Two-day treatment course for genital herpes
A new two-day course of famciclovir (available in Australia as Famvir) has been licensed for treating outbreaks of genital herpes. The new course consists of a single 500mg dose, followed by three doses of 250mg.
Stella Heley, Sexual Health Physician at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre believes this new approach to treating genital herpes may lead to greater compliance by patients, and ultimately better management of the virus.
“Current antiviral treatment options available for recurrent genital herpes involve courses for up to five days, which many patients forget to take. Taking a higher initial dose (500mg) of famciclovir when symptoms first appear, followed by 250 mg 12-hourly for three doses, has been shown to be an effective and safe regimen, and is more convenient for patients.”
The largest study on famciclovir in the world—conducted primarily in Australia—found that a 2-day famciclovir (1,250 mg over 2 days) regimen is equivalent to the 5-day (1,250 mg over 5 days) regimen in the treatment of adult patients with recurrent genital herpes. The FaST (Famciclovir Short-Course Therapy) study was the largest study ever conducted with famciclovir in genital herpes worldwide. 873 patients were enrolled in the study at 59 sites in Australia and seven in Canada. The study compared the standard dose of famciclovir (125mg bd for 5 days) with a new 2-day regimen, looking at lesion healing, symptom improvement, the impact on daily living (functioning), and safety.
Chair of the Australian Herpes Management Forum (AHMF) and Professor of Sexual Health Medicine at the University of Sydney, Adrian Mindel, says “The availability of a shorter course of herpes treatment is a welcome option for patients. People with herpes can now treat the symptoms quickly and effectively.”
The new famciclovir course will be available under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), meaning that the cost is subsidised and limited to approximately $30 for patients with moderate to severe genital herpes (significantly cheaper for patients with Health Care Cards).
The PBS allows doctors to prescribe twenty 250mg tablets, with a repeat prescription. This will provide effective treatment for up to eight outbreaks of herpes.
