I take antiviral medication.
How can I get less outbreaks?
If you're taking antiviral medication on most days, chances are your doctor has prescribed you what is known as suppressive or preventative therapy.
Possible reasons why some people take their antiviral medication irregularly include:
- They only take it when they meet a new partner
- They only take it when they're going through a stressful time
- They only take it when they're on holidays so they don't get an outbreak and they can relax more
- They only take it around the time of their monthly period
- They simply forget.
If you are currently getting a lot of outbreaks, it may be better to go back to taking it every day.
Major studies showed that between 4 and 7 out of 10 people who were asked to take suppressive therapy every day experienced no outbreaks over a 1 year period.
If your reason for reducing the number of days you take antiviral medication was that it didn't seem to be stopping outbreaks as well as you would like, then perhaps another antiviral medication might suit you better. Tell your doctor that you want less outbreaks.
Your doctor can provide you with a 'Less Outbreaks Information Kit' and a medication plan that is right for you.