A Randomized, Cross-Over Study to Evaluate the Suppressive Effect of High-Dose Acyclovir Versus Once Daily Valacyclovir on Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Genital Shedding in Herpes Simplex Virus-2 Seropositive Adults

Detailed Summary

The purpose of the research study is to evaluate the effectiveness of high-dose acyclovir compared to valacyclovir for reduction of asymptomatic genital shedding in persons with genital herpes. The study will enroll men and women who are 18 years or older, test positive to HSV-2 (by blood test) and have had a first outbreak of HSV-2 within the past 6 months or have had at least 4 genital herpes outbreaks in the past year. Participants must be HIV negative and willing to stop taking suppressive therapy for HSV for the one week wash out period. (Females only: You must not be pregnant or breast-feeding). Both men and women will be asked to use an effective form of birth control. Involvement in the study will last 15-weeks and you will be asked to visit the clinic every 2-weeks. At each visit, you will be given medication to take daily (either valacyclovir or acyclovir; you will receive both medications at some point during this study). There will be a total of 9 study visits and each visit will last approximately 30 minutes. We will ask that you complete a daily symptom diary and collected daily home swabs 4-times a day, everyday during the study. Each daily home swab will take less than 3 minutes to perform.

Study Details

Timeline

Interventions