Hi. i am experiencing a herpes outbreak - 1st one in 2 yrs. i work weird hours and probably will not be able to order & pickup a prescription until tomorrow, which will be over 48 hours since initial symptoms, which wouldn't make it very effective. i do h

Probably too late: Sorry to hear about your outbreak. You don't say whether it's oral or genital, but that probably doesn't matter. Unfortunately, you are correct that it's pretty much useless to start anti-herpes treatment more than 2 days after start of an outbreak. unless it is unusually severe, e.g. if new blisters/sores are continuing to appear. At ths point, just keep the area clean and dry.

You know the answer: Effective treatment is 2 grams of valacyclovir AT PRODROME when you are aware of the first tingling warning of impending attack. After 2 days it does not matter what you do. The pills can be very effective, so people learn to always have at least 2 pills handy at all times. Topical creams are so ineffective they are not worth talking about. There are many rediculous claims for nonsense treatments