Does Abreva Work On Herpes

Treatment Options For Genital Herpes

Acyclovir was the first antiviral agent to be used in the treatment of genital herpes, and as such, is the most extensively studied of the antiviral agents currently available. This drug is available in topical, oral, and intravenous forms . In the distant past, topical acyclovir was used to treat recurrent genital herpes, but its ineffectiveness has been known for quite some time. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study found that after application of topical acyclovir 6 times daily for 5 days, only the duration of virus shedding from lesions was reduced compared to placebo. Differences between time to lesion crusting, lesion healing, new lesion formation, and cessation of pain were non-significant .

Intravenous acyclovir remains the most effective form of treatment for a primary genital herpes infection, leading to significant reduction in time to cessation of viral shedding and pain. Time to lesion healing is also 6 days faster than with placebo alone . However, as IV administration of acyclovir requires hospitalization, this route is reserved for patients with life-threatening disease or systemic complications .

Oral agents

Single-day treatment

How Long With Valtrex

Valtrex is a brand that markets the antiviral agent valacyclovir which is related to the prototype acyclovir.

Unlike the docosanol cream, Valtrex, this drug is formulated in caplets of 500 mg or 1000 mg valacyclovir. It has other excipients including crospovidone and carnauba wax among others. Crospovidone and Povidone in the product could be more than just excipients owing to the fact that they are antimicrobials. Furthermore, titanium dioxide, also an excipient and regarded as inactive, could offer protective effect against sun burns.

Valtrex is taken on the earliest sign of a cold sore and this is known to reduce the healing time. It is taken as 2 grams 12 hours apart or twice daily for a day. The duration it takes to work also depends on other factors. As mentioned earlier, taking this drug early would reduce the time and the vice versa is true.

You may end up taking it for a period of 7 to 10 days. Notice that this is the same times it takes for a cold sore to go through the development stages. There are cases in which it is prescribed for longer while the cold sores took a much shorter time to heal. Do not stop when you notice changes earlier than the end of the course.

However, when all factors are kept constant, it should start reducing the symptoms associated with cold sores within a period of 2 to 3 days. It therefore will take about 7 days to completely heal but the sooner you start, the shorter.

Manifestations Of Herpes Simplex Labialis

Herpes simplex labialis outbreaks generally proceed in several predictable stages.5 For a large number of patients, the first stage is the prodrome. In this stage, the patient experiences a set of problems that precede the actual appearance of the lesion. Prodromal symptoms include any or all of the following: 1) pruritus of the lips or of the skin around the mouth 2) a tingling sensation near the lips and/or mouth area 3) burning near the lips or the perioral region 4) inflammation or erythema and 5) hypersensitivity of the area.3,5 The prodromal symptoms are often located at the exact spot where the lesion is shortly due to erupt.

The most common site for herpes simplex labialis is found in the namelabialis, referring to the lip. More specifically, the area is the mucocutaneous junction where intraoral tissues abut the upper and lower lips, an area also referred to as the vermilion border.3,6 Patients with recurrent herpes simplex labialis usually report that the prodrome and lesion occur at the same site from episode to episode. Occasionally, they break out on the skin surrounding the nose or cheek, and intraoral tissues such as the gingiva may be affected.3

The prodromal stage of herpes simplex labialis may also include general symptoms, such as sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, malaise, and odynophagia .3,5 The prodrome can last for as long as 1 to 2 days.

Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Oral Herpes Outbreak Fast

What Are The Pros Cons And Price Of Luminance Red

Luminance RED is supported by clinical studies that prove its ability to achieve lasting results. According to clinical research, patients who received Luminance RED treatment averaged 37.5 weeks before their next cold sore episode, compared to 3 weeks for those who did not receive treatment. Patients treated with Luminance Red also experienced a 49% reduction in healing time and a 77% reduction in pain.

Overall, Luminance RED offers an advanced way to reduce the severity of cold sore outbreaks, accelerate healing, and prevent the frequency of future outbreaks. Its available online for $399. If youre not satisfied, Luminance RED offers a 6-month, 100% money-back guarantee.

Can I Use Abreva On Genital Herpes

Asked

30 Oct 2011 by Rachel_Marie22

Official Answer

Abreva is indicated for the treatment of cold sores around the mouth caused by Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1. Abreva is not to be used on genital herpes which is most commonly caused by Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2

There is no medication to cure your body of the genital herpes virus. Treatment is aimed at easing symptoms, reducing the frequency of recurrences and reducing transmission.

Symptoms can be improved by:

salt bathsice packs to the affected areapain-relieving medication such as acetaminophenantiviral medication such as acyclovir, famciclovir and valacyclovir. These can reduce the severity of an episode if taken early enough .

Topical antivirals like Abreva usually used for cold sores on the lips or face are not appropriate for use on the genitals.

For more information see:

+0Sapphyreopal5

If you have HSV-1 genitally, I don’t see why not. Of course as with anything you put on the skin, test it somewhere else beforehand. For those who are saying no you can’t because HSV-2 causes genital herpes and HSV-1 causes cold sores, they are not 100% correct . While most cases of oral herpes is HSV-1, it’s possible for them to be caused by HSV-2. There are also more cases of HSV-1 being found in the genital region, possibly due to the decreased number of people having HSV-1 orally say in childhood. HSV is NOT a site-specific virus .

+0dixie12488CAMPOSPAULAK

Don’t Miss: Does L Lysine Help Genital Herpes

How Can You Prevent Cold Sores

There are some things you can do to keep from getting the herpes simplex virus.

• Avoid coming into contact with infected body fluids, such as kissing an infected person.
• Avoid sharing eating utensils, drinking cups, or other items that a person with a cold sore may have used.

After you have been infected with the virus, there is no sure way to prevent more cold sores. But there are some things you can do to reduce your number of outbreaks and prevent spreading the virus.

• Avoid the things that trigger your cold sores, such as stress and colds or the flu.
• Always use lip balm and sunscreen on your face. Too much sunlight can cause cold sores to flare.
• Avoid sharing towels, razors, silverware, toothbrushes, or other objects that a person with a cold sore may have used.
• When you have a cold sore, make sure to wash your hands often, and try not to touch your sore. This can help keep you from spreading the virus to your eyes or genital area or to other people.
• Talk to your doctor if you get cold sores often. You may be able to take prescription pills to prevent cold sore outbreaks.

What Is The Dosage Of Valtrex Vs Abreva

Valtrex

• Valtrex may be taken with or without food.
• In people with kidney disease, doses need to be reduced.
• For the treatment of herpes zoster , the usual dose is 1 gram 3 times a day for 7 days. Treatment should begin at the first symptom and is most effective if started within 48 hours of the onset of rash.
• The dose for chickenpox is 20 mg/kg 3 times daily for 5 days and treatment should start at the earliest sign or symptom.
• For the treatment of an initial episode of genital herpes, the usual dose is 1 gram twice daily for 10 days. For the treatment of recurrent genital herpes, the usual dose is 500 mg twice daily for 3 days. For best results, treatment should be initiated within 12 hours of the start of symptoms.
• The dose for cold sores is 2000 mg every 12 hours for 1 day.

Abreva

Adults and children 12 years or over:

• Wash hands before and after applying cream.
• Apply to affected area on face or lips at the first sign of cold sore/feverblister .
• Early treatment ensures the best results.
• Rub in gently but completely.
• Use 5 times a day until healed.

Children under 12 years:

You May Like: How To Know If You Have Genital Herpes

Customer Reviews On Does Abreva Work To Get Rid Of Cold Sores

Does Docosanol Work According To Science

First, lets look at a study published in 2002 to figure out if docosanol is effective against cold sores and how many days it can take off an outbreak.

In this case, the researchers split the cold sore sufferers into two groups. One group would get 10% docosanol cream, and the other group would get a placebo. Each treatment group would apply their respective cream 5 times per day.

The researchers found that the docosanol cream reduced the time it takes to heal a cold sore by a whopping 18 hours on average. While thats nothing to scoff at, its not exactly groundbreaking.

Plus, it turns out that there were a few issues with this study which were raised by other scientists after it was published.

The biggest issue was that the scientists used a different control vehicle as a placebo than in the docosanol group.

You see, normally, to test whether docosanol is truly effective at stopping and healing cold sores, it would have to be the ONLY thing that changes between the docosanol treated patients and the placebo treated patients.

The inactive ingredients, so to speak, need to be identical. But in this case, they werent. So the question is, was the difference in healing time strictly caused by the dcosanol, or did the different inactive ingredients play a role ? Theres no way to know.

But really, thats just one study.

So where does the truth lie?

Don’t Miss: Will Herpes Go Away On Its Own

How To Treat Cold Sore Pain

Home remedies and medications can reduce the pain caused by a cold sore. For effective cold sore pain relief, try:

• Ice or a cold compress
• Anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen
• Pain relievers like Tylenol
• Benzocaine or lidocaine gel to numb the affected area

Be sure not to touch or pick at your cold sore, as this can extend the length of your infection and cause more pain.

Can I Kiss Someone While A Cold Sore Is On My Lips

Since cold sores are contagious, kissing should be avoided during a cold sore outbreak. Getting up-close and personal spreads cold sores. At any stage of an outbreak, when you kiss your loved ones, especially on the mouth, youre very likely to pass on the virus. And remember, though not as common, cold sores can spread to other parts of the body, too.

VIDEO FAQS

see the answer to this question

Read Also: Can You Test For Genital Herpes

Prevalence Of Herpes Simplex Labialis

Herpes simplex labialis is not a reportable disease, so exact numbers of persons affected are not available. However, the incidence is thought to be 1.6 per thousand people annually, and the prevalence is estimated to be 2.5 patients per thousand, up to as many as 20% to 40% of adults.1,2 Once it is contracted, the virus cannot be eliminated, so the percentage of those carrying it rises as the average age of the group being sampled increases. The National Institutes of Health states that the majority of residents of the United States are infected with the virus by the age of 20 years.3

What Is Abreva And How Is It Used

Abreva® is an over-the-counter cream used to treat cold sores and fever blisters. It contains the only non-prescription ingredient approved by the FDA to accelerate the cold sore healing process. Apply Abreva® directly to your cold sore at the first sign of emergence for best results. This OTC treatment can be used up to five times a day, or as directed by your doctor.

You May Like: How Can I Cure Herpes Forever

To Use Acyclovir Ointment Follow These Steps:

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient. Read this information before you start using acyclovir and each time you refill your prescription.

What Not To Do With A Cold Sore

Certain habits or actions may interfere with the healing process and worsen the symptom of a cold sore. For optimal healing:

• Dont touch a cold sore. Any time your hands come into contact with a cold sore blister, they can carry the virus to other parts of the body or other people. Touching the sore may also spread other bacteria into your cold sore. If you must touch a cold sore , wash your hands immediately.
• Dont pop a cold sore. Unlike a pimple, a cold sore will get significantly worse and probably spread if popped as the fluid is exposed to more of your skin.
• Dont scrub a cold sore. The irritated skin around your cold sore will probably hurt worse if you wash it vigorously.
• Dont pick at the scab on a cold sore. Ripping off the scab that forms around a cold sore can leave permanent scars. Let the scab fall off on its own, which usually happens a few days after it forms.
• Avoid kissing oral sex until your cold sore is completely healed. HSV strains can spread via oral sex, so steer clear of intimate contact with your partner during the outbreak.
• Stay away from very spicy or acidic foods. These can cause a burning sensation that will make your cold sore outbreak even more unpleasant.

Read Also: Can You Have Sex With Herpes

How Long Does A Sore Throat Last With A Cold Sore

It should take about 5 to 7 days for a viral infection to limit. Sore throat is known as pharyngitis and is treated with antibiotics. You will start feeling better in the 2nd or 3rd day after starting the regimen. Again, you should make sure that you take the full regimen of antibiotics prescribed even if you have felt better so as to prevent recurrence and resistance.

Most pharyngitis infections are caused by viruses and these are self-limiting. How long it will take to heal from a sore throat and a cold sore will depend on other factors such as additional care you take. Even if they last longer than 7 days, it is rare.

If the sore throat has been caused by a strep bacteria, not taking the full course of antibiotics could trigger another infection known as rheumatic fever in which there is inflammation of the heart, joints and skin.

Does Abreva Work To Get Rid Of Cold Sores

Would recommend it to a friend

Rating snapshot:

Abreva is a product that claims clinical tests can prove that it will increase the rate of healing and get you looking your best again quicker than rival products, but how do we decide if this is the right product?

OverviewIf you have ever had a cold sore then you will know exactly how irritating it is and how long it takes to heal. A cold sore on the lip can last for weeks if left untreated. Abreva is a medically formulated cream that is applied directly onto the affected area and left to soak in and fight the harmful bacteria.

The ClaimAbreva states that their product is the only non-prescription cold sore treatment that is approved by the US Food and Drug Agency and that it will fight cold sores fast and land that knockout blow. Further reading reveals that Abreva feels that their product will reduce the size, redness and soreness of the cold sore within days.

The product is said to offer a reduction in the time spent itching and scratching at that tingling pain that a cold sore radiates into the face. Abreva is claimed to be a safe product that can be used on children as young as 12 years old.

The HypeAbrevas official website shows photographs of models with a cold sore and then a second photo showing reduced redness and size with a caption claiming that the axons picture was taken 24 hours later.

Read Also: Why Is My Herpes Flaring Up