What is the fastest way to clear up a cold sore?
Question:
Answers:
A cold sore if a form of herpes virus, herpes labialis and therefore can't be "cured", only the symptoms are treated ( Remember the valtrex commercials? It's used to treat genital herpes, but its the SAME herpes, only in a different location. Wash your hands frequently, as you can spread the fever blister, containing herpes, to your genital area, and self-innoculate).
Fever Blister Treatments
There are several medications available to treat fever blisters. Some are used topically and others are taken orally. Fever blisters are best treated as early as possible. Starting a medication when prodromal symptoms such as burning, tingling, or redness start gives the best chance of keeping the fever blisters from developing or shortening their course.
Fever Blister Treatment and FDA Approval
There are several antiviral medications that are used to treat herpes infections. The FDA approves these medications for the specific type of infections they treat. The FDA has approved the use of certain drugs for fever blisters, but some antiviral drugs that are not specifically FDA approved for fever blisters have been shown in clinical studies to be effective. Receiving a prescription for an off-label use of one of these drugs may still be effective. The decision to use a medication that is prescribed off-label should be made based on current data and discussed thoroughly with a health-care provider.
Fever Blister Treatment Effects
Antiviral drugs can have several effects on oral herpes simplex virus infections. Examples of the effects of antiviral medications on fever blisters include:
Decrease the time it takes for fever blisters to heal
Reduce symptoms - especially pain
Prevent lesions from occurring if taken soon enough
Reduce the number of lesions developed if taken soon enough
Reduce the size of lesions developed if taken soon enough
Reduce the amount of viral shedding
Fever Blister Treatment - Penciclovir
Penciclovir 1% cream (Denavir) is FDA-approved for recurrent fever blisters. It is applied every 2 hours to the site for 4 days. Starting treatment within 1 hour of an outbreak reduced the time to healing by 2 days and reduced the symptoms. Penciclovir also decreases the duration viral shedding. The earlier penciclovir is started the better the benefits, but improvement was still found when penciclovir was started even after vesicles developed.
Fever Blister Treatment - Acyclovir
Acyclovir 5% cream (Zovirax) is also FDA approved for the treatment of recurrent fever blisters. In studies, frequent application of the cream reduced the time to healing by about half a day. Oral acyclovir given 5 times a day for primary gingivostomatitis in children shortened the course from 10 days to 4 days and reduced the duration of fever, eating and drinking difficulties, and viral shedding. Using low dose oral acyclovir for fever blisters shortened the duration by about 1 day but did not affect pain. Using a higher dose and starting during the prodrome phase did have an effect on pain and duration.
Fever Blister Treatment - Famciclovir
Famciclovir (Famvir) taken orally is only FDA approved for oral herpes in people with compromised immune systems. Early studies on people with normal immune systems show that high doses taken 3 times a day for 5 days reduce healing time and lesion size but not symptoms. Addition of a topical steroid has shown some possibility of aborting lesions, reducing lesion size, and reducing symptoms.
Fever Blister Treatment - Valacyclovir
Valacyclovir (Valtrex) has been used off-label for the treatment of fever blisters but current studies show that higher doses than usual may be more effective.
Fever Blister Treatment - Suppression Therapy
Suppression therapy, taking medication every day to prevent outbreaks, is not yet FDA-approved. Studies have shown that people who have more than 6 recurrences or more per year can benefit from taking acyclovir 400 mg twice daily by reducing the number of recurrences and decreasing viral shedding. Other possibilities are famciclovir 250 mg twice a day or valacyclovir 500 mg once a day.
Other Answers:
l-lysine
USE SOME CARMEX...
Hesperidin
L-Lysine
The best thing i have found is go to the dr and ask for Zovoriax i had sun posioning which is like cold sores all along my top lip it hurt so bad and my dr gave me this medicine along with the creme and they were all gone in 6 days the creme also numbs the sore.
Abreva, you should be able to find it in a drug store or walmart.
pepto bismo!
I haven't had one ..
cant help you
2pts .. try some over the counter stuff , I've seen it..
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