Aciclovir
Genital herpes treatment
Don’t pay if we can’t help.
Aciclovir antiviral tablets for episodic or suppressive treatment.
Take photos of your symptoms at home.
What happens next
Order online
Upload photos of your symptoms and answer a few questions about your health. Our clinicians will review your photos and if we can help, they’ll prescribe treatment.
Free discreet delivery
Delivery is included. Your order will be delivered in plain packaging by 1st Class post. We'll send you updates by text message.
Treat at home
Follow our simple instructions and take care of your outbreak.
Clinical support by text
Get support from our specialist clinicians at any time. Reply to one of our texts to ask a question. We’re here to help.
Treating genital herpes
How to take herpes treatment
Episodic treatment
If you choose treatment for an active outbreak of herpes, this is known as episodic treatment.
For episodic treatment, start taking aciclovir as soon as you notice the signs of an outbreak.
Take 1 tablet 3 times a day. Do this for 2 days.
Take the tablets with or without food. Drink plenty of water while taking this medication.
Suppressive treatment
If you’re taking treatment to reduce the number of outbreaks you experience, this is called suppressive treatment.
For suppressive treatment, take 1 tablet twice a day for 6 months.
Space out your tablets through the day, so there’s about 12 hours between doses.
After 6 months stop taking the medication. Wait to see if you have any more outbreaks of herpes. If you have another 2 outbreaks of visible herpes, contact us or go to your local sexual health clinic.
Take the tablets with or without food. Drink plenty of water while taking this medication.
How can I stop genital herpes outbreaks?
There is no cure for herpes. The symptoms will clear up but you might get another outbreak in the future. After the first outbreak, the symptoms are usually milder. And over time, the outbreaks will happen less often.
If you’re having many outbreaks - and have needed treatment for over 6 in a year (12 months) - you could benefit from trying suppressive treatment. This means taking an antiviral medication like aciclovir every day for 6 months. Suppressive treatment can reduce your outbreaks or stop them entirely.
How can I manage herpes symptoms?
Even though herpes outbreaks can clear up by themselves, they can be painful and uncomfortable. Treatment can heal the sores in a few days, but if you need relief from pain or itching there are some things you can do at home.
What are the side effects of aciclovir?
Aciclovir is not suitable for everyone, when you order you must tell us if:
you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding
you’re over 65 years old
you have any kidney problems
The most serious health risk when taking aciclovir is having an allergic reaction to the medication. If you have any sign of an allergic reaction, stop taking the tablets and see a doctor straightaway.
Common side effects include headaches, dizziness, and feeling or being sick. You might also experience pain in your abdomen, diarrhoea, tiredness, high temperature or skin reaction.
If any of these side effects bother you, talk to the doctor who prescribed this medication. If your treatment came from Fettle, contact our clinical team by replying to any of our text messages.
Talking to your partner about genital herpes
Telling the people you have sex with about your herpes diagnosis might be nerve-wracking. But if you’re informed about the virus and prepared for any questions they could have, the conversation can go smoothly.
Herpes is very common. In the UK, about 7 out of 10 people have got the virus by the age of 25. And because it does not always show symptoms or cause outbreaks, most people will have herpes and not know about it. By knowing your status, using treatment and talking to your partners, you’re taking responsibility for your health and taking care of the people you have sex with.
Do you need help with something else?
Find your local sexual health clinic.
Find your local pharmacy.
