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Zovirax Cream User Reviews & Ratings

Zovirax Cream has an average rating of 7.0 out of 10 from a total of 50 reviews on Drugs.com. 62% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 26% reported a negative experience.

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Reviews for Zovirax Cream

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Joh...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • February 16, 2021

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."

1 / 10
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51 Report
  • Dee...
  • November 22, 2015

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."

10 / 10
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35 Report
  • Kir...
  • May 9, 2016

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!!"

10 / 10
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45 Report
  • Arj...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 30, 2020

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!"

1 / 10
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16 Report
  • Col...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 5, 2019

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."

1 / 10
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18 Report

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  • Anonymous
  • December 10, 2008

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."

9 / 10
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31 Report
  • Ver...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • January 8, 2015

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."

10 / 10
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23 Report
  • K-P...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • December 17, 2015

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."

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

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."

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

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."

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

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!"

9 / 10
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12 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • February 17, 2018

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)"

9 / 10
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10 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • December 16, 2017

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!"

2 / 10
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13 Report
  • Sha...
  • February 4, 2016

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."

2 / 10
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19 Report
  • Jus...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • January 30, 2017

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."

10 / 10
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12 Report
  • bet...
  • November 17, 2011

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I got HSV-1 in 2008 from cheating on my now ex-wife. It was never a problem until a breakout in 2010. I never went on antivirals until this breakout, and I now know why this was so bad. In the summer of 2010, I had neck surgery and had 4 fusions from C4-C7, and after reviewing this, the virus lies dormant in the base of the neck in a nerve area called the ganglion. If you have HSV-2 (genital) herpes, it lies dormant in the lower back. So, my first breakout 6 months ago, in June 2011, gave me the worst ever, making not only a cold sore but fever blister clusters on the top and middle lip. Been on acyclovir since July 400 mg twice daily. Still barely helped. 3 days ago, got Zovirax cream, and after 6 months, it's finally gone. This works awesome."

10 / 10
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17 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • July 19, 2018

For Cold Sores "The cold sores usually don't even appear if I apply the cream at the first signs of tingling. Once, I failed to catch the tingly symptoms at the start and only realized when my lips began to harden and split. I rushed to the pharmacy to purchase Zovirax, and I managed to dodge the embarrassing process of allowing the cold sore to fully blister and crust. I bet no one even suspected I had cold sores. I don't know why everyone is comparing prices here, but it costs approximately USD $15 for a 2g tube where I come from. Just apply a little will do, I'm not sure why someone mentioned finishing the 2g tube within 3 days. It can last me two years before it expires. Read the directions that it comes with."

10 / 10
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9 Report
  • Ano...
  • February 22, 2018

For Cold Sores "Zovirax works great on cold sores. I use it at the first sign for a few days, and it doesn't even blister. If I get a blister, it doesn't get big and dries up in 2 to 3 days. Abreva never worked for me. This stuff is great."

10 / 10
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6 Report
  • Gir...
  • December 14, 2019

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I have had a spot come up twice in 14 years on my index finger. Index finger on the right hand, infected when worked as a dental assistant on patients. This time they prescribed this cream, and I noticed a great change. You never know what you're exposed to in the medical/dental field. Gloves still tear. But luckily, there are meds to help. This product has lessened the swelling and throbbing."

7 / 10
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  • Sha...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 22, 2021

For Cold Sores "I used this in the UK. £7 for a tiny tube. Which would have been worth it if it had worked. It advised to use 'liberally' on the affected area, which I did. The cold sore was one of the ones that's on the edge of your lip and into the inner part inside your mouth. The cream kept sticking to my upper lip. When I went to brush my teeth that night, my gums were bright red, really painful, and bleeding. I rinsed my mouth with lots of water and wiped off the Zovirax, and that calmed things down a bit. If that wasn't bad enough, my cold sore is now far worse. I would advise: don't use this product. 0/10."

1 / 10
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  • Kis...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • March 30, 2024

For Cold Sores "I hate Herpes/Cold sores (I guess it's the same). I had trouble with it for many years. I always scratched it, or accidentally damaged it with my teeth. I always freaked out when I felt that tingling on my mouth, then I saw the herpes. About a year ago, I found this Godsent cream, and man, it's awesome. It penetrated the herpes in like 3 days. That was a year ago. Now, about 2 days ago, I noticed that I would have a herpes (it hurt and was ready to be visible, so it was in an early stage), so I quickly bought one, and just one and a half days later, BOOM it's gone. It hasn't even popped, and it was really ugly in the morning. I use it every 3 hours and man, this is a lifesaver. It's completely gone. I recommend this epic cream, it will save SO much time. Where I live, it's really affordable (in USD like 5-6$). I guess if you are allergic, you can't use it well, but if you don't (like me), this will kill herpes in 2 days. Totally awesome!"

10 / 10
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1 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 23, 2022

For Cold Sores "I have used Abreva in the past with no luck. I started using Zovirax on day 3 of my outbreak, so a blister had already formed. This stuff is great! It stopped my cold sore from getting worse and started healing it right away. Now that I have it, I'm hopeful it will work even better if used right away at the first sign. My only complaint is that this stuff is EXPENSIVE. Without insurance, it's $700 for a 30g tube. With insurance, it was still $171. Honestly, it's been worth every penny."

8 / 10
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2 Report
  • Sam...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 13, 2021

For Cold Sores "Best cold sore cream I've used. Suffer from cold sores frequently, and no other treatment has really worked. This, however, eases pain and stops spread and growth in just a few days. As well as this, it's so cheap, only a few quid. Would highly recommend it."

10 / 10
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3 Report
  • HFa...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 14, 2020

For Cold Sores "Would highly recommend giving this a go. Was diagnosed with HSV-1 cold sores last year, and this has by far been my best experience. Had a cold sore first appear yesterday and has pretty much already cleared up after using this Zovirax Duo a few times over the course of 24 hours. Love this stuff!"

10 / 10
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2 Report
  • Izz...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 8, 2017

For Cold Sores "I am 21 years old and just suffered from my first major breakout of cold sores in my life. It was pretty bad, and I was frustrated from the unsightly sores appearing on my lips and mouth. I also had an outbreak just below my eye in the sensitive skin. I went to the doctor, and she prescribed me Zovirax cream, and I saw a lessened appearance in the worst of the cold sores on my lip in less than 24 hours. While it takes time for them to heal, I definitely think this is a worthwhile drug. It cost me $45, so it's not super cheap, but it really alleviated some of my symptoms. I had another cold sore forming on my lip just below the bad one, and it stopped that one dead in its tracks, and I already see it healing and not blistering. Worth it!"

10 / 10
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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.