Acyclovir topical User Reviews & Ratings

• Joh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 16, 2021

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "I'm from the UK, and have had cold sores all my life (40s). Zovirax is a complete waste of money. For years, I used it because I believed the marketing - and I thought that cold sores just got bigger, but about 5 years ago, I tried just leaving well alone. Without Zovirax, they crust faster, don't spread, and heal faster and more naturally. With Zovirax, I find it burns the skin, they spread (keep popping up outside the original zone), and scar for longer. I've also not really found that Zovirax prevents them if you get there during the original tingling either. Also, the tube size is a scandal."

• Dee...
• November 22, 2015

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "I have been suffering with cold sores for 20 years now, they usually happen once a year. I am so horrified when they happen. I take work off and basically live in my house for 2 weeks. I came across a YouTube video after feeling a bump coming on, and that's when I came across Zovirax. I thought, what the heck, I've tried everything else. I went to my doctor the same day (thank God I got in). It cost me about $90, but it was worth it. This stuff is a godsend! My cold sore was already at the blister stage, so it was day 2. Applied the cream all day for 2 days, you can't even tell I have a cold sore! There is nothing! I wish I knew about this stuff years ago. Would have saved me a lot of agony."

• Kir...
• May 9, 2016

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "I do suffer from cold sores, especially when I'm stressed. Unfortunately, I don't get the tingling stage, I just wake up to a bump on my lip. For anyone that knows me, I absolutely hate cold sores! It makes me feel so crap about myself. I used to suffer really badly to the point it would spread, and I would have 3-4 cold sores on my lips very painful! Nothing would help. Until I found this cream! It is an angel from above, a Godsend. This cream clears my cold sores up within a day!! So next morning I wake up, and it's gone, even when it's blistered, it's gone! It's expensive for a tiny tube but definitely worth it!!"

• Jem...
• February 21, 2012

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "I have been dealing with cold sores for the past 10 years. I usually would only get 2 per year during an extreme weather change. I've tried Abreva, Releev, Campho, etc. Nothing really worked at all except drying the area. Well, this fall and winter season, I had 3 outbreaks, and at the 3rd, I said enough is enough. I read all the reviews online and decided to go with the Zovirax ointment. I got a prescription from my dentist the first day I noticed the tingling (prodromal stage). The meds indicate this is the best time to start applying. I applied several times the first day, and the next day I woke up and hardly saw a thing on my lip. I applied the ointment about 5 times that day, even though it seemed to be gone. 3rd day GONE!!! Miracle!!"

• iam...
• March 30, 2010

Acyclovir topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I've been using this product for years. It's the best thing to not having an outbreak. You must catch it on the first sign, though, when the tingling begins, if possible. After that, it will run its full course in pain at the site. I have outbreaks frequently, so I should know. I have trouble controlling when I have an outbreak. I control how I can deal with it when it comes."

• Ram...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 8, 2015

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "I have tried everything, from home remedies to over-the-counter cold sore treatments. Well, my doctor prescribed Zovirax, and since then I have been nothing but thankful. At the first sign, apply the ointment. It won't make the cold sore go away immediately, but by the second day it's dried up, and within four days it's gone. I love Zovirax."

• jpe...
• January 12, 2011

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "I find this the only treatment that can nip a cold sore before it develops. If one does develop, it also eliminates the pain faster (2-3 days) than any other creams I've tried. I also discovered after more than five years of annoying outbreaks that cold sores in the summer actually came from sunburned lips. Once I started to completely cover my lips before spending time in the sun, they did not come back. Here, prevention is the key."

• Arj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2020

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "The worst stuff I have ever used. It burnt and scarred my skin. The cold sore was almost invisible, and Zovirax burnt it and the surrounding skin. It made it look awful, and made it painful, and took three weeks to heal. NEVER AGAIN, beware!"

• Lyn...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 20, 2017

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "COLD SORE TREATMENTS AND PREVENTION THAT WORK: L-lysine: You can buy L-lysine over the counter in tablet form; one a day pretty much prevents cold sores from forming. If you run out of tablets, make sure you buy more; it's like the virus sits inactive under the skin just waiting for a break from the L-lysine treatment so it can raise its ugly head. ZOVIRAX: If you feel a cold sore coming on or you have a cold sore, buy Zovirax from the chemist or supermarket; ~$17 a tube, but you only need a little bit applied 5 or 6 times a day, and the last application should be before you go to sleep (whenever you think of applying it, really). Zovirax helps heal the blisters much faster than anything else I have tried. ICE OR COLD PACK: If you don't have Zovirax and the cold sore is really burning and itchy, get a freezer bag or similar and put some ice in it or some frozen peas and apply that to the area until that nasty burning and itchy feeling eases. Avoid licking or playing with the blisters with your tongue; this tends to make them bigger. Pop the Blisters or Don't Pop the Blisters? This is a personal preference; however, I have found that by not popping the blisters, it only allows the blisters to grow bigger to the point of them sometimes joining together and becoming one big blister, which takes a lot longer to heal. Hence, I pop the blister and apply Zovirax straight away, and the majority are gone within a few days. SAFETY FIRST: DO NOT have oral sex and AVOID kissing anyone when you have an active cold sore; they do spread as quickly as a peck on the lips from someone with the active cold sore virus, and wash your hands if you touch your mouth by accident; this helps prevent spreading the cold sore virus. PREVENTION: Take L-lysine 1 tablet daily and try to avoid sudden drops in temperature, excessive sun, or wind. Changes in climate conditions and temperature drops can bring on the cold sore virus. Avoid rubbing your lips hard like we sometimes do to remove stubborn lipstick, and avoid the hard bristles of a man's beard or regrowth. Both of these things can irritate the sensitive skin on our lips. Just be mindful of the cold sore virus, and it will become second nature to prevent it from occurring."

• Non...
• December 19, 2019

Acyclovir topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "There is some confusion about the cream vs. the ointment. Chemically, acyclovir is acyclovir. The only difference between the two is the 'CARRIER' - cream vs. ointment. The ointment (for genital herpes in the U.S.) has polyethylene glycol, a very slippery compound used in laxatives and for bowel prep. It has many other medical and industrial uses. Considering the small amount possibly ingested when applying to the mouth, the only reason not to use the cheaper ointment is if you are sensitive to polyethylene glycol. The cream (oral herpes/cold sores) contains mineral oil (also a laxative), poloxamer 407, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, water, and white petrolatum. Propylene glycol is supposedly good for skin, stops flaking, etc. Despite hours of research, I can't find why cream is so expensive unless the maker thinks we'll pay more for a treatment for our face vs. genitals. The CREAM is the one that is SO OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE!!"

• Col...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 5, 2019

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "I'm also from the UK, and like most of the comments from the UK, the cream does not help. Again bought some, and it seems to make it spread. I'm sure if I didn't use it, it would not be as bad as it is this morning. Maybe there is a difference between US and UK. I must remind myself not to bother with this again... try something else... pity."

• Anonymous
• December 10, 2008

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "When I feel a cold sore coming on (tingle), I rub it on, and it stops the outbreak. Only thing is, it tastes horrible; sometimes it's hard not to rub your lips around the mouth without getting some in."

• Ver...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 8, 2015

Acyclovir topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I have lived 14 years with cold sores from HSV-1, spending $20/tube on Abreva and suffering from annual breakouts, some worse than others, but all embarrassing and painful! I never thought to ask for a prescription, but coincidentally had a cold sore on my lip when I went to see my OBGYN last year. She noticed it and wrote me an Rx for Zovirax cream, and I let it sit in my wallet for a couple of months until I felt the tell-tale 'tingling.' This stuff really works, and if you apply it early enough, the sore won't even really form or blister and will completely disappear within 3-5 days. It's amazing and totally worth it. Do yourself a favor and get it! It was only $30, and the tube is bigger than a tube of Abreva."

• K-P...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 17, 2015

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "Honestly, one of the best treatments for HSV or cold sores around! I start feeling a cold sore coming on (a tingling, burning sensation), and on goes the Zovirax. Instant relief from the pain, and the sore stops in its tracks! Definitely worth every penny of that."

• Ama...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 2, 2018

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "Zovirax cream is amazing. I hardly ever get an actual cold sore anymore because I apply the cream as soon as I feel any tingle, and it prevents the outbreak. Well, 3 days ago, I missed the tingle because I had a huge pimple forming on my chin, just under my lip, and it was so painful that it masked the tingle on my lip. By the time I woke up and realized what was happening, my lip had already swollen quite badly. I was horrified and thought the battle was already lost, but I immediately started applying Zovirax. My lip still swelled up to 3 times its size over the next 36 hours, but then it started to recede and never even blistered! It is now 3 days after it started, and my lip is almost back to normal. I cannot believe it worked when the cold sore had already taken hold and stopped the blisters from erupting. I love this stuff so much! It cost about $80 for a 5g tube the last time I bought it, but it lasts a long time for me. I always carry it in my purse, so I am armed for battle."

• Ano...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 17, 2022

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "I have had cold sores for 20 years. In the last few years of using Zovirax, I have noticed it makes the sores far worse, and they have been taking two full weeks to heal and leaving a red mark for months afterwards (instead of 7 - 10 days like they used to). It occurred to me that the cold sore got a lot worse after applying the Zovirax cream, including making the cold sore and surrounding skin peel really badly and go red. I have had a big outbreak on my lip less than 72 hours ago, and for the first time, I decided not to apply Zovirax cream but instead have just put a blob of Vaseline on it instead. The sore started healing straight away and is almost invisible in just three days! I cannot believe it, and I can't believe that Zovirax has been making my sores worse these past few years. I won't ever be using it again."

• sic...
• October 31, 2015

Acyclovir topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I have genital herpes as well as SLE and related complications. I mention the other health issues only because the treatment for the lupus is to suppress the immune system, which can allow the herpes virus to become more active than it would be if my immune system was not compromised. I take valacyclovir daily for suppressive treatment, but when I do have an outbreak, I always add the acyclovir ointment. I find that it eases the discomfort and helps the sores heal a little bit faster."

• Jze...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2018

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "Zovirax duo honestly works wonders! As soon as I feel the tingling, I lather it on, and it’s gone the next day! There are also tablets that you can take, but they only work if the cold sore hasn’t appeared yet and you’re only getting the tingling sensation. Just ask for them at your chemist. They’re 3 pills, and you take them all at once, and the cold sore doesn’t even come up. I got my lips done and I got a cold sore the next day, used the cream, and it was gone. I went to get them done a second time and took the tablets as a precaution, and no cold sore even appeared! Love, love, love the cream!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 17, 2018

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "Zovirax does work. The trick is to apply small amounts as soon as possible and as often as possible. The more times you apply, the more chances you have of healing quicker. Applying 3 times a day just isn't going to cut it. (Every hour or less if you have to)"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 16, 2017

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "OMG LOL, extremely ridiculous how Zovirax cream is expensive in the USA, $700 plus! Zovirax cream costs in other countries less than $20.00. It's very sad how they take advantage of people here in the USA. Less than $20, LOL, same Zovirax cream. Have mercy on people and stop using them like this!"

• Sha...
• February 4, 2016

Acyclovir topical for Cold Sores "Living in the UK, I doubt if the ingredients are changed in Zovirax here, but I've been getting cold sores (maybe 10-15 a year) since I was little and have always been using Zovirax and now more commonly the Compeed patches. The stuff is useless, if anything, it spreads it around, even though I keep immaculate hygiene with them, only using cotton to apply, etc. The only thing the cream seems to do is hold it at the stage it's at, and as soon as the cream is off for more than half a day, it erupts again. I can have the cream on for ten days at a time. NOT CHEAP AND NOT EFFECTIVE. HELP."

• Nic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 12, 2020

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I have had cold sore outbreaks around my mouth since my childhood. I have tried absolutely everything (i.e., Lipactin, Abreva, and so on), and the only topical treatment I've found to be effective is acyclovir cream 5% (I buy generics). If applied early in the onset, sores typically remain small and will dry within a day or two. Before switching to acyclovir cream, an outbreak would last from 4 to 7 days. Now, 2 to 4 days is the usual. It feels like you are skipping the nasty and uncomfortable phase right after the outbreak to go straight to the 'recovery' phase where the skin is healing under the dried scabs. I always carry some with me now."

• Jus...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 30, 2017

Acyclovir topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I first contracted G. herpes and where the semen contacted my skin, and I've had eruptions of horrible, painful, blistering sores. It's first a tingle, and I immediately know... I have Valtrex, but it takes longer to work, even if I take it at the first tingle. For my cold sores, I used to get sores on my chin, but no longer. I get them on my ear... uh huh, that's right. My ear and the small of my back, right where my jeans hit. Once my ear swelled up so much, and my neck too, nothing helped but this cream. It stopped my chin sores (underneath where a second neck would be if I had one) altogether. My back sores happen at severe stress, ugh, abreva doesn't help. This cream does 100% for me."

• 032...
• January 23, 2017

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I have suffered from genital herpes for 6 years and tried all herbal prevention treatments as I suffer approximately 8 outbreaks a year. For the last 6 months, I have tried the acyclovir suppressive treatment, and in 6 months, I have had 1 very mild outbreak. After the first 4 months, I went from taking the recommended 2 tablets a day to just 1 a day. I am so glad I tried acyclovir, I feel I have my life back!"

• ouc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 26, 2017

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I was diagnosed with genital herpes earlier today, though the symptoms began a month ago and I mistook it for a yeast infection. The sores started last Monday (5 days ago). The burning was so bad to the point where I had trouble walking. After applying acyclovir earlier, I experienced moderate burning for a short amount of time, but after sitting down for a while, I felt relief. Let's hope that tomorrow the sores aren't as painful."