Herpes is a viral disease caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 causes oral herpes and HSV-2 causes genital herpes. They are incurable but treatable.
Once you get infected by herpes, it remains in your body for life. Signs and symptoms of herpes include painful blisters on the mouth, face, or genitals. Most people with herpes may not know they have it because they are often asymptomatic.
Prescription generic drugs and an over-the-counter antiviral drug can reduce the severity and duration of herpes outbreaks. Common drugs used for the treatment of herpes include herpes virus nucleoside analogues, corticosteroid combinations, and nucleoside analogue antivirals.
Generic Drugs for Herpes
- Docosanol
(Generic Abreva): It is an over-the-counter antiviral therapy cream that
offers relief from oral or genital herpes. Abreva is the only FDA-approved OTC
antiviral medication for herpes. It inhibits the ability of a virus to proliferate
in the body, but it does not completely destroy or eliminate the virus.
Docosanol comes as a cream that you apply directly to the affected part every
three to four hours.
- Valacyclovir
(Generic Valtrex): It is an antiviral drug used for the treatment and
prevention of infections caused by certain types of viruses, including herpes
and shingles. Generic Valtrex is covered by most Medicare and insurance plans,
according to GoodRx. Like docosanol, valacyclovir does not cure the infection
but treats it.
- Acyclovir
(Generic Zovirax): It is a herpes virus nucleoside analogue. Generic
Zovirax is a relatively inexpensive drug and more popular than other drugs.
- Famciclovir
(Generic Famvir): It is also an antiviral medicine used to treat or prevent
infections caused by herpes viruses, including shingles. Unlike all medicines,
Generic Famvir will not cure herpes; it will stop the virus from proliferation.
- Trifluridine
(Generic Viroptic): It is an antiviral medicine used for the treatment of
eye infections caused by herpes.
- Ganciclovir (Generic Zirgan): It is yet another antiviral medication used to treat eye ulcers caused by a herpes virus.
Treatment for cold sores caused by herpes is not needed unless the symptoms persist or get severe. Generally, in such cases, generic acyclovir is used.
Prescription antivirals are typically not recommended for pregnant women or infants under the age of one, according to VeryWell Health.
Oral or topical generic drugs for herpes may be used for children under the age of 12 but under the supervision of a physician. VeryWell Health says the key to successfully treating a herpes outbreak is a timely response. “Treatment should be started within 48 hours of the first appearance of symptoms,” it says.
