Prescription Medication For Cold Sores

Anyone who has ever had a cold sore knows that they are painful and not very pretty to look at. This leads many to looking for the best possible treatment options available. Many times this is a prescription medication for cold sores.

A cold sore is an outbreak of the herpes simplex virus. At some point in a person's life, they have been exposed to an infected person and the virus got into their system through an abrasion or cut in the skin. Once there it stays for life many times remaining dormant for years until the conditions are right for an outbreak.

The first outbreak can be particularly difficult and this is why many people seek out prescription medication for cold sores instead of over the counter or home remedies. The most commonly used prescription treatment for cold sores is an antiviral topical ointment. Below we will look at a few of these.

- Penciclovir is an antiviral cream prescribed to treat cold sores

- Valtrax is a traditional treatment for shingles and genital herpes, however, it can be effective in treating simplex one viral outbreaks

- Acyclovir is also an antiviral used to treat a host of viral infections, genital herpes, shingles, cold sores and more. This antiviral can come in an oral treatment or in ointments of varying strengths.

These are the three most popular choices for treating herpes simplex 1 or the common cold sore. Recently there has been debate about which of these is a better treatment. The obvious answer is that is best determined by your health professional. Nevertheless, there were some head-to-head studies done between acyclovir and penciclovir and the results suggest that the latter is better.

All tests and studies also show that the sooner you begin any treatment the less time it will take to heal. Therefore, if you happen to be prone to frequent outbreaks it could be wise to keep a supply of your prescription medication for cold sores on hand, so that you may treat it immediately. The crucial time period is when the area first begins to tingle; this is a signal that a cold sore is imminent. Apply a topical antiviral as soon as you feel a cold sore coming on and you will greatly diminish its effect.

Finally, although treatment is necessary for the healing process it is also important to practice good hygiene right before and during an outbreak. This will prevent the spread of the virus to other people as well as other areas of your body.