cold sores/ fever blisters

Valtrex has saved me since it came on the market. I've had them on the lips and on the border of my lip and face for about 15 years...after races all the time, or sun exposure....get a referral to a dermatologist and have them prescribe this stuff.

When you feel anything resembling the slightest "tingle" that the cold sore is happening, pop 2-3 days worth of Valtrex and it will "stunt" the sore...you might get a little break out, but nothing like a full blown cold sore. Nobody can tell that you have anything except you.....

It is expensive, and I'm sure works for everyone differently; but I've been through everything from the B12, to lysene, to asodopholus, to every kind of over-the-counter gel/cream on the market and this is the only thing that has worked.

And the best thing about valtrex is you take it orally....no looking like you've got dried milk around your mouth.

Stay away from dirty girls and thou shall not get herpes.

As per my dermatalogist, 1) cut way down/eliminate chocolate and nuts; 2)supplement with lysine on a daily basis - faithfully, 500mg to 1000mg. New valtrex dosage is 2 1000mg tablets twice a day for 1 day. Valtrex works well unless you are having an imune system issue such as when you pick up a virus, then it works but not as well. Best advice is to go to a good dermatologist and clearly explain your situation and symptoms.

Triggers include the obvious ones related to sun exposure and stress but also alcohol. look on some of the herpes support groups on the web...you'll be surprised how many factors folks identify as triggers.

The virus lives in latent form in ganglia, which are the point where nerves enter the spinal cord. A trigger brings the virus out and that explains the sensation of tingling....the nerve is being stimulated as the virus moves along it.

It's quite common to get a second outbreak immediately after the first one seems to be resolving. It is usually of lesser severity.

Abbreva will work but must be applied very early....best advice would be to have a fresh tube at all times, perhaps one in your medicine cabinet at home and another at work/school. If you feel any persisent (more than 15 minutes) of tingling on your lip go ahead and apply the Abreva immediately. It can only help. If you wait till after work, for example, you may get some benefit but it won't be dramatic.

valtrex is a powerful drug which will shorten the outbreak considerably. some dermatologists have free samples on hand. it is rather expensive, like $125.00 for 15 500 mg tablets. The new dose of 2 1gm tablets does not follow the initial biokinetics of the drug but does seem to be superior.

About 90% of the population has antibodies to HSV-1, which means there has been exposure to the virus. why some get outbreaks and others don't relates to individual immunity, not whether or not the person is "dirty" or dates those that are. The predominant virus causing genital herpes is HSV-2 and it does not have the same effect on nongenital tissue, so having cold sores does not mean one has genital herpes!! Chances are if you have been kissed on the lips by your grandmother you have antibodies to HSV-1...which is why initial outbreaks are so common in early teen years. Given the appropriate amount of stress, it is likely we will all have a cold sore at least once in our lifetime. Those who do so frequently are not lepers. you just don't want to kiss them on the lips while they're having an outbreak.

Some of you may have noticed Lance had some cold sores atthe tour a few years ago. I am sure his cancer chemo brought the virus out of its latency phase.

I second the lysine comment.

great post, appreciate the info.

Thanks for the info. Great post indeed!

Try tea tree oil. You can but it a health food store.

It works great.

I buy Spirits of camphor and dab it onto the effected area with a cotton ball but you have to do it quite often. I have found it stings and it turns the skin kind of white while killing the virus. It worked for me...

Triggers for me are spicey foods, high stress, low vitamin B, sun or heat exposure, too much alcohol, chocolate..... Lysine is also excellent in combination with icing the area to reduce selling.

I have heard that Zinc will help prevent them just don't take too much of it or it will become toxic

What about Acylovir? I've been using this drug for years since I got a cold sore in my eye.I don't notice many side effects. Is Valtrex better?

I would try Zovirax. I think you can only get it on prescription but out training room had it in tablet form and it worked a treat. You might want to look into it. Very Good!

Valtrex is similar in chemical makeup to Acyclovir but vastly superior to it in that it is a prodrug and does not undergo first pass metabolism...in other words, it is more more bioavailable.

I got a flu shot and then got a cold sore for the first time in 2 years and it has not responded well to Valtrex. could the flu shot have done something to my immune system on a short term basis making this outbreak occur??

I tried Acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir) and valacyclovir (Valtrex). All these medicines are most effective when they are started before the visible blister or as soon after as possible. My physician also told me that there is evidence that using sunscreen on your lips will prevent cold sore from reoccurring when caused by sun exposure.

Here is an interesting article about this

https://www.yourdoctorsurgentcare.com/blog/what-is-this-blister-on-my-lip.html

lol, you have herpes. 'most of us'...keep believing that champ.