People suffering from cold sores want to treat their outbreaks as quickly as possible. Everyone responds differently to prescribed medication, over-the-counter medication or home remedies. That is why it is important to figure out which treatment works best for you so you can begin treating your next cold sore immediately.
To help you weigh your options we have provided three of the most common cold sore treatments, including both prescription and over-the-counter options:1
Cortisone Injection1
A cortisone injection is a steroid shot. When the cortisone is injected into the core of the cold sore, it reduces inflammation associated with the viral infection.
Pros
- Has been proven effective at helping reduce the lifespan of, and pain associated with, severe cold sores
- Has been shown to produce results in as little as one day
Cons
- Requires a visit to your physician as soon as possible after symptoms arise
- Patients may experience pain or discomfort both during and after the injection
- Not ideal for patients who dislike needles/injections
Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medication1
If an injection isn’t appealing to you, or you don’t have time to visit your physician to seek prescription treatment, another option is to visit your local supermarket or drug store and pick up an OTC cold sore medication best diet pills for women. A pharmacist can help you.
Pros
- When used at the first sign of an outbreak, some OTC medications have been shown to reduce the length of the cold sore episode
- OTC medications are relatively easy to obtain, and do not require a prescription
Cons
- Can be expensive and are not covered by insurance
- May take days to improve a cold sore’s appearance or reduce symptoms like pain
- Some physicians are skeptical as to whether OTC medications really work
Prescription Medication1
If you’re a frequent cold sore sufferer looking for a non-invasive treatment option that only needs to be applied once, ask your physician about Sitavig® (acyclovir), 50mg Muco-Adhesive Buccal Tablet. This prescription cold sore treatment utilizes one-and-done dosing, and – when applied at the first sign of a cold sore – may stop cold sores from progressing.
Pros
- Has been shown to stop cold sores from progressing in some patients
- Has also been shown to help reduce the duration of cold sore outbreaks
- Has been shown to delay the onset of the next cold sore outbreak by an average of 105 days (all vs. placebo)
- Sitavig patients may be eligible for prescription savings
Cons
- Requires a visit to your physician
- May cause adverse reactions
1- WikiHow.com – Get Rid of a Cold Sore
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Sitavig should not be used in patients with known hypersensitivity to acyclovir, milk protein concentrate, or other components of the product.
Sitavig has not been studied in pregnant women or in immunocompromised patients and no interaction studies have been performed. Sitavig’s safety and efficacy have not been established in pediatric patients.
Sitavig is a Pregnancy Category B product; therefore it should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the fetus. It is not known if Sitavig is excreted in breast milk; however, systemic absorption is minimal.
In a controlled clinical trial Sitavig’s most common side effects (greater than or equal to 1%) were: headache (3%), dizziness (1%), lethargy (1%), gingival pain (1%), aphthous stomatitis (1%), application site pain (1%), application site irritation (1%), erythema (1%) and rash (1%). In the same trial these side effects ranged from 0%-3% for placebo.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch.com or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
