Tagamet (cimetidine) to treat herpes

Oceanus · 09-30-2007, 07:32 PM

I have to first start off by saying I have not tried Tagamet. But I just did some reading online and found some interesting information about how this over the counter drug can be cheaper, and better than anti-viral drugs at shortening the duration of a herpes OB and preventing future ones...and it can be bought without a prescription.

I read on another herpes message board that someone used an anal suppository form of it for several weeks and claimed it stopped her OBs after having had herpes for 25 years. I did some more research and found there have been studies on its effectiveness in treating both Shingles and HSV. It was effective against both. The reason why the drug manufacturer, SmithKline, will not do a study on its effectiveness against herpes is that the patented drug Tagamet is no longer protected and can be sold as a generic form called cimetidine. So they have nothing to gain financially from it.

Tagamet is sold OTC as a heartburn medicine. It works by boosting the immune system by blocking T-lymphocyte suppressor cells.

It looks like there are a lot of newbies on this site recently diagnosed, or think they might be. Anyway, I hope someone tries it and tells us if it worked for them.

catharine101 · 09-30-2007, 07:46 PM

Cool Oceanus - are you going to try it??

keepsgoin · 09-30-2007, 07:48 PM

Yep, I've been using this for herpes for quite a while and it does work especially if you start taking it as soon as you feel the OB coming on, I have a thread I started a long time ago here at these board.

Oceanus · 09-30-2007, 07:57 PM

I am not sure yet if I will try it, as it is still a drug. I am also trying a few other things right now, number one being ozone therapy treatments. I would like to know what thing I am doing is actually working. If I take too many things at the same time I may not know what really helped me.

I don't remember your post, Keepsgoin, but that's cool, one person on here can attest to its benefits. But you said you still have very bad itchiness in a few areas of your body. Does it not help with that? Have you tried taking it consistently for several weeks? I read that doing that can put it into remission. The dosage suggested was 200 mg, 3x/day...and 400 mg at bedtime at first symptom of an OB. Then continue taking for 1-2 weeks after symptoms abate. Maybe taking it for even longer, consistently could do even more good.

catharine101 · 09-30-2007, 08:03 PM

Oceanus - It makes total sense to try one thing at a time - at least then you know what is or isn't working.

I really hope the ozone works out for you!!

Keepsgoing - I read your other post. That's totally cool. But doesn't it just go fig that the drug companies are so focussed on us taking drugs that cost $200/course, when something that helps as much or better is so cheaply and easily availalbe!! Geez!