Steroids ALONE are very bad by doing variosu thing to enhance HSV
activity, but as usual the entire detailed story gets greyer in the
middle..

Getting the initial primary dat on this phenomenon isnt easy as where the
computerised databases start the observation is already well established
that steroids and herpes dont really mix....papers from the 70s like
these are already discussing in detail and in review - including
mechanisms...the big ones to watch are the anti-inflammatory steroids
(rememeber there are more than one group of molecules that get classed as
steroids and they have different mechanisms as well)

Easty DL, Carter C.
Mechanisms of resistance and hypersensitivity in herpes simplex keratitis.
Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1979 Apr;99(1):126-33. Review.
Persistence, reactivation, and cell transformation by human herpeviruses:
herpes simplex 1, 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2), cytomegalovirus (CMV),
varicella-zoster (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
Can J Microbiol. 1979 Mar;25(3):254-60. Review. No abstract available.
     Cooper JA Jr, Daniels CA, Trofatter EF Jr
The effect of prednisolone on antibody-dependent cell-mediated
cytotoxicity and the growth of type I herpes simplex virus in human cells.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1978 Apr;17(4):381-5.
Weinstein BI, Schwartz J, Gordon GG, Dominguez MO, Varma S, Dunn MW,
Southren AL.
Characterization of a glucocorticoid receptor and the direct effect of
dexamethasone on herpes simplex virus infection of rabbit corneal cells in
culture.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1982 Nov;23(5):651-9.

Here's one that looks at possible mechanisms in detail...obviously a bit
artificial being culture but you pull all sorts out of such areas.
Erlandsson AC, Bladh LG, Stierna P, Yucel-Lindberg T, Hammarsten O, Modeer
T, Harmenberg J, Wikstrom AC.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 infection and glucocorticoid treatment
regulate viral yield, glucocorticoid receptor and NF-kappaB levels.
J Endocrinol. 2002 Oct;175(1):165-76.

THey could have further reaching effects than simply on the person treated
if this animal study holds up in humans as well.
Yorty JL, Schultz SA, Bonneau RH
Postpartum maternal corticosterone decreases maternal and neonatal
antibody levels and increases the susceptibility of newborn mice to herpes
simplex virus-associated mortality.
J Neuroimmunol. 2004 May;150(1-2):48-58.

However, grey area time, steroids in combination with an antiviral will
work - there is a very nice drug combo called ME-609 being worked up that
takes advantage of that.

Harmenberg JG, Awan AR, Alenius S, Stahle L, Erlandsson AC, Lekare G,
Flink O, Augustsson E, Larsson T, Wikstrom AC, Stierna P, Field HJ,
Larsson AG, Oberg B.
ME-609: a treatment for recurrent herpes simplex virus infections.
Antivir Chem Chemother. 2003 Jul;14(4):205-15.

Mixing and matching the combination correctly was hoever a very big
project so its not simply a matter of down a few acyclovir when you whack
cortisone cream on or even mixing two creams together and so self
experimentation is going to carry big risks of getting it wrong.

This paper is a case report - it actually looks primarily at one of the
rare cases of drug resistant strains in an immunocompetent person, but
does imply that the steroids may not have helped the situation...
Kriesel JD, Spruance SL, Prichard M, Parker JN, Kern ER.
Recurrent antiviral-resistant genital herpes in an immunocompetent
patient.
J Infect Dis. 2005 Jul 1;192(1):156-61. Epub 2005 May 27.

Tim
--
When playing rugby, its not the winning that counts, but the taking apart
ICQ: 5178568

I don't know...she just takes if when she is having a big outbreak. Now
she's getting back to back small ones and guess what? Now I am getting
another one! I should stop eating chocolate and coffee though and thats
something that I have alot of.

It's a super slippery liquid stuff in a bottle. On the shelf, the
bottle is in a purple colored box. Usually near the condoms.

Good ol' Walmart for one. It's probably sold in many other pharmacies
as well.
Just for giggles, take your girlfriend through the Walmart line on a
busy day with the Astroglide, a box of condoms, a bottle of Zovirax, a
50' length of braided rope, a can of redi-whip, and a number of
assorted fresh vegetables  ;-)

M2

Tom,

You should use lube ALL the time, EVERY time.  That will cut down on the
friction and help avoid outbreaks - if friction is a contributing factor.

Astroglide...get it at the drugstore.

ar

Having sex during an outbreak is not a very wise thing to do.. in my honest
opinion.

Angela :)