Health issues abroad

June 14, 2012 11:56 PM

I am having my second herpes outbreak in a foreign country.

I'm currently in Europe and having my second herpes outbreak. I'll be traveling by train tomorrow, then back to the US on Sunday. I don't want to ask to see a doctor. I am on a busuness trip so with colleagues How can I minimize discomfort and stop freaking out until I get home?

I have already asked my partner to pick up my acyclovir so I can start it when I get home. I am about 85% sure this is an outbreak. I am not super uncomfortable yet but I'm really, really anxious and upset (stress probably brought it on in the first place).

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

See if you can talk to a pharmacist (or whatever the equivalent is in your current country). In Ireland at least you can buy acyclovir for your face etc (zovirax) over the counter in a pharmacy, although I'm not sure how it would work if you're having problems with genital herpes instead. In my experience, Ireland is very restrictive about what is sold without prescription so chances are you get get similar things elsewhere in Europe.

L-lysine may reduce herpes replication as well, although it's not as good as acyclovir, and a supplement of that might be easier to get hold of. Even if it doesn't work you're unlikely to be worse off.

I get the sores right next to my mouth and they feel so visible and nasty, so I know how horrible this can be. Good luck getting on top of it!
posted by shelleycat at 12:53 AM on June 15, 2012

Same here in NL -- acyclovir cream available OTC
Good luck
posted by gijsvs at 1:16 AM on June 15, 2012

In Italy you can just go ask the pharmacist for things like that. They keep it behind the counter but you don't need a prescription, you just walk up to the counter and tell them that you're a traveler and that you need it. Good luck.
posted by feets at 1:24 AM on June 15, 2012

Whether or not you're able to get some acyclovir abroad, hopefully it helps to know that successive herpes outbreaks are much less severe than the first one; you may be surprised by how mild this outbreak is and how little it interferes with your travel.
posted by jesourie at 2:06 AM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

I was in France, ran out of a scrip that is not an over the counter drug, went into pharmacy and asked for help, the guy sold me what I needed no problem. You might get just that lucky too; I hope so.
posted by dancestoblue at 4:18 AM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

Do you actually have sores yet, or are you feeling tingly/itchy/achey? If you have sores already, you can rest easy[ish] knowing that it's more or less too late for the anti-virals to work their magic. Keep the area clean and dry and as frictionless as possible and do whatever you can to relax. As jesourie mentioned, each subsequent outbreak is usually less severe so don't drive yourself crazy with fear of having a repeat of your initial outbreak.

If the sores haven't come up yet, I would hit the local GNC equivalent and get some L-Lysine supplements -- the proposed therapeutic dose during an outbreak is 3000-9000 mg per day, spread throughout the day. Also, treat yourself really well, the way you would if you thought you felt the flu coming on: as much sleep as you can get, healthy wholesome food, etc.

But honestly, most important things: stay clean and dry, find a way to relax.
posted by telegraph at 4:35 AM on June 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

My fiance got acyclovir cream at a pharmacy in Italy. You might be able to get valacyclovir/famcyclovir pills OTC also.
posted by radioamy at 7:05 AM on June 15, 2012

I found Zovirax cream over the counter at Boots in London.
posted by PJMoore at 9:55 AM on June 15, 2012