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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Herpes / September 2004Can Valtrex prevent transmission?
I get cold sores a couple of times a year, so I have a prescription for Valtrex. I take a couple of pills the first day I feel the symptoms. My gf, also gets cold sores. I know that sometimes you can transmit the virus even though you are not feeling symptoms yet. Would it be effective if I take a valtrex before and then after oral sex? Would the pills help to prevent transmission from the lips to the genitals? >I get cold sores a couple of times a year, so I have a prescription >for Valtrex. >I take a couple of pills the first day I feel the symptoms. >My gf, also gets cold sores. >I know that sometimes you can transmit the virus even though you are >not feeling symptoms yet. >Would it be effective if I take a valtrex before and then after oral >sex? >Would the pills help to prevent transmission from the lips to the >genitals? Recent studies do show that Valtrex reduces asymptomatic shedding, so, yes, taking Valtrex might "help" prevent transmission. You should not depend on it, though, to totally eliminate the risk. At best, it cuts the risk in half. You'd probably have to start taking the pills a couple days before sex. Take care, Mike > >Would it be effective if I take a valtrex before and then after oral > >sex? > Recent studies do show that Valtrex reduces asymptomatic shedding, > so, yes, taking Valtrex might "help" prevent transmission. You > should not depend on it, though, to totally eliminate the risk. At > best, it cuts the risk in half. Just to put some extra context - the data MLS is talking about refers to the benefit seen by people on suppressive therapy - so long term treatment, not popping a pill before and after.... Tim -- When playing rugby, its not the winning that counts, but the taking apart ICQ: 5178568 > Recent studies do show that Valtrex reduces asymptomatic shedding, > so, yes, taking Valtrex might "help" prevent transmission. You I meant taking Valtrex, to prevent infection, not transmission. >> Recent studies do show that Valtrex reduces asymptomatic shedding, >> so, yes, taking Valtrex might "help" prevent transmission. You > I meant taking Valtrex, to prevent infection, not transmission. Valtrex cannot prevent an incoming infection. It only inhibits the replication cycle of the virus, not the estabilishment-of-latency cycle. Or, at least, not as far as I know. There is the theory that taking Valtrex can limit the severity of a new infection, ie., that the taker will suffer milder or fewer outbreaks in the long run, but I don't know of any studies that have conclusively established such. In a discordant relationship, the best way to use Valtrex is for the infected person to take it, thereby reducing asymptomatic shedding. Take care, Mike According to the National Herpes Hotline, there is very little chance that an individual will pass herpes on, as long as the other person already has the antibodies for that specific type in his or her system. However, as my infectious disease specialist noted, anything is possible when there is highly concentrated virus involved (meaning the fluid in a herpes sore), so, DO NOT HAVE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE DURING A HERPES OUTBREAK. There is the possibility of autoinoculation during an actual outbreak. If you and your girlfriend both have the same type of herpes, no matter the location, then you will likely NOT spread it to each other as a result of viral shedding. However, for this reason, it is very important to know the actual type of herpes you each have. Either Type 1 or Type 2. > According to the National Herpes Hotline, there is very little chance > that an individual will pass herpes on, as long as the other person already > has the antibodies for that specific type in his or her system. > an actual outbreak. If you and your girlfriend both have the > same type of herpes, no matter the location, then you will likely NOT > spread it to each other as a result of viral shedding. However, for You mean if we both have type 1 (which is what a cold sore usually is) then I dont have to worry about oral to genital transmission? I know that even though Type 1 is usually on the mouth, it CAN be transmitted to the genitals. > this reason, it is very important to know the actual type of herpes > you each have. Either Type 1 or Type 2. well, Type 1 is what most people have, which causes Cold Sores, and Type 2 is what people usually think of when they say "Herpes" which is genital. Right? >You mean if we both have type 1 (which is what a cold sore >usually is) then I dont have to worry about oral to genital >transmission? If you've both been infected long enough to build up antibodies against it, then the chances for auto inoculation (spreading it to a new location on yourself) are greatly reduced. Same goes with spreading it to a new location on your girlfriend if she has antibodies to the same type as you. But don't push your luck if an outbreak is present. >I know that even though Type 1 is usually on the mouth, it CAN be >transmitted to the genitals. True. But a current infection causes antibodies which then help protect against new infection in a new location. Lizzy writes: >> this reason, it is very important to know the actual type of herpes >> you each have. Either Type 1 or Type 2. Exactly! Mike again: > well, Type 1 is what most people have, which causes Cold Sores, Right. Also known as Oral Herpes. >and Type 2 is what people usually think of when they say "Herpes" >which is genital. Right? There is a LOT of ignorance and confusion still existing on the subject. Here's the deal: The term "Herpes" can mean either oral or genital. Cold sores, fever blisters, herpes sores, they're all the same thing no matter where they're located. HSV type 1 and HSV type 2 look exactly alike under a microscope. They are two types of the same virus. In recent history, HSV Type 1 has been causing as much as 33% of newly diagnosed genital cases and almost all of newly diagnosed oral cases. Type 2 has been causing only 67% of newly diagnosed genital cases and very few oral cases. So, if people think only of genital and/or only of type 2 when they say "Herpes", they're apparently uninformed. M2 |
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