Aciclovir genital herpes treatment
"An effective oral treatment for genital herpes. For 5 days you take 1 tablet 3 times a day to help manage outbreaks."
What are aciclovir tablets?
Aciclovir tablets treat genital herpes outbreaks and symptoms, reducing the severity of the blisters caused by the virus.
If you’ve previously been diagnosed with genital herpes, you can let our clinicians know if you’d prefer a single or double course of treatment.
How does it work?
Aciclovir, sometimes spelt acyclovir, is an antiviral medicine. It works to prevent the herpes virus from multiplying, reducing the severity of an infection.
While no treatment can fully cure herpes, you can manage outbreaks to make them shorter and less uncomfortable.
How to use aciclovir tablets
You should start taking aciclovir at the first signs of an outbreak:
- The dose is 1 tablet 3 times a day for 5 days.
- Take aciclovir with or without food but drink plenty of water or other fluids.
- Make sure you complete the course of herpes aciclovir treatment.
Treatment results
Aciclovir is prescribed for acute outbreaks of genital herpes only.
If you start treatment within 5 days of the start of an outbreak, you can shorten your outbreak by 1-2 days and get less severe symptoms. If taken early enough, aciclovir may even prevent an outbreak.
As there’s no cure for herpes, it may return. This genital herpes treatment doesn’t affect how often you get future outbreaks, or their severity. However, you could consider herpes suppression as a long-term way to minimise the inconvenience and discomfort of outbreaks.
Side effects of herpes suppression treatment
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects when using aciclovir. However, these are generally mild and should pass quickly.
In a small number of people, aciclovir tablets used for treating herpes may cause:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pains
- Tiredness
- Itching
- Rash
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the aciclovir patient information leaflet. And if you’re worried about side effects, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
Product features
An effective antiviral tablet
Reduces the severity of a genital herpes outbreak within 1-2 days
Contains the active ingredient aciclovir
What are aciclovir tablets?
Aciclovir tablets treat genital herpes outbreaks and symptoms, reducing the severity of the blisters caused by the virus.
If you’ve previously been diagnosed with genital herpes, you can let our clinicians know if you’d prefer a single or double course of treatment.
How does it work?
Aciclovir, sometimes spelt acyclovir, is an antiviral medicine. It works to prevent the herpes virus from multiplying, reducing the severity of an infection.
While no treatment can fully cure herpes, you can manage outbreaks to make them shorter and less uncomfortable.
How to use aciclovir tablets
You should start taking aciclovir at the first signs of an outbreak:
- The dose is 1 tablet 3 times a day for 5 days.
- Take aciclovir with or without food but drink plenty of water or other fluids.
- Make sure you complete the course of herpes aciclovir treatment.
Treatment results
Aciclovir is prescribed for acute outbreaks of genital herpes only.
If you start treatment within 5 days of the start of an outbreak, you can shorten your outbreak by 1-2 days and get less severe symptoms. If taken early enough, aciclovir may even prevent an outbreak.
As there’s no cure for herpes, it may return. This genital herpes treatment doesn’t affect how often you get future outbreaks, or their severity. However, you could consider herpes suppression as a long-term way to minimise the inconvenience and discomfort of outbreaks.
Side effects of herpes suppression treatment
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects when using aciclovir. However, these are generally mild and should pass quickly.
In a small number of people, aciclovir tablets used for treating herpes may cause:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pains
- Tiredness
- Itching
- Rash
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the aciclovir patient information leaflet. And if you’re worried about side effects, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
Select a medication and complete our simple, confidential online consultation
A clinician will review your answers and, if suitable, prescribe treatment
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Aciclovir genital herpes treatment FAQs
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Who should not take aciclovir?
You should talk to your clinician before taking aciclovir tablets if:
- You’re allergic to any of its ingredients
- You have kidney problems
- How to prevent genital herpes?
You can help reduce the risk of giving your partner herpes by taking the right treatment and using condoms. Note that condoms are a lot more effective at preventing male to female infections than female to male ones.
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Where can I buy aciclovir?
You can’t get aciclovir over the counter. You’ll need a prescription to buy it, even if you’re using an online service.
One of our clinicians can prescribe it after a short online consultation where you confirm you’ve tested positive for genital herpes.
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Can I buy aciclovir online?
Our clinicians can prescribe aciclovir online, once they’ve made sure it’s right for you. First, you’ll need to answer a few simple questions, during a confidential online consultation.
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Taking other medicines when taking aciclovir
So, our clinicians can prescribe aciclovir safely, you’ll need to let us know which prescription, over-the-counter medicines and any recreational drugs you’re taking regularly. Medications that may be most likely to react with aciclovir include:
- Probenecid, which is used to treat gout
- Cimetidine, a stomach ulcer treatment
- Mycophenolate mofetil, commonly prescribed to stop your body rejecting transplanted organs
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Alternative treatments for genital herpes
Alongside aciclovir tablets, our clinicians can prescribe a local anaesthetic gel called Instillagel. Its numbing action can help to reduce the pain and irritation of genital herpes outbreaks, while aciclovir works to reduce their severity.
If you have 6 or more genital herpes outbreaks in a year, the best treatment for you may be herpes suppression therapy. Our clinicians can prescribe it online or your GP may recommend this treatment.
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Does genital herpes come back after treatment?
While you can’t cure genital herpes, it can be managed with medications like aciclovir and Instillagel as and when symptoms flare up.
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