Famciclovir for the treatment of acute herpes zoster: effects on acute disease and postherpetic neuralgia
Article Abstract:
Treatment with famciclovir may significantly reduce the pain and recovery time for patients with herpes zoster (shingles). Shingles is a painful viral infection that results in surface skin sores that follow a major underlying nerve. Researchers divided 419 patients with shingles into three treatment groups. One group took three 500 milligram doses of famciclovir a day, one group took three 750 milligram doses a day, and the third group took a placebo. Pain resolved up to 2.6 times faster in the two groups receiving famciclovir as compared to those taking placebo. This corresponded to an approximate two-month reduction in recovery time. Both groups given famciclovir reported similar results. Patients tolerated the drug well. The only side effects reported were headache and nausea.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1995
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Famciclovir for the suppression of symptomatic and asymptomatic herpes simplex virus reactivation in HIV-infected persons: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Article Abstract:
Famciclovir appears to significantly reduce the symptoms and virus levels associated with herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections among HIV-positive patients. Daily HSV levels in oral and genital tissue areas and patient-reported symptoms were compared for 48 HIV- and HSV-positive patients during eight weeks of famciclovir treatment and eight weeks of placebo treatment. The percentage of days with HSV-positive samples was 9.7% while taking placebo but 1.3% while taking famciclovir. Nearly 14% more patients reported viral symptoms while taking placebo compared to during famciclovir treatment.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1998
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Clinical Reactivation of Genital Herpes Simplex Virus Infection Decreases in Frequency over Time
Article Abstract:
Herpes simplex virus type 2 infection is a chronic remitting illness, but over time, a majority of patients report a significant reduction in the frequency of outbreaks. A 14-month or more observation was made of 664 patients with genital herpes. The patients were grouped according to their having initial or recurrent HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. The recurrent outbreaks reported by the patients as well as those observed were recorded in a database and an analysis made of the more than 12,000 recurrences. A definite decrease in frequency was noted.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1999
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