Genital herpes online: suppression and outbreak treatment
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Suppressive vs episodic therapy
Suppressive (daily) therapy: valacyclovir 500mg-1g/day, reduces outbreaks by ~80% and transmission to partners by ~50%. Episodic therapy: same medication, taken at the first sign of an outbreak, shortens duration. Choice depends on outbreak frequency and partner status.
Medication options
Acyclovir (oldest, cheapest, 3-5x daily dosing), valacyclovir (preferred, 1-2x daily, $15-30/month generic), famciclovir (similar to valacyclovir, often slightly more expensive). All are well-tolerated, very safe long-term.
Telehealth specifics
Most telehealth platforms handle initial diagnosis (if photo-documented or based on clear history), confirmatory testing referral, suppressive prescriptions, and partner-notification counseling. They typically don't handle severe outbreaks requiring IV antivirals or complicated cases with HIV co-infection.