Topical tromantadine in the treatment of genital herpes. A double-blind placebo controlled study.

A randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of tromantadine ointment 1% in male patients with genital herpes. 45 patients with penile genital herpes of less than three days duration were randomised to local treatment with tromantadine ointment 1% or placebo (ointment base alone) five times daily up to 12 days. No difference in time of healing could be detected between the two groups (p = 1.0). Both the objective signs (vesicles, pustules, ulceration, and glandular swelling) and the subjective symptoms (itching, burning, pain and dysuria) all diminished simultaneously in the two groups.