DrugIndicationDosageSide effectsCost (generic)*
Oral agents
Acyclovir (Zovirax)Initial genital herpes infection200 mg five times daily for 10 daysNausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, vertigo, myalgia, rash, renal failure, CNS changes100 capsules at 200 mg: $140 ($98 to $112)
Episodic genital herpes200 mg five times daily for five days
Genital herpes suppression400 mg twice daily for up to 12 months
Episodic orolabial herpes15 mg per kg five times daily for seven days†
Herpes zoster800 mg five times daily for seven to 10 days100 tablets at 800 mg: $528 ($367 to $422)
Famciclovir (Famvir)Initial genital herpes infection250 mg twice daily for seven to 10 days‡Headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, paresthesias, pruritus30 tablets at 250 mg: $110
Episodic genital herpes125 mg twice daily for five days30 tablets at 125 mg: $101
Genital herpes suppression250 mg twice daily for up to 12 months
Herpes zoster500 mg every eight hours for seven days30 tablets at 500 mg: $221
Valacyclovir (Valtrex)Initial genital herpes infection1 g twice daily for 10 daysNausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness21 tablets at 1 g: $130
Episodic genital herpes500 mg twice daily for three days42 tablets at 500 mg: $162
Genital herpes suppression500 mg or 1 g daily for up to one year §
Episodic orolabial herpes2 g twice daily for one day
Herpes zoster1 g three times daily for seven days
Topical agents
Acyclovir (Zovirax)Initial genital herpes infectionApply six times daily for seven daysPain, pruritus15-g tube: $75
3-g tube: $20
Penciclovir (Denavir)Episodic orolabial herpesApply every two hours while awake for four daysHeadache, skin irritation1.5-g tube: $24
Docosanol (Abreva)Episodic orolabial herpesApply five times daily until healedHeadache, reaction at site2-g tube: $14