an outbreak, the symptoms can be uncomfortable, but there are things you can do at home to manage them, such as:

• cleaning the affected area with plain or salt water to stop the sores from becoming infected
• using an ice pack wrapped in a flannel and applying it to the sores to relieve pain
• applying Vaseline or numbing cream to stop the pain when you go for a pee (speak to a pharmacist or sexual health clinic about which numbing cream to use – a sexual health clinic may provide this for free)
• pouring water over your genitals when going for a pee to ease the pain
• washing your hands before and applying cream or touching to the affected area
• wearing loose clothing
• avoiding vaginal, anal, or oral sex until the sores have gone away

Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and is spread through skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, oral, or anal sex. It is most commonly caused by HSV-2, but HSV-1, which also causes cold sores, can cause it, especially during oral sex.

Once you are infected with the virus, it will stay in your body for the rest of your life, but it will not always be active. During this time, it lies dormant until it reactivates and causes an outbreak. Many people also never develop symptoms and do not know they are infected.

There are 5 main stages of genital herpes:

1. Prodrome stage – This is when you may feel itching, tingling, or burning sensations in the affected area, which may last 1 or 2 days before any visible bumps appear.
2. Blister stage – You may notice small, fluid-filled blisters appearing on the skin around the genitals, buttocks, or thighs.
3. Ulcer stage – The blisters break open, releasing the pus-like fluid and leaving behind open sores, which is usually the most painful stage.
4. Scabbing stage – At this stage, the sores start to dry out and form a scab or crust.
5. Healing stage – The scab falls off and new skin appears, which may be red or irritated. The skin will heal completely, and this is a sign that the outbreak is over.

There is no cure for genital herpes, so once you have been infected, the virus will remain in your body for life, but outbreaks are manageable with treatment and self-help measures.

The first genital herpes outbreak can last between 2 and 4 weeks, and is usually the most severe. After this, future outbreaks may last for 3 to 10 days and will become less frequent and less severe over time.

You can reduce the chance of catching genital herpes or passing it on by:

✓ using a condom every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex – condoms are the only way you can protect yourself against STIs, but the infection can still be passed on if the condom does not cover the affected area

✓ not having sex if you or your partner has blisters or sores, or you or your partner has tingling or itching, which could mean an outbreak is coming

✓ not sharing sex toys, and if you do, washing them and putting a condom on them

✓ taking your genital herpes suppression treatment as it is prescribed

If you have been infected, there are certain things that can trigger an outbreak, such as:

• exposing the area to ultraviolet (UV) light, like sunbeds or sunbathing
• friction in the genital area from sex or tight clothing
• drinking alcohol
• smoking
• stress
• being unwell
• your menstrual cycle
• surgery in the genital area
• a weakened immune system

Understanding your triggers may help you avoid them or prepare for an outbreak if they are unavoidable.