Abreva for Herpes Simplex (HSV) User Reviews

• Dus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2012

"Got a cold sore at the worst possible time. Met a chick. Cute chick. Everything was perfect. Really like her. Who knows I might marry her. Anyway, after our first date, I started getting a fever blister. She wanted me to come to her place the next day. Of course, I couldn't do so. Checked into how to remove the blisters, found some Abreva and paid $20, reluctantly, for a small tube. Used it for 2 days, using it almost every 2 hours. On the 3rd day, it's totally gone. No blister at all. Could have lost the lady of my dreams. Woohoo! Thanks, Abreva."

• Bom...
• October 23, 2014

"It does work fast. Usually, I can get rid of it in 2-4 days. The only issue I have is the cream is a dark white color, so if I apply it to my lip, the white cream is very noticeable on my lip. In public, I would have to wipe part of it off so no one would see that I have white cream on my lip. I wish this cream was more transparent."

• Shi...
• March 10, 2020

"Every few years, I seem to forget why I quit buying Abreva. Normally, my cold sores last 3-4 days, don't get very big, etc. But EVERY SINGLE TIME I give Abreva a try, one small bump turns into five or six huge blisters, so bad I can barely talk. I have literally only had that happen when using Abreva. I don't know why I keep going back to it. It's horrible."

• Ste...
• November 6, 2014

"I skipped the tingle stage altogether. My lips had been really dry and I was using Chapstick when all of a sudden there was a random blister on my lip. I immediately went and bought some Abreva. It never got past the blister stage. It has been 2 days and it just looks like a dry patch now. No scab. No oozing. Can't even tell it's there if you didn't know."

• Kan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 16, 2019

"So, unfortunately, I have had cold sore outbreaks for years. I hate the stigma attached to them. But I've always used Abreva, from the pump or the tube. Both worked great. However, this time I'm currently laid up in bed, unable to speak because my cold sore has literally multiplied into several little bumps. It's incredibly painful to do anything, and my lip looks so swollen I feel like I was punched in the lip. I don't know what happened to Abreva, but it used to be good. This time has almost got me wanting to go to the hospital."

• Hal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2020

"I’ve been getting fever blisters for years, usually 1-2 times a year. Now, I’m fairly good at getting them to die down within 2-5 days. I see a lot of negative comments about Abreva. I decided to try it because I really need this blister gone quick this time. I started using it in the first stage of a little bump yesterday-alongside lysine-rich foods only during my outbreaks, extra lysine supplements, and my valacyclovir. With my whole regimen, my blister has already begun to shrink and crust over within 24 hours-making this the quickest time I’ve made it basically disappear, and I think a huge part of that is the Abreva I added to the mix. You cannot solely rely on medication to aid in your outbreak, you must also watch your diet, your stress levels, and any triggers-such as heat, wind, sweating-anything that can irritate the virus-infected cells must be avoided or the medications are just a weak band-aid."

• Lee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 8, 2019

"Okay, peeps, here's the thing: cold sores don't always act the same way every time. It's possible that you are used to it looking a certain way every time it appears (like a small circle), but years later, it can make you look like you got punched in the mouth and then go back to a small circle like you are used to. It's not the product that makes your cold sore worse unless you have an allergic reaction to the chemical makeup of the product, but that would result in hives. Abreva is a great topical option to use along with other treatments. There are medications you can use to cut the cold sore short. Do a little research and talk to your doctor to see about getting a script. In my opinion, Abreva isn't strong enough to deal with the cold sore on its own, but it is definitely beneficial when you use it along with medication."

• Mum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2014

"I honestly didn't think Abreva would work. I got the first signs of a cold sore on a Thursday morning and applied the Abreva immediately. On Friday, my cold sore blistered just a little bit and was somewhat itchy, but the Abreva definitely kept the cold sore from getting any bigger and under control. By Saturday, I noticed that the blisters were already drying out and on the way to healing well. On Sunday, it was gone completely! I'd definitely use Abreva again! Without it, I'd have to face a whole week or more of enduring a very itchy, fast-growing, and ugly cold sore that would make me feel ugly and very self-conscious."

• Lin...
• July 10, 2017

"Abreva used to work, not anymore. It appears they have changed the formula. It has been a few years since I've had a cold sore or fever blister. Years ago, when I used Abreva, I could feel a tingling sensation when I applied it. Within 24 hours, you could tell a difference, the fever blister was not spreading but getting smaller. The Abreva purchased in 2017, you feel nothing when you put it on. Does not work like it used to. Please bring back the old formula."

• Don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2020

"If you already have blisters or lesions, go to the doctor... do not buy Abreva. Just like you, I hoped it would fix the problem in 2 1/2 days as advertised and didn't really have time for a trip to the doctor's office. I wasted $30 and prolonged my face deformity by relying on Abreva. New blisters actually popped up after I started using it! Only after I got proper antivirals did the blister (and its Abreva friends) begin to heal. The doctor actually told me, 'I've never had much luck with patients who use Abreva.' Get antivirals if you need to show your face in public anytime soon."

• Tru...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 25, 2014

"I have been affected by this virus all my life. I found Abreva, and the blisters disappear within a few days of treatment. I have no side effects from this cream. The key is to catch it early and treat the blister(s) promptly and as prescribed. I am grateful for Abreva being an over-the-counter medication."

• TJ ...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 10, 2019

"I’m amazed at how many people have had the same experience with Abreva recently. I am convinced that the formula has changed. I get cold sores very infrequently, but I have always had success with applying it at the first tingle or itch. I have had two this year and applied immediately, but ended up with full-blown blisters and a puffy lip, which has never happened to me before. Good to know it’s not just me... I was thinking my body had become immune. I think I will need to look into other options at this point."

• Gre...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 6, 2017

"I have taken this medicine since it first came out. I felt the tingle of a new sore the other day and bought a bottle of Abreva (this bottle has a pump to supply the medication, which is more liquidish). After 2 days of use, I realized that not only had the Abreva NOT worked, my cold sore had spread to 3 times the original size and was still contagious (tingly and sore). I mentioned this to my husband, who said we had an older squeeze tube of Abreva (paste consistency) in his bathroom, and he suggested I try that instead. After 12 hours and 2 applications, the cold sore is already getting better. My guess is that the makers of Abreva have watered down the active ingredient so much that it is no longer effective, so they make more money."

• Flo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 12, 2017

"Abreva was a godsend. I to apply at the first tingle, and a cold sore would not even develop. Fast forward a couple of years (about 1-2 sores tried to come out per year, but I was successful in full stop), Abreva no longer works. It even appears to spread the blisters? I no longer feel the numbing sensation that I used to from the Abreva cream. I'm so disappointed! I feel like I may have become immune to the cream, or else the formula has changed."

• Han...
• March 8, 2020

"I started using the very first day I felt that tingle, and within 4 days I had another blister, and then just as the first one was starting to clear up, along came a third. It’s been 7 days since I started using this product, and I now have 3 blisters that don’t look like they’re going anywhere soon. I’m so disappointed."

• Anonymous
• June 21, 2019

"I just joined the pool of unfortunate souls who fell victim to this harmful product. It's overpriced, the applicator isn't user-friendly, and yes, it made the cold sore way worse than it's ever been before. I usually get these sores right after having the flu. Sometimes, they're barely visible. This time, I had one tiny little spot in the center of my lip. I applied the product generously to the entire area. The entire bottom lip blew up within a few hours. There needs to be a class action lawsuit and a recall of this horrible product."

• Tan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 27, 2020

"The negative reviews are wild to me. I've been using this for 20 years. I don't get them often enough to use the same tube twice, but the moment I feel even the slightest tingle, I am at a pharmacy within 10 minutes buying this. It works if you use it RIGHT away. The giant blister clump won't form. That is exactly how it is advertised. If the blisters have already formed, it will be as effective as mayonnaise, just go ahead and cancel your plans, you're done for a couple of weeks."

• Joe...
• May 1, 2016

"Best product out there, however, don't buy the pump bottle. It pumps out four times more than you need, and the tip clogged overnight and hardens, more waste. It's very expensive for the amount you get, so no use to be wasteful. Buy the squeeze tube instead."

• Cin...
• October 3, 2016

"I experience cold sores 3-4 times a year. My RX acyclovir was long expired, so I tried Abreva. Walgreens only had the pump bottle available. It was almost as effective as RX. My complaint is that the amount dispensed is at least 3 times what is needed... so much waste considering the cost!!"

• Mas...
• February 16, 2017

"I woke up in the morning with redness at the site and a very slight bump that I could tell would soon form into a blister. I immediately applied Abreva to the site as instructed and continued reapplying every 40 minutes or so. Within 3 hours, the cold sore erupted into a full-blown multi-blister sore. I quickly removed whatever was there and began to apply Zovirax. I have used it before but wanted to give Abreva a try. I WILL THROW AWAY WHATEVER I HAVE BOUGHT AND WILL NEVER USE ABREVA again. It literally made it 100 times worse."

• Anonymous
• September 10, 2016

"So I started getting cold sores when I was young, but as I grew older, I had stopped getting them. Anyway, I got a cold sore 2 days before my 20th birthday, right? I mean, I was completely devastated, so I searched online and found some reviews on Abreva. I headed out to purchase it (yes, small tube, very expensive). I thought it was worth the try, but I wasn't expecting much. Two days later, my cold sore was barely visible, and to be honest, I'm only doing this review because I do think the product was worth the price and it actually works."

• Cas...
• May 23, 2017

"Felt a little numb on the top of my lip, so I ran to put some Abreva on it. I used it for about a day and a half as directed (5x daily) with quite a healthy amount each time. I realized after the day and a half that anywhere I put the Abreva, the cold sore had spread to and was now blistering. It did the exact opposite of what it said it was supposed to do. Will never use again."

• S7a...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2014

"I've used Abreva before, but it didn't work as effectively. Perhaps that was because I used it probably 2 days after my cold sore had already begun to swell up/blister. This time around, I woke up to work and felt that tingling feeling on my top lip - knowing it was a cold sore. I treated it with my Burt's Bees chapstick throughout the day at work. It wasn't until late evening when I did a Target run to get Abreva. I applied it right away and probably 3 times that night. It's been 3 days, and my cold sore has reached the point where my blister could be picked off and healing. I applied it at least 5 times a day, every 3 hours. I'm very satisfied! My cold sore skipped the whole stage where it plumps up, like a BIG BUMP on my lip, went straight to the blister."

• Kay...
• May 17, 2015

"It really works! I've got cold sores twice before, the first outbreak was in the middle of my bottom lip and the corner of my mouth at the same time! It was so bad I still have a faint scar! The second one was bad as well. This time, by the time I felt the burning tingle and ran to the bathroom mirror, there were already 2 tiny blisters! I got Abreva immediately, but all reviews and directions say get it before the first blister shows. Well, it didn't make the 2 tiny blisters I already had disappear (I normally have a cluster of 10+), but it made it so there was no redness and it stopped any new blisters. Normally, it takes 1-2 weeks to heal. I'm on day 3, and I'm amazed! It's expensive, but it's 110% worth it."

• Smp...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 17, 2019

"Abreva has worked for me every time. If you use it at the first sign, and rub it in until the product disappears every time you use it, it will stop the virus from growing and spreading. My outbreaks are gone in 3 to 4 days. If you dab it on and don’t rub it in, it won’t work. If you use it after the blister has begun to form, it won’t work. Also, even if you use it at the first sign, the blister will form, but it won’t be as big."