Dianne-TX Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I am a cold sore sufferer and it is annoying and embarrassing! I have my second one and it's only been a few weeks. I can usually pinpoint why I get one, but this one I can't. I take Lysine daily to prevent them, and have for several years, but it doesn't seem to be working here lately. I think there is a prescription you can take to prevent them. Does it work well? Is it worth taking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Prescription Acyclovir is wonderful for cold sores. It isn't terribly expensive, but I would call around for the best price because it varies wildly from store to store. If you take it at the first sign of outbreak it can have you clear in 1-4 days from beginning to very end. If you take it in the middle of the outbreak it will usually prevent new ones from forming. Ask you doctor or dentist to prescribe it for you. It will make a Huge difference. Zovirax is a cream that is used, it is more expensive, but is topical so people who prefer to not ingest medications like it. It is not as effective as the acyclovir but is effective. It is Very expensive...expect about $100 per ounce. Valtrex is another tablet that is used for lesions. It is brand only and is very expensive. It is the most effective of the two (acyclovir/Valtrex) for genital sores. But not necessarily more effective on oral lesions. I would not start with Valtrex if you have not tried acyclovir first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 (edited) Poor thing. Your immune system might be a little taxed right now, for whatever reason. L-Lysine didn't seem to help me, though I have taken it anyway. I have found a couple tricks that have really shortened their duration. I am not huge on over the counter remedies...but "Abreva" is definitely worth the $ for keeping a cycle under control but must be used as early as posssible for best results. It can greatly the reduce duration. In addition to any multi-vitamin you may already be taking...try this: LOTS of B-complex (100mg total daily/smaller amounts frequently or time-released), Beta Carotene (50,000 - 75,000 IU taken throughout the day), Vitamin C (3,000 mg daily) REALLY help your body detoxify and fight to suppress the cycle. I always use vitamin E (perl cap or oil) applied topically during the drying stage. There is a homeopathic called Herplex I have on hand for my next bout. I haven't tried it yet but have read rave reviews. FWIW, Geo Edited March 20, 2009 by Geo info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katiebug_1976 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Abreva! My husband gets nasty cold sores several times a year, and if he uses Abreva as soon as he feels one coming on, it usually goes away before it gets big and nasty! Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianne-TX Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 Prescription Acyclovir is wonderful for cold sores. It isn't terribly expensive, but I would call around for the best price because it varies wildly from store to store. If you take it at the first sign of outbreak it can have you clear in 1-4 days from beginning to very end. If you take it in the middle of the outbreak it will usually prevent new ones from forming. Ask you doctor or dentist to prescribe it for you. It will make a Huge difference. Zovirax is a cream that is used, it is more expensive, but is topical so people who prefer to not ingest medications like it. It is not as effective as the acyclovir but is effective. It is Very expensive...expect about $100 per ounce. Valtrex is another tablet that is used for lesions. It is brand only and is very expensive. It is the most effective of the two (acyclovir/Valtrex) for genital sores. But not necessarily more effective on oral lesions. I would not start with Valtrex if you have not tried acyclovir first. Thanks for all the info. I do prefer natural, but this is getting irritating and I'm willing to try something else if it continues. I only suffer from oral cold sores, thankfully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianne-TX Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 Poor thing. Your immune system might be a little taxed right now, for whatever reason. L-Lysine didn't seem to help me, though I have taken it anyway. I have found a couple tricks that have really shortened their duration. I am not huge on over the counter remedies...but "Abreva" is definitely worth the $ for keeping a cycle under control but must be used as early as posssible for best results. It can greatly the reduce duration. In addition to any multi-vitamin you may already be taking...try this: LOTS of B-complex (100mg total daily/smaller amounts frequently or time-released), Beta Carotene (50,000 - 75,000 IU taken throughout the day), Vitamin C (3,000 mg daily) REALLY help your body detoxify and fight to suppress the cycle. I always use vitamin E (perl cap or oil) applied topically during the drying stage. There is a homeopathic called Herplex I have on hand for my next bout. I haven't tried it yet but have read rave reviews. FWIW, Geo Thanks for the reminder of what else to take, naturally, during a break out. I do use Abreva, Super Lysine, but I forgot about extra vit. c and b-complex. Just took some! :) I'll remember Herplex, too, I haven't heard of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Diane, Don't forget the beta-carotene...it is particularly powerful for skin eruptions like cold sores. Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianne-TX Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 Diane,Don't forget the beta-carotene...it is particularly powerful for skin eruptions like cold sores. Geo Do you eat more foods that have beta-carotene or take a supplement or both? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojomojo Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 When I eat too much citrus I'm more likely to get a cold sore (and of course, anytime my immune system is down like after a cold). The only thing that consistently works for me when I feel that little tingle on my lip is a tea bag. If I catch it at the tingle stage, it does the trick, but I don't know about once the cold sore actually shows up (been a while since I had to worry about that). I just let it sit in hot water for a minute (just until saturated) then hold it on my lip throughout the day (5-10 minutes on, every 30 minutes to an hour, changing the tea bag a few times). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbie Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Lysine is best, I get them w/stress. Pink eye too. Its that herpes thing that stays in your system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Take up to 50,000 IU per day. It's best to take in small amounts throughout the day, by that I mean upon awakening until retiring. You will really notice the difference. Eating healthy is great, but once your body is out of whack fighting these things you'll benefit from the extra antioxidants. Geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 I second the acyclovir! A couple of my kids were getting cold sores a LOT. We tried Abreva (worked okay), lysine, vit C, etc. I finally took them in to the doc and got a prescription for Acyclovir. Wow - the sores they had went away within a few days and now they very rarely get cold sores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkInTheBlue Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Zovirax is a cream that is used, it is more expensive, but is topical so people who prefer to not ingest medications like it. It is not as effective as the acyclovir but is effective. It is Very expensive...expect about $100 per ounce. Zovirax is what I have and it is a miracle! I got a tube 3 years ago before our 2 1/2 yr old was born and just emptied it recently. The tube I have is really tiny and was $40 with no insurance. If I can get a tiny bit of it on the spot that is tingling then I never get a fever blister. Amazing. This from someone who doesn't get just one at a time but usually covering her whole mouth. No doubt one of the absolute best $40 I had ever spent. I have a brand new tube now waiting on me if I were to need it. :) I will say the first thing that ever helped me was taking Lysine for about a year and half back after high school. That was the first time I didn't have at least twice a year my mouth was covered in them. I highly recommend taking Lysine and getting a prescription for Zovirax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
at the beach Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 One thing you may want to try is Hydrogen Peroxide solution. Try dropping a bit on the cold sore when you first notice it starting and then repeating that. Obviously, you don't want to ingest it. But H2O2 is amazing stuff. It's worth a try if you can't get a prescription right away. Anita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane Elliot Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 I am a cold sore sufferer and it is annoying and embarrassing! I have my second one and it's only been a few weeks. I can usually pinpoint why I get one, but this one I can't. I take Lysine daily to prevent them, and have for several years, but it doesn't seem to be working here lately. I think there is a prescription you can take to prevent them. Does it work well? Is it worth taking? Have you tried topical lysine? That's worked here even when the pills have failed. http://www.vitacost.com/Quantum-Super-Lysine-Cold-Stick-Tube-Lip-Protector-Cold-Sore-Treatment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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