Episodic twice-daily treatment for recurrent genital herpes.

A new dosage regimen of orally administered acyclovir, 800 mg twice daily for five days, for the treatment of recurrent genital herpes was compared with the standard dosage of 200 mg given five times per day. A double-blind study of 157 patients was used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of both regimens. The new regimen was well tolerated, more convenient, and as effective as the standard dosage. In male patients, the new regimen may be more effective than the standard regimen of 200 mg given five times per day to treat lesions that are already present.