title: Valacyclovir for episodic treatment of genital herpes: a shorter 3-day treatment course compared with 5-day treatment.
abstract: Valacyclovir given in a 5-day regimen of 500 mg twice per day is effective as short-term treatment of episodes of recurrent genital herpes. This study compared the efficacy of a shorter, 3-day course (for 402 patients) with that of a 5-day course (for 398 patients) of valacyclovir for persons with frequent recurrence of symptoms. No significant differences were detected between the 2 dosing schedules for any of the end points measured. Median times to lesion healing, of pain duration, and of episode length for the 5-day versus 3-day treatment were 4.7 versus 4.4 days, 2.5 days versus 2.9 days, and 4.4 days versus 4.3 days, respectively. The proportions of patients with aborted lesions were 26.6% and 25.4% in the 5-day and 3-day groups, respectively. A 3-day course of 500 mg of valacyclovir administered twice daily as episodic treatment of recurrent genital herpes is equivalent to a 5-day course with regard to key markers of efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA. pal007@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trottier
authors.forename: J Mitchell
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir