Antivirals?

[Alisonbr]

Why do some people take them all the time? Why do some chose not to take them all the time ? Side effects of taking them or not taking them? Taking them only during outbreaks or just never? What alternative meds/ vitamins help someone with herpes symptoms and to keep it at bay ....

[Michgirl73]

I take antivirals because I was emotional not in a good place. I found out I got ghsv1 from my ex bf who knew he had it but failed to let me know, then dumped me and 2 weeks later. I have been very emotional dealing with this. My doctor put me on them only because of stress of dealing with this. My doctor said it will help to stop the ob since my stress levels were so high. My doctor also put me on folic acid prescription. I also take lysine, zinc, vitamins C, multivitamins. I read that those supplements can help keep your immune system up thus helping with ob. I am curious the long term effects of the antivirals though, my doctor wants to take me off after a year of being on them. I’m not in a relationship currently or having sex since I found out about my this since July this year. 

[Elle27]

11 hours ago, Alisonbr said:

Why do some people take them all the time? Why do some chose not to take them all the time ? Side effects of taking them or not taking them? Taking them only during outbreaks or just never? What alternative meds/ vitamins help someone with herpes symptoms and to keep it at bay ....

Some people take them all the time to prevent less likelihood of passing to a partner that is herpes negative. Other people take them to reduce number of outbreaks if you have a lot of outbreaks, and decrease the duration that they last. Everyone is different and if it’s a new infection you might want to wait to see how often you have outbreaks before you decide on what you want to do. Has your boyfriend been tested? 

 

Long term use can cause issues with your liver and be less effective over time and some people just don’t want to be on prescription meds long term. 

[Michgirl73]

1 hour ago, Elle27 said:

Some people take them all the time to prevent less likelihood of passing to a partner that is herpes negative. Other people take them to reduce number of outbreaks if you have a lot of outbreaks, and decrease the duration that they last. Everyone is different and if it’s a new infection you might want to wait to see how often you have outbreaks before you decide on what you want to do. Has your boyfriend been tested? 

 

Long term use can cause issues with your liver and be less effective over time and some people just don’t want to be on prescription meds long term. 

My doctor wanted me be on antivirals for at least a year because my emotional state of dealing with this and it can cause more outbreaks.  Does that sound normal?

[Elle27]

Do outbreaks give you anxiety or make you depressed? Or pending outbreaks? Do you worry about passing herpes to a partner? Does being on antivirals make you feel better about your diagnosis? If it gives you peace of mind then I say go for it, but it’s not a “label” treatment of the medication. 

[Michgirl73]

3 hours ago, Elle27 said:

Do outbreaks give you anxiety or make you depressed? Or pending outbreaks? Do you worry about passing herpes to a partner? Does being on antivirals make you feel better about your diagnosis? If it gives you peace of mind then I say go for it, but it’s not a “label” treatment of the medication. 

Yes I think the outbreak give me anxiety. I’m scared that they will get bad and hurt and spread. It also makes me extremely sad because it’s hard dealing with the physical pain and emotional pain dealing with how I was infected. I currently don’t have a partner. I’m sure I will worry if that day come passing it. I’m currently on antivirals because it help stop outbreaks from happening is what my doctor told me and from what I have read. Getting peace of mind isn’t easy for me these days since dealing with this.. it’s been so traumatizing to me that I feel I had changed forever. 

[Elle27]

I think that if it’s beneficial for you to be on them to keep your mental health positive then that’s a great thing and that’s what works for you!