Can you become resistant to herpes medication? Antiviral resistance explained
Can you become resistant to herpes medication? Antiviral resistance explained
Antiviral treatment with e.g. acyclovir and valaciclovir is common in treating herpes – if you suffer from very frequent or severe outbreaks. But what happens if the medication no longer works? And can you develop resistance to herpes medication?
QUR Herpes Gel
Buy your herpes cream here - Effective and discreet treatment of herpes 1 & 2
Buy here!In this blog post, we take a closer look at what antiviral resistance is, who it can affect, and how you can take responsibility for your treatment and symptom relief – without relying on medication alone.
What is antiviral resistance?
Antiviral resistance occurs when the herpes virus changes genetically, making it less sensitive or completely resistant to antiviral medications like acyclovir. This means that treatment no longer works as expected – and outbreaks become longer or more severe, despite correct use of medication.
Who is at risk of developing resistance?
Antiviral resistance is rare in healthy people, but the risk is increased by:
• Prolonged and repeated use of antiviral agents
• Weakened immune system, e.g. due to HIV, chemotherapy or organ transplantation
• Incorrect dosage or irregular use of the medication
In healthy people with normal immune systems, resistance is seen in less than 1% of cases.
Signs of resistance
• Outbreaks last longer than normal – despite treatment
• Symptoms become worse or more widespread
• There is no or only little effect of medication that you previously benefited from
If suspected, the doctor should take a sample from the wound and test for resistance.
What can you do – with or without medication?
Whether you use antiviral treatment or not, it is important to have good routines for self-care and symptom relief:
• Ensure a healthy lifestyle: sleep, diet, stress management
• Avoid known triggers such as sun, illness and overload
• Respond quickly at the first sign of an outbreak
Many people use a herpes cream for local relief, and QUR herpes gel is a good choice. It is effective, transparent and relieves pain and discomfort during an outbreak. It works regardless of whether you are taking antiviral medication or not.
Conclusion
It is possible – but rare – to become resistant to herpes medication. The risk is greatest for people with weakened immune systems or very frequent medication use. For most people, it is about balancing treatment, care and self-care. Regardless of your situation, a good herpes cream – such as QUR herpes gel – is an important part of your strategy against herpes outbreaks.
QUR Herpes Gel
Buy your herpes cream here - Effective and discreet treatment of herpes 1 & 2
Buy here!