Hey everyone! I have a question that might sound silly, but can valacyclovir be used as a prophylactic? For instance, if I’m planning to be intimate next week, would starting a 500mg daily dose three days in advance prevent transmission? I’m aware sex should be avoided during active outbreaks; I’m specifically asking about asymptomatic shedding. Also, is it safe or beneficial for an HSV-negative partner to use valacyclovir or lysine? I intend to consult my physician, but I’m curious about your experiences. I was diagnosed with GHSV-1 a few months back; I contracted it from someone who claimed they didn’t know, even though we always used protection. I might have a new partner soon who is understanding of my status, and I want to minimize the risk of passing it on, given my history. I hoped I’d never have another flare-up, but I had one last week that was so subtle I only noticed it after taking a photo. It’s clear I could easily miss an outbreak, and checking constantly feels exhausting. While I won’t always know when sex will happen in a relationship, this current situation is casual enough that I can plan ahead with medication. Thanks for any advice! TLDR: Diagnosed with GHSV-1 recently and want to lower transmission risk. If I expect to have sex soon, will starting 500mg of valacyclovir a few days prior help? Is it safe or useful for the uninfected partner to take it or lysine as a precaution?
I’ve been wondering about this too. I was diagnosed just a month ago and I’d prefer not to take valacyclovir every day, only temporarily when I’m planning to be active.
Daily antivirals can definitely be used for prevention. They usually take around a week to become fully effective. While they significantly lower shedding, it doesn’t stop it entirely. Combining antivirals with condoms makes the transmission risk very minimal. However, there’s no benefit to your negative partner taking the medication.
As mentioned, it helps lower shedding and can make outbreaks shorter. For maximum safety, it’s best to wait roughly two weeks after an outbreak has fully healed. Your partner taking antivirals won’t help; they only work if the virus is already present. If they worked for prevention in negative people, everyone would be on them!
I believe the medication reaches its peak preventative efficacy after five days of consistent use. It isn’t a perfect solution, though. I actually had to stop taking it due to some side effects.