Cold Sore Treatment

There are two cold sore treatment options that we provide. They are aciclovir and valaciclovir. They both belong to a group of medicines called antivirals. Aciclovir and valaciclovir work by killing or stopping the growth of the viruses that cause cold sores.

• Aciclovir dose: one 400mg tablet taken 3 times a day for 5 days
• Valaciclovir dose: one 500mg tablet taken twice a day for 5 days

You should start taking aciclovir or valaciclovir as soon as you start to feel any symptoms, like tingling before the sore appears. The earlier you can start taking it, the better it will work.

Both aciclovir and valaciclovir work in the same way except aciclovir is already in its active form when you take it. That means it does not need to go through any changes in the body to start working.

Both aciclovir and valaciclovir can also be used as a daily ‘suppression’ dose when you do not have a cold sore, to stop them from happening. This can help if you have more than 6 outbreaks of cold sores in a year, or if your outbreaks are very severe.

Yes, there are antiviral creams available over the counter which contain aciclovir. These creams help your sores to heal quicker and fight the virus. If you get cold sores regularly, these over the counter treatments will not help to suppress the virus. Over the counter antiviral creams may also not work after the blisters have appeared.

By using our service, you will be provided with doctor approved and prescribed treatment. These tablets work even after a cold sore blister has appeared. They also help to stop future outbreaks.

Just like all medicines, cold sore treatment can cause side effects but not everyone will get them.

Some common side effects of cold sore treatments are:

• diarrhoea
• dizziness
• feeling or being sick
• headaches
• itching
• rash
• skin reaction when exposed to light
• stomach pains
• tiredness
• unexplained high temperature and feeling faint

Less common side effects include:

• hair loss
• itchy, hive-like rash

Rare side effects include:

• confusion
• effects on blood and urine tests
• fits (seizures)
• increased liver enzymes
• slow, slurred speech
• unconsciousness
• unsteadiness when walking

You should let your doctor know if you get any of these side effects.

If you get symptoms of an allergic reaction you should call 999 or a doctor right away.

This can include:

• swelling of the lips, face, neck, or throat
• difficulty breathing
• flushing, itchy skin
• low blood pressure causing collapse

You should tell your doctor if you have recently taken or might take other medicines, including over the counter and herbal medicines.

You should not use cold sore treatment if you:

• are allergic to valaciclovir, aciclovir, or any other ingredients in the medicine
• have ever had an extended rash as well as a fever, enlarged lymph nodes, eosinophilia, or high liver enzymes after using cold sore treatments

You should also let your doctor know if you have kidney problems. You should speak to your doctor before using cold sore treatments if you think you might be pregnant, are pregnant, are planning on having a baby, or currently breastfeeding.

While you have cold sores, they are highly contagious which means you can pass them onto someone else easily.

To help stop the spread of cold sores you should avoid:

1. touching cold sores
2. sharing medication especially antiviral creams
3. kissing and oral sex

Cold sores often occur when your immune system is weak. So, looking after your health and wellbeing will help to prevent future outbreaks. It is also useful to work out what may be triggering your cold sores, so you can help to prevent them in the future.

Some common triggers include:

• stress
• a high temperature
• feeling tired
• an infection
• injury to the lips or mouth
• exposure to sunlight

Things you can do yourself to help treat a cold sore include the following:

• taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with the pain and swelling
• drinking plenty of fluid to stop dehydration
• avoiding your cold sore triggers
• using sunblock lip balm if you are in the sun (SPF 15 or above)
• washing your hands with warm, soapy water after applying cream to your cold sore