Valacyclovir for the treatment of genital herpes
| Autor: | Karan K. Sra, Stephen K. Tyring, Julie S. Brantley, Lindsey Hicks |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2006 |
| Předmět: |
Microbiology (medical)
medicine.medical_specialty Acyclovir medicine.disease_cause Microbiology Antiviral Agents Herpes Zoster Valacyclovir Hydrochloride Recurrence Virology Drug Resistance Viral medicine Humans Herpes Labialis Herpes Genitalis business.industry Transmission (medicine) virus diseases Famciclovir Valine Dermatology Clinical trial Infectious Diseases Herpes simplex virus Penciclovir Valacyclovir Immunology Guanine nucleoside business medicine.drug |
| Zdroj: | Expert review of anti-infective therapy. 4(3) |
| ISSN: | 1744-8336 |
| Popis: | Genital herpes is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the USA. While sometimes mild in severity, it can be a distressing and painful chronic condition. Likewise, herpes labialis and herpes zoster can be both physically and psychologically painful. While there is no cure for these conditions, treatment to alleviate symptoms, suppress recurrences and reduce transmission has been drastically improved over the past 20 years with the use of guanine nucleoside antivirals, such as valacyclovir hydrochloride (Valtrex), GlaxoSmithKline) the highly bioavailable prodrug of acyclovir (Zovirax((R)), GlaxoSmithKline), and famciclovir (Famvir, Novartis), a highly bioavailable prodrug of penciclovir (Denavir, Novartis). Clinical trials involving approximately 10,000 patients (including patients from nongenital herpes studies, such as herpes zoster) have assessed the safety and efficacy of valacyclovir in the treatment of initial genital herpes outbreaks, episodic treatment of recurrent episodes and daily suppressive therapy. It was shown that valacyclovir has similar efficacy to acyclovir in the episodic and suppressive treatment of genital herpes. Valacyclovir is the only antiviral drug approved for a once-daily dose of suppressive therapy for genital herpes, as well as the only antiviral drug US FDA approved for a 3-day regimen of episodic treatment of recurrent genital herpes. In addition, valacyclovir is also indicated in the reduction of the sexual transmission of herpes simplex virus infection and for the treatment of herpes labialis. In herpes zoster, valacyclovir is more effective than acyclovir or placebo (and as equally effective as famciclovir) in shortening the length and severity of herpes zoster-associated pain and postherpetic neuralgia. Valacyclovir has an acceptable safety profile in patients with herpes simplex and herpes zoster. The less frequent dosing regimen makes it an attractive option in the treatment of genital herpes and other viral infections, and may contribute to increased patient adherence to therapy. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|