A comprehensive overview of Famvir - By: Tom Howarth

Famvir is one of the two most commonly prescribed medicines for the treatment of herpes zoster or shingles. Clinical tests have showed that this drug can give you quick relief from the symptoms of shingles. It is also used for the treatment of genital herpes and cold sores. It is the only medicine which can prevent or reduce the frequency of genital herpes outbreaks with just a single day of treatment. Famvir famciclovir tablets can also help reduce the pain caused by cold sores. To get relief from herpes and cold sores, you should take this medicine as soon as the symptoms appear. For the treatment of shingles, do not delay by more than 72 hours from the onset of rashes.

Fighting the herpes simplex virus with Famvir famciclovir tablets

The virus that causes genital herpes, cold sores and shingles is called the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Famvir tablets can effectively stop a full-blown herpes outbreak if taken immediately after spotting the first signs of herpes. Its active ingredient famciclovir changes to penciclovir on entering your body. Penciclovir stops the multiplication of the infected cells, which, in turn, prevents the herpes virus from affecting the healthy cells.

Keep Famvir handy to quickly subdue a possible future outbreak

Genital herpes can recur in future. The herpes simplex virus stays inside the body once it enters it. Antiviral medicines such as Famvir famciclovir can only suppress the virus and keep it in an inactive state. But there is no guarantee that it will forever remain dormant. So it is always better to keep the drug handy just in case there is another herpes outbreak.

Dosage of Famvir

Famvir comes in doses of 125mg, 250mg and 500mg. The strongest dose is known as the single-day Famvir, which can stop an outbreak or quickly reduce the severity of herpes symptoms. Take 2 pills in a day as soon as you feel the symptoms coming. In case you suffer from recurrent outbreaks, your doctor may adjust the dosing schedule and ask you to continue taking Famvir famciclovir pills for up to a year. It can reduce the number of outbreaks. The right dosing schedule is to be decided by your doctor only. The effectiveness of Famvir depends on your immunity and natural defence mechanism. It may take longer than usual to find relief from the symptoms of herpes if your immune system is not healthy.

For HIV patients

The 500mg dose of Famvir can prevent recurrent herpes outbreaks in adult people infected with HIV. The commonly prescribed dosing schedule is 2 tablets a day for 7 days.

Side effects

The most commonly reported side effects of Famvir include nausea, diarrhoea and headache. But these side effects usually go away quickly without causing much distress. In case any side effect bothers you for too long, seek your doctor's advice immediately.

For pregnant and breastfeeding women

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor regarding the risks and benefits of using Famvir. The same goes for breastfeeding women.

About the Author

Tom - Health Adviser and Webmaster of online health clinic Meds4all.co.uk. He has written many articles on genital herpes symptoms and Valtrex and Famvir for herpes treatment. Famvir Online can be got from an online pharmacy over internet

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