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Several studies have documented the efficacy of long- term therapy in suppressing genital herpes in immunocompetent hosts, but similar therapy for labial herpes has not been tested in controlled trials. This randomized crossover trial examined the benefit of suppressive oral acyclovir (400 mg twice a day) in 22 healthy patients reporting at least six episodes of labial herpes per year.
All patients received acyclovir or placebo for 4 months, then were switched to the opposite treatment for 4 months. Clinical recurrences were reduced significantly during acyclovir treatment, from a mean of 1.8 to 0.85 episodes per patient per 4-month period. The median time to a first recurrence increased from 46 to 118 days during treatment with acyclovir. T…