If someone has herpes do they have to take medicine the rest of their life to prevent outbreaks?

No: Some people never, or almost never, have outbreaks. With oral herpes, people don't take preventive antiviral medication unless their outbreaks are frequent or are big ones, when they happen. If a person has outbreaks of genital herpes, she may consider taking a lifetime of medication. That is why an important goal in life is to never catch genital herpes, as there is no cure.