Famciclovir is a prescription medication that has been on the market since 1994. It was developed for the treatment of herpes, one of the most widespread viruses in the world. It is effective at treating the symptoms of the lesions that appear in a variety of different types of Herpes, including herpes simplex virus one, which produces cold sores, herpes simplex virus two, which produces genital sores.

Famciclovir is also used often as a treatment for the symptoms of chicken pox and shingles, which are caused by another variety of herpes known as herpes zoster. Chicken pox is a common childhood illness that causes a rash of itchy lesions that spread across the body and can cause scarring, while shingles tends to afflict older people who had chicken pox as children. It is known as being extremely painful. It is  important to remember that although Famciclovir is extremely effective at treating the painful, embarrassing and uncomfortable symptoms of herpes, it will not cure the disease.

What is Famciclovir?

Famciclovir is an antiviral drug that is available with a prescription from your doctor. It works by preventing the DNA within the virus from reproducing itself. Viruses work by constantly replicating, and the herpes virus is extremely contagious. Although Famciclovir cannot cure Herpes, it is an extremely effective method of treating the symptoms of the virus. Famciclovir is what is known as a prodrug – it delivers another medication called acyclovir to the cells that have been impacted by the virus and helps it to do its job more effectively. Taking Famciclovir allows you to take medication much less frequently then if you use Acyclovir, and helps the medication last longer.

If you are suffering from an outbreak of herpes lesions, regardless of whether it is an outbreak of shingles, genital herpes or cold sores, you will find that you are experiencing a reduction of pain and itching and your lesions will heal more quickly. Famciclovir can also prevent an outbreak when taken regularly by those who have recurrent outbreaks, and can help patients who suffer from immune deficiencies from suffering from unmitigated spread of the virus to other parts of their body.

Taking Famciclovir

Famciclovir is available through a pharmacy when you have a prescription from your physician. It is taken as a tablet that is sold under the brand name Famvir, and different dosages are prescribed based upon which of the herpes varieties you have been diagnosed with. Children’s dosages are based upon the weight of the child, and much of the decision about dosage is based upon whether an outbreak is a first time
instance or whether you are being treated for a recurring condition. Many patients who experience recurring outbreaks are given dosages to keep on hand so that as soon as symptoms make themselves known they can begin the treatment as quickly as possible.

Side Effects

Some people experience side effects when they take Famciclovir – the most common of these are stomach problems such as nausea, stomach discomfort and vomiting. Others indicate that they frequently experience headaches when they take the disease, but that those side effects can be prevented or countered by drinking plenty of water while taking the medication or taking pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Increasing Famciclovir’s Effectiveness

Famciclovir has been shown to help people who have herpes in a number of ways. It can prevent the sores and lesions from occurring in patients who have been shown to suffer from chronic conditions. It can alleviate the pain, burning and itching of a first time outbreak and reduce the length of time that a patient is suffering from the symptoms of the disease. It also helps to heal the lesions themselves. In order to help the medication help you, it is important that you contact your doctor at the very first sign of an outbreak, because the earlier you get the medicine into your system, the more quickly it can start working and the more it will limit the scope of the outbreak. It is also important that you take the medication at regular intervals, as the more steady the dose that you have in your body, the more effectively the medication can have an impact.

Patient Reviews of Famciclovir

One of the best ways to judge whether Famciclovir is the right medication for you is to discuss the pluses and minuses with your physician, but it may be helpful to get a sense for what the experiences of other herpes sufferers have been when taking it. Many patients have reported that taking a single 1500 mg dose of Famciclovir upon first sensing that an outbreak was about to occur effectively stopped the virus in its tracks so that no lesions actually occurred. Others who were not able to get onto the medication until lesions had started to appear have indicated that the outbreak was stopped in a day or so, while those who have suffered previously from painful outbreaks of shingles, which usually last for weeks, have had their symptoms disappear in just a few days. Although some patients suffered from side effects that were severe enough to make them stop taking the medication, most felt that the medication had made an enormous difference in the quality of  their lives.