Valtrex for Cold Sores User Reviews

• Des...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2013

"You should only read this review if you have a cold sore that you need to have removed ASAP. I am 18 and in high school, so there is nothing worse than walking around school with one. In my situation, I woke up in the middle of Monday morning with a tingle on my lip. Prom is Friday. I was in panic mode because mine usually last 1-2 weeks. In this desperate measure, my mom called and got prescribed Valtrex. I didn't think it would work because the cold sore was completely out and I missed the pre-forming stage. I took 2 Valtrex on Monday at around 2 p.m and another 2 before I went to bed. I also applied Denavir. It is Tuesday night and the cold sore is completely gone! It's a miracle!"

• Anonymous
• October 29, 2008

"My face started tingling while I was at work, and I had a couple of little pustules starting to form. I put Denavir on my cold sore until I could make it to the doctor. Nine hours later, my cold sore was more full, and I went to the doctor and received a prescription for Valtrex. I took my first dose and went to sleep. Later that day, I took my second dose, and I noticed after my second dose the pustules started to dry up. I read a lot of material saying that you need to take Valtrex before the cold sore actually appears for it to be most effective, but I can truly say that it still works even if the cold sore is visible. I never knew that I could get rid of a cold sore so fast. Definitely try Valtrex."

• Per...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 16, 2016

"I've had fever blisters/cold sores/herpes of the mouth, etc since I was about 2 years old. So I know the horrible way it affects your self-esteem. Not sure who kissed me as a baby, but may they forever burn! P.S. don't kiss your babies or let anyone else do it. I've learned a lot about the virus and could tell you many facts, such as it's really just a virus. You get it, your immune system fights it, and it dies... but not without leaving some of its DNA in your body. If you get cold sores, the DNA lingers in a big nerve ganglia in your neck. And no you can't have it removed, I asked! Valtrex is a lifesaver. Tell your doctor right away you need a script for 30 w 5 refills. Be firm. Don't be swayed. Always have 2 on you. Take ASAP."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 5, 2019

"I’m 26. I was diagnosed with herpes 2 years ago. This is my third time having an outbreak on my face, normally, it’s just one cold sore that is gone within days thanks to Valtrex. This time, I’m broken out from my nose to my chin. Bumps everywhere! On my lips, above my lips. This is also the first time I’ve experienced the horrible pain associated with oral herpes. It’s dry and feels scabby. I’m three days in and actually went to urgent care because my mouth was swollen this morning. The doctor told me to take my 500 mg Valtrex 3 times a day. I’m praying this clears soon because I’m at the point where I don’t want any human interactions, I’m so embarrassed and feel so ugly. Glad to see there are others out there struggling just like me. Hang in there!"

• XSH...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 9, 2025

"Valtrex is amazing. I never knew this magical medication existed until I began working for a physician after college. She prescribed it to me, and I couldn’t believe how well and fast it worked. No more two weeks of embarrassment and isolation with these gross blisters on my lips and face! I always keep two doses on hand: 1G and 500mg. For best results, I suggest 2 grams twice daily on day 1 and then 500mg twice daily for a day or two after. I have an outbreak as we speak, took the high dose yesterday, and one 500mg this morning, and it’s dried out! I will take one more dose tonight and should be good! Highly recommend!"

• Jam...
• August 15, 2013

"I was one of those 'just live with your cold sore outbreaks' people until I was introduced to Valtrex. Stress triggers my cold sores and I tried everything over the counter. Abreva made my outbreaks worse and I became pretty hopeless at this point. Long story short, at college I had such a big outbreak I decided to see the Health Center & I was prescribed just 1 Valtrex tab about 2 days into the outbreak. The morning after I took the pill, I felt like days had gone by because it had healed so fast. If you get cold sores, you do not need to deal for 10 days. If you take a Valtrex at the first sign of symptoms, either your blister does not even form, or you're looking at a 2 day hassle as opposed to a day 10 disaster."

• nur...
• October 11, 2013

"Every time I tell someone about this miracle medicine, I am hoping that they are listening to me. If you get cold sores, this is ESSENTIAL. I never leave home without it. I use it in combination with L-Lysine to reduce symptoms. I am getting one right now and did not feel the tingle, so I am hoping it will still work. Sometimes there is just no getting rid of a nasty, tough one. I am 23 years old, and when I have a cold sore, I absolutely obsess over it and I try to hide my face as much as possible. I hope they someday find a CURE for this virus, but in the meantime Valtrex is amazing!"

• VNP...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 13, 2014

"I'd suffered quite a few breakouts of cold sores before discovering Valtrex, so I know the pain and the lengthy healing process all too well. This literally stops cold sores in their tracks the moment you take it. Whatever condition the cold sore is in when you take the medicine, it will not get worse, only better, so the sooner the better. If you take it AFTER the cold sore has become blister(s), it will stop the blister from multiplying, BUT you would have to deal with the blisters bursting, exposing the ulcer and then the healing of the ulcer. If you take it at the tingling/itchy stage of the cold sore BEFORE any blister is formed, you should be able to get away with the breakout altogether. Good luck!"

• maw...
• August 6, 2009

"I went to the doctor with a bottom lip full of cold sores. I was swollen beyond anything. The doctor prescribed Valtrex, 1 gram, 3 times a day (every 8 hours). Well, 24 hours have passed, my swelling is down to almost normal, and I'm already in the scab stage. AMAZING! I will be keeping this on hand all the time. By the way, I have been suffering with cold sores for 20 years, and have used everything from Abreva to L-Lysine to other homeopathic remedies. These are the quickest results EVER. Definitely worth the money."

• run...
• March 10, 2020

"51-year-old healthy male. In my 30s and 40s, I would get the worst cold sores. I was prescribed Valtrex about 10 years ago as needed for outbreaks. The outbreaks lessened in recent years, to maybe 1-2 a year, and shorter/less painful. However, in the last 6 months, I've started having recurrent outbreaks, about once every 4-6 weeks, age, stress most likely. My doctor started prescribing me Valtrex daily. Today, I got up from bed and had a very small cold sore on the corner of my mouth. Very frustrated and took an additional 1g tablet to help, and thankfully, it hasn't become worse. Will see over time if it works on frequency. I will say, Valtrex has helped shorten the duration (now just a few days compared to weeks before), lessen the severity and pain (now small, barely there ones). In rare occasions, I've been able to stop an outbreak before it occurs, but that's so hard to do. I am very empathetic to my fellow cold sore strugglers, and to me the best cold sore is no cold sore at all."

• mb9...
• December 29, 2014

"I used to get cold sores frequently and have become so anxious about getting them that I keep a script for Valtrex in my wallet. After three years of being cold sore free, I felt the burn and saw a patch of redness on my top lip. I immediately went to the pharmacy, filled the script, and took my first gram of Valtrex within an hour of the first tingling/burning. I went to bed and woke up perfectly fine and took the second dosage nonetheless. I have no cold sore, no redness, nothing. I can't begin to tell you how much of a relief it was to wake up without that horrible throbbing, swollen blister. I so highly recommend this. I can't imagine being without it now."

• Anonymous
• July 30, 2008

"I take Valtrex for cold sores. Just taking 2, twice a day for one day, and the next day it is gone. It is really a lifesaver. Anyone who has ever had a cold sore should really talk to your doctor about keeping Valtrex on hand."

• Fir...
• December 15, 2016

"First time using Valtrex (generic) after mixed results with every single treatment out there. First sign was a very small red bump at 9 PM, missed the tingle stage. Took 2 1g tablets and started using ice to not let it grow. Fell asleep around 11 PM and applied some tea tree oil. Woke up to almost nothing. Small red mark that was not raised or tender. Unnoticeable. Forgotten by the next day. Worth every penny."

• 52y...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2015

"Awesome results. I rarely have cold sores. Roughly one every 2-3 years. Never have had ANY relief from various home remedies or OTC solutions. Cold sore forms in the same place on the upper lip just below my mustache, which can be confused in the initial stages with an ingrown hair/pimple. The difference being that hair doesn't form on the lips! Ha. Outbreak swells quickly within 2 days to a nickel-sized dimension with an actual open sore (yellow/white) 1/3 the size. I took 2 doses of 2 mg 12 hours apart after swelling had started. A small yellow outline was already forming under the skin of the lip, and I thought I was going to have another 2-week episode. Woke up this morning, and the swelling was down and yellow gone! Really amazing!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 10, 2014

"I have had cold sores for my entire life. When I was a baby, I used to get them in and around my eyes, which was a terrifying experience for my parents, as I could have lost my sight. I was prescribed Valtrex after I had reached the beginning stages of puberty, and it is absolutely amazing! If you take it right when you feel the tingle, the cold sore will not even appear, and if you take it when the blisters have just formed, they will not worsen. And for those who have a fully formed monster cold sore, never fear! Valtrex will shorten the healing time drastically, for me about 3 days."

• Bar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 19, 2015

"I take Valtrex on a semi-regular basis to help my immune system. For example, I take one per day, plus vitamin D, and never get a cold sore. I did this for six months so I wouldn't have one at my daughter's wedding! They always appear when I am stressed or in the sun. I still take them a few times a week and use an SPF sunscreen every day, which helps a lot. It can be expensive, but I will pay anything if it works, forget the over-the-counter stuff."

• Joy...
• April 11, 2015

"This medication is amazing! My doctor prescribed it to me because of the anxiety/depression I had from getting my first cold sore. I went to a baseball game (cold and windy), got drunk, and the next day I felt a bump on my lip. I took 4 pills (500 mg) immediately, then another 4 pills 12 hours later. The sore never progressed, and after a few hours, the bump was gone! You MUST take them at the first sign of the sore for them to work!! There were no side effects. These pills are expensive but worth keeping 8 of them on you at all times. They helped me. I hope this helps someone!"

• Doc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2016

"You guys, this medication deserves some kind of award. I have this random patch of HSV-1 on my eyebrow. It flares up a couple of times a year. Previously, I have been prescribed acyclovir for breakouts. I wasn't too convinced it really did anything at all, but maybe it reduced my breakout time by half a day. This time, I happened to have a doctor's appointment that fell on day 3 of a breakout, so I mentioned that I wanted some acyclovir to help. My doctor said that was an older medication, and Valtrex was newer and better, so he gave me that. WITHIN 24 HOURS, THE BLISTERS ARE NO LONGER BLISTERS AT ALL AND I AM HEALING. They did not burst, they just totally regressed. I took 2 2g pills twice a day for one day. This is a miracle drug. 10/10."

• hsv...
• March 11, 2014

"Valtrex is truly the only cold sore medication that will act fast and diminish your pain and blisters within days. You will start feeling relief in hours. No other cold sore medication can compete. The only downside is you have to get a prescription for it. Depending on your insurance, it could be fair to pricey. If you are like me and suffer from HSV 1 & 2, ask your doctor for 30-60 tablets. Most doctors will only prescribe the recommended dosage for treatment (5 tablets) with 1 refill. It's such a pain having to go back to doctors when you have a simple outbreak. This will ensure a good supply for whenever you might need it. Always works FASTEST when taken at the first sign of sore."

• Hyb...
• September 9, 2016

"I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it for myself. So maybe you'll have to take my word on it. But this medicine is absolutely a lifesaver. This is my third cold sore. My first time was years ago, I had no idea what it was, or when I did, it was too late and I had to deal alone. The second time was a year ago, I called my doctor, who prescribed a round of Valtrex. Because I caught it kind of early, it still progressed but was nothing like the first time. So my third time is happening right now. But since my last outbreak, I begged my doctor for a daily script. Wednesday, I woke up with a small lump and I knew. I took 1000 mg and watched it slightly raise, and I could see the pustules under the bump. I took another 1000 at night. It never progressed past that."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 14, 2013

"I'm 27 years old and have been a cold sore sufferer ever since I can remember. I've tried everything under the sun to keep my outbreaks under control, but nothing seemed to work. I went to my dermatologist, and he prescribed this medicine. I usually get about four cold sores a year, and since I have been prescribed this medicine, I literally have not had one! I take two pills when I feel it coming on, and it stops it dead in its tracks. This medication is a miracle to me, as we all know how embarrassing having a cold sore is. It has saved me from many Friday nights spent in bed hiding my face while all my friends are out and having fun. 10 out of 10!"

• Can...
• October 16, 2014

"This medicine is a miracle. Sore clears up within 3 days and faster when I take it as soon as I see the onset of the sore. I take 2-500 mg on the first dose and one as directed. Do not hesitate to have these on hand in case a flare-up occurs. Unbelievable, and I pass this info on to others I know, and they are so grateful."

• Art...
• December 26, 2015

"Like so many others here, I've had cold sore outbreaks here and there since I was a little kid. It was always a source of anxiety for me, either when I had one or just worrying about when the next one was coming. I'm in my 30s now. About 2 years ago, I had my dentist call in a prescription when I had felt one coming on for a few hours (the bump was forming), not knowing what would happen. He called it in. I took my first dose within an hour. It never really formed, just stayed a bump for a half day or so and then flattened out and healed quickly. Since then, I've always made sure to keep it on hand at home and at my office. I've taken it several times since at the first signal, and it's been all clear. Cannot recommend enough!!"

• La ...
• January 16, 2014

"I got cold sores since I was a kid. I'm 24 years old now and get them about 4 times a year due to stress or if I get sick or something. I got prescribed Valtrex 3 years ago, and it has done wonders. Once I feel the tingling, I would take a pill, and literally, the cold sore would stop in its tracks. Even if it starts to show a little, such as a deep red, I just take a Valtrex, and it would stop, and then I would get some makeup and cover the redness, and you wouldn't even be able to tell."

• Sho...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 19, 2015

"Valtrex is the only way to go. I have suffered with fever blisters as long as I can remember, and they are just miserable. I get them when I run a fever, get sunburn on my lips, or am really stressed. I woke up with one this morning... I took Valtrex, and it will be gone by nightfall. My son also has problems with fever blisters, but they break out underneath his eye. Since he has been taking Valtrex, he has not had any problems. I also had the shingles vaccine, which has cut down on my fever blister outbreaks unbelievably. I still get them, but usually as a result of illness. This is the best medication to come out to fight the herpes virus, ever!"