Abreva for Herpes Simplex (HSV) User Reviews (Page 3)

• Chu...
• March 25, 2015

"I haven't had a full-on cold sore in 10 years. All due to Abreva. As soon as I feel that warm feeling and see a little red on my lip, I apply it, and an hour later, it's gone. I keep a tube at home and in my car. I'll even apply some before a big date or event just in case. This stuff is amazing. I deal with clients daily, a cold sore is a deal breaker. Miracle."

• Col...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 22, 2015

"I just had the second worst experience with cold sores. I have had them my entire life. Once I had two of them on my bottom lip in the sixth grade, a horrible experience. Anyways, I just had one on my upper lip two weeks ago, then got a cold. (Don't wipe your nose too hard!) - caused me a minor cold sore that was gone within a day with Abreva because I caught it soon. And if things couldn't get any better, the next morning I woke up with a fat lip and a nasty cold sore. I suspect it was due to my dry lips. Keep your lips moisturized! Abreva works, guys. Trust me. My suggestion? Pop those blisters and quickly dry them up with a tissue and put Abreva over the blister for faster results. Think about it-you're essentially speeding up the work."

• Dip...
• May 10, 2016

"Yesterday, I felt the familiar tingle, throbbing sensation and headed to my local drugstore to buy a tube. They were out but had a generic brand. I passed and found another store that had Abreva. Although I didn't have a blister yet, I began using it right away and applied liberally. Now, 24 hours later, I have no more signs of a cold sore coming and no blister. I think/hope I was able to stop it before it got started. I think the key was to start using Abreva before a blister appears. I have used it in the past after a blister appeared and it did speed up healing time."

• Anonymous
• July 18, 2018

"I have had cold sores once or twice per year since I was a young kid. I heard about Abreva several years ago and tried it. Wow! It worked great. Nothing I have tried before, and I had tried several remedies, worked as well. Smaller blister, less discomfort, and much quicker healing. It really did shorten the healing time by half or better. OCD guy that I am, I apply it much more often than directed, probably at least ten times per day. I have no idea if the extra applications really help, but the stuff really does work."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2015

"I have been plagued with cold sores my entire life, and this is the only topical cream that works at all. My doctor also prescribed me Valtrex, and when I pair the two, my cold sore disappears within hours."

• Pro...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2017

"Abreva helps with the pain and itching that cold sores can cause. But that's it. The herpes virus is internal. It sheds during times of stress or sickness. No topical medication is going to stop the herpes virus from running its course internally. Only oral medications taken by mouth can shorten the cycle of the herpes virus when it sheds. Personally, I take Acyclovir, prescribed by my dermatologist, upon feeling the first tingle of a herpes cold sore. I have found that it cuts the cycle in half. Other people prefer Valtrex. If you want real results during a herpes outbreak, you need an oral medication. Keep it handy in your prescription cabinet. Not a topical cream. Herpes is an internal virus. Talk to your doctor."

• Ace...
• May 29, 2016

"I had a cold sore on the side of my mouth (not exaggerating) for two months, it would start to heal, then right before it would get better, it would come back. I finally went and got some Abreva after checking the reviews, and it worked like a miracle in such a short time, I just could not believe it. I'm so happy with it, I'm here writing good reviews."

• MzK...
• June 19, 2015

"I am in my 60s and have suffered cold sores most of my life. My first use of Abreva was a year ago. I now use it a few times per year when I feel a cold sore coming on. I never have scabs or sores anymore. The cold sore does not develop! I wish I had known sooner. It has made my life better. I cannot stand how big my cold sores get."

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2012

"I love this product. Usually, my cold sores are anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks. I woke up with a cold sore Friday, got the cream, and applied it at least every hour, and that very day the sore burst on its own. It is Monday morning, and it's already healing and has gotten significantly smaller, and I noticed it's not as red as it was, so it's hardly noticeable. I'm sure this will be gone by Weds/Thurs at the latest. It is very small packaging, but every time I put some on, I use a Q-tip, and a little goes a long way. It still looks unused, and I've put it on at least every hour since I got it. Honestly, at first I was discouraged from using it because of the reviews, but I'm so glad I still got it."

• Nun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2018

"Unfortunately, I've dealt with cold sores since elementary age. Following a friend's recommendation, I tried Abreva, and it does wonders. The trick is applying the medication to the sore several times a day the moment you have symptoms, rather than full-blown blisters or crusting occurring. Once the blisters form, the medication WILL reduce the heal time, but the 'outbreak damage' has already happened, and nothing will help healing but time. Once you feel that swelling, pain, tingle, itch, and/or heat to the area, apply the medication. The key is don't wait until it forms the blisters and/or crust. Hope this helps!"

• cys...
• December 31, 2015

"Abreva sucks. I don't get cold sores myself, but my boyfriend does. Every time he used Abreva, like it says when you start to feel it coming on, he'd use it. But Abreva seems to only make it WORSE and puff out. So, some lady said to try GLY OXIDE, you can find it at any drug store, but it works 10,000 times better than Abreva. Just thought I'd leave this thought with some of you, maybe you can try it too."

• Abb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2019

"Abreva has not worked for me. I strongly recommend lemon balm. It’s cheaper than Abreva and actually works. I put a few drops on a Q-tip and apply it for 10 minutes. I do this a few times a day, and the cold sore is gone the next day. My cold sore lasts a day or two, rather than a week or more like it did before I used lemon balm."

• Anonymous
• July 1, 2011

"I recently got an ugly cold sore on the bottom of my lips, but did not catch it early enough. I used Abreva during the blistering stage, and already it has made a difference. The product is too dry for my lips, however, I am using it in conjunction with Carmex. I am on the fourth day, and the sore has gone down quite a bit."

• Spi...
• December 7, 2014

"I haven't had a cold sore since my teenage years. When I looked in the mirror yesterday morning, I was in shock to see one on my lip. It was just the beginning of a cold sore. I immediately remembered seeing an ad for Abreva, and it claimed to heal sores fast! I had nothing to lose and knew my Garth Brooks concert was coming up in two days. Knowing my friends and family would be there, there would be pictures of my smile everywhere. The product was amazing. Two days using it, and it's pretty much all gone! Wow. It was a miracle worker! Thank you, Abreva. It was easy to use, and I couldn't believe how fast it worked! Ready for my pictures in my all-time favorite Garth Brooks."

• Pet...
• January 30, 2009

"The first two or three times I used this medication, my lesions were past the 'weeping' stage of the virus and on to healing. Subsequent applications of this medication now seem to have no effect. I've moved on to using Zovirax, which seems like it not only halts any progress of the outbreak, and my healing times are faster than any other medication I've used. Abreva just seems to not work at all now."

• Ali...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 2, 2016

"Does not work one bit. I get cold sores quite often. I've been trying Abreva for a few years now, and it's a complete waste of money. Felt one come on... put Abreva literally every 15 min, and now it's bigger and it spread... don't waste your hard-earned $25."

• Iva...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 3, 2020

"Abreva really works for me. I’ve tried every other suggestion out there for the past several decades, to little avail. It must be used IMMEDIATELY upon the first tingle, HOWEVER, several times per day, and more often if it gets washed off in the shower or after eating. Rarely now do my cold sores get out of control for weeks on end. When I catch them early, and I happen to have Abreva at hand, I’m looking at 3 or 4 days max to keep it down or essentially invisible. I find that I still have to treat new ones that may try to pop up in close proximity, but that holds true whether you use Abreva or not. Keeping it down and treated also avoids serious scabbing, cracking, bleeding, which can all add days or weeks in additional healing time. Don’t give up, people, it’s probably the best thing out there if caught early. Sure, some breakouts are worse than others, but Abreva is still my best buddy. I keep it at hand always, at work, and bring it with me whenever I travel."

• CWF...
• January 29, 2020

"58-yr-old male with near 50 years experience with cold sores! When I was young, my mom insisted on kissing me; seeing that “thing” on her lip, I resisted. Ever since? Cold sores. Who knew better in 1970? Started with my own home remedies (using softened underside of a bar of soap to gather that 'cream'; worked somewhat.) Tried other concoctions. Then in 2000, Abreva! Used properly, works like magic elixir. After showering, washing your face, need to reapply. Being allergic? Can't predict that. Don't use it once you learn that. Key: apply upon FIRST notice of tingling. Then, you NEVER GET THE COLD SORE!!! Be sure to apply every few hours, just a little, for a couple of days, even a couple applications AFTER tingling stops. You'll end up using about 1/5 of a tube; careful with the first 'squirts' – it'll come gushing out. Now, generics out there aplenty. Make sure they have 10% docosanol – the active ingredient that does the work. Go with whatever generic is cheapest. No more than $8/tube today."

• DDa...
• March 15, 2019

"Felt a cold sore coming on, so went to get something for it. I was a bit put off by the price of Abreva, but I was helping teach a course in a few days and really wanted to get it under control. Not only did Abreva not work, but I got a second blister in another spot! By far, the worst cold sore(s) of my life! A wasted $20 for sure!"

• Abr...
• February 17, 2017

"This product saves me all the time. If anyone has issues, they should be sure to consider how to maintain your lip on the path of healing. Examples: DO NOT LICK LIPS, it is such a terrible way to spread to the other parts of your lips and also the inside. I also advise to make sure you put chapstick to moisten the rest of your lips, but not including the infected area because you will spread it. Best advice I can give you is to apply Abreva as soon as you feel even the slightest bump. It helps prevent it and quicken the process. Make sure you use a Q-tip because I think the best way to cure a cold sore is to be very clean with it and fast to cure. Abreva is probably the best in the market and the first to consider."

• Nes...
• March 18, 2017

"One morning I woke up with a tiny, unnoticeable cold sore, so I decided to get Abreva. I cleaned the area of the sore and put it on with clean hands and went to bed. I woke up this morning with a huge cold sore that is now spreading badly. Never use it again."

• Krt...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2015

"There are reviews that may make you question it. But I've had cold sores I left untreated that left scars and lasted for weeks. This isn't a cure, but it significantly reduced the size and time of my cold sore. It's worth the twenty bucks."

• boc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2015

"I was already 3 days into a breakout and decided to go to the pharmacy and look for something to help alleviate the pain. I chose Abreva because it was FDA approved, but truthfully, I wasn't expecting much. To make matters worse, I have a beard that covers the sore. After only 1 day, the sore was much, much better, and virtually all of the related pain on my cheek and chin was gone. By the second day, the sore was barely there. I'm now a fan of this treatment and will definitely purchase it again at the very first sign of an outbreak. For me, Abreva is a 'keeper.'"

• ash...
• April 12, 2015

"At first, when I was reading these reviews, I thought they were a bit excessive and was sure the company was paying people to write positive reviews. But after my experience, I now can see they are true. It was the first morning of my 3-week vacation in LA, and I woke up with a cold sore. Awesome. It already was at its blister stage and so swollen and painful (top left side of lip). I got the Abreva pump from CVS and spent a whole day continuously reapplying. It completely reduced the swelling and blister, and now it's completely shrunk and about to disappear, and it's day 2. Usually, I get cold sores once or twice a year that last 10-14 days. I cannot believe this actually worked. Definitely worth the $22."

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2017

"I am so impressed with this product. Thursday morning, started to get tingling and bubbles, went to the pharmacy and purchased Abreva in the afternoon and applied as directed since then... Here I am Saturday afternoon and already scabbing and drying up. Wow, thanks Abreva!"