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Herpes Treatment With Interferon and Ribavirin

Herpes simplex is an incurable viral infection that is often sexually transmitted, but can also spread through direct contact with the cold sores characteristic of the disease. Ribavirin is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent that has demonstrated activity against herpes simplex in some past studies, and seems to demonstrate better activity in combination with interferon treatment. Generally, however, doctors prescribe other, more effective drugs to treat herpes simplex.

  1. Herpex simplex

    • The herpes simplex virus is a large, double-stranded DNA virus that can infect human nerve cells. The virus is often sexually transmitted, although it can also spread from contact with cold sores or from skin-to-skin contact with someone shedding the virus. Using a condom is one of the most effective methods to reduce your risk of acquiring this infection. The virus can intermittently become latent and lie dormant in infected cells, sometimes for a long period of time, before becoming active again. There is at present no cure for herpes simplex.

    Ribavirin

    • Ribavirin is an antiviral drug. Its molecular structure resembles that of adenosine or guanine, building blocks that cells use to make RNA. When RNA viruses replicate, the ribavirin may be incorporated into the RNA in place of adenosine or guanine, causing mutations that disable the RNA virus. Ribavirin also acts on DNA viruses; it's still not clear how it does so, although several different mechanisms have been proposed. Side effects of ribavirin include anemia and liver problems, fatigue, nausea and appetite loss.

    Interferon

    • Interferons are proteins some of the cells in your body make in response to viral infections. Interferons released by infected cells can warn other nearby cells and help to trigger immune responses that fight the infection. Some viruses, including the herpes virus, seem to have evolved varying levels of resistance to interferon. A number of past studies have found that administering interferon alpha in conjunction with other drugs can be helpful in treating conditions, such as hepatitis C and B. The side effects of interferons often resemble the effects of the flu, including diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain.

    Interferon and Ribavirin

    • Interferon alpha and ribavirin are approved for the treatment of hepatitis C and, indeed, are a standard treatment for hepatitis C in cases where they are not contraindicated. Past studies, such as a 1986 article in the European Journal of Epidemiology, demonstrated that ribavirin was useful in the management of herpes, and that combining ribavirin and interferon provides better results; today, however, there are other, more effective treatments.

    Treatment for Herpes Simplex

    • Antivirals prescribed to treat herpes simplex include acyclovir, famciclovir and valacyclovir. None of these drugs cures the disease, but they help to reduce the severity of your symptoms and lower the chance you will transmit the virus. These drugs are more likely to give you a good result than ribavirin/interferon, which are generally used to treat hepatitis C, not herpes. However, if you have any questions about the right treatment for your condition, the best person to consult is your doctor.

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