Monday, October 28, 2013

The Most Popular Cold Sore Medicines That Are Available.

By Jane Perone


If you are infected with the HSV-1 virus, the virus that causes cold sore outbreaks, you most likely will want to find a cold sore medication that will work for you. Unfortunately, there are very few medications that have been shown to be effective in treating cold sores.

Although there are medications that you can use to shorten the duration of the outbreak, and to help with the symptoms, there is no medication that will cure the virus.

Other doctors suggest that lower doses of the medication are taken on a daily basis-- this help to prevent future cold sore breakouts, and can be an effective treatment for people who get these sores frequently.

If you have repeated outbreaks your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication to help with these occurrences. Although antiviral drugs can not cure cold sores, they certainly can help to curb the symptoms and shorten the duration of outbreaks. Many patients also report a decrease in size of the blisters and a reduction in the number of blisters experienced during an outbreak when they are on an antiviral medication.

There are gels and cremes that can be placed directly on the affected area, these formulas usually help to only relieve the pain and discomfort associated with the symptoms.

The frequent use of Zovirax cream can reduce the symptoms of fever blisters within as little as half a day. In order to reduce the symptoms further, a low dose of Acyclovir can be taken; however, to reduce the pain a higher dose of acyclovir is required.

There are also several over the counter topical medications that can help to ease symptoms. Benzocaine and lidocaine are two common numbing agents that work to relieve not only pain, but also burning and itching that is associated with this disease. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen can also be taken to ease the pain associated with cold sore blisters.

As you can see, if you suffer from cold sore outbreaks, you really do not have a lot of options when it comes to finding a cold sore medication to treat the virus. You will want to work with your doctor to determine if an antiviral medication might help, or if an over the counter option will work.

The biggest factor that will contribute to the effectiveness of your chosen cold sore remedy is noting the stage at which the cold sore has developed when the first treatment is applied to the site.




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