Question:
Do antivirals work in the same way as antibiotics in that if you take them for an extended period of time the body will become resistant to them?

Is it true that HSV1 and HSV2 are the only 2 strains of herpes? I am wondering why some people have so many more OBs than other people? Like I am reading about people who have OBs twice a month and others who have one once a year...is it the difference in our diets, immune systems, medication, what? Can we catch worse strains of herpes from other people?

And also, I just wanted to comment on how terrible I think sex ed is here in the US. I was sex educated by my school and they basically tell kids these days that condoms protect you from everything is absolutely NOT true! I had no idea that you could get herpes and HPV (human papilloma virus) even with using condoms and no idea that you could be an asymptomatic carrier. Plus I also have molloscum which is an STD i got and NEVER even heard of! I guess they are worried that if they tell kids that condoms wont protect from everything that they will think "what is the point then" and not wear them. its just terrible! i want to go on a sex education campaign!

Answer:
Hi there!

I am no expert at all, but from what I have read, extended use of antivirals will eventually stop working (or not work as well) , similar to that of Antibiotics.

Some people will use a certain antiviral for a while, then stop....(and might have rebound outbreaks for a period of time...which usually lessen after time) then they might go back ON them or a different type of antiviral, to keep their herpes in check.

Some people (like myself) use alternative methods to try to prevent and/or lessen our outbreaks. Vitamins, diet and topical ointments have been my saving grace. Antivirals do not work for me. Valtrex helped a bit....but not much. I had strange side effects so it wasn't worth it.


But everyone is different and unfortunately, sometimes we have to turn ourselves into our own little guinea pigs to find out which methods (or combinations of methods) will work for us.

Answer:
oh...
and I agree that sex ed here is a joke. A total joke. And parents are nuts for relying on the school system/health classes/etc to educate their kids.

I wish more people would educate the youngins on ways to practice safe (or safer sex) and give them the REALITY of what herpes (and other STDS ) are all about.

Answer:
I wonder when sex ed went down the tubes here. I am forty-five years old and believe me...nobody made it through the sixth grade without getting sex ed in school. Plus, every year after that. There was nobody in my school who didn't know that the pill can't protect you from stds and what herpes is and how it is spread...and once we knew how AIDS was spread, it seemed that anybody watching t.v. should have been educated. The problem is, this knowledge doesn't necessarily change behaviors, especially when you throw a little booze into the mix. For my part, I'm just grateful it's an STD that won't end up killing me, you know?

Answer:
You do not build resistance to them. The mechanism is entirely different. The antivirals interfere with the viral DNA replication process. Antibiotics kill the targeted bacteria. Acyclovir was the first antiviral of this class, further refinements in the delivery method for the active ingredient produced valtrex and famvir.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aciclovir "To date, resistance to aciclovir has not been clinically significant."

A Nobel prize was awarded for the development of acyclovir.. http://www.ph.hunter.cuny.edu/scientists/Elion.html

Answer:
Hey

I have a question for Ouch.
You said that you use topical ointments to prevent OB, which do you use??

Answer:
Hi Hugo! Thanks for the links!
The only thing is, I have read about people who, after taking the meds for X amount of time, did indeed start to have outbreaks again. Also, I have read that some people who stop taking the meds have "rebound" outbreaks. I just can't help but think that taking certain meds for a long period of time are just not going to work any longer OR you will have to up the dosage so it does so. But what do I know...medical science is not my forte.


Young one....in the past I used (and sometimes still do) Hydrogen peroxide to clean and dry out the sores. Sure it stings, but it stings when I have to pee during an OB, so I would rather speed up the healing process, plus, HP is just a nice, clean topical solution.

I now use Choraphor during an outbreak. It has helped me. Again, it is not a cure-all, merely a method (amongst many that I use) to help speed up healing, and keep the sores clean. I have noticed that I DO indeed heal quicker than I did when just using hydrogen peroxide. Other than that, I take vitamins (c, bcomplex and lysine) and try to eat well, abstain from certain foods and exercise.