Valtrex for Cold Sores User Reviews (Page 3)

• Sta...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 17, 2016

"I've had cold sores since I was 8. I would get them every 2 months, and they would last about 2 weeks before they were completely gone. My dentist prescribed me Valtrex. If I take it at the first hour of feeling a cold sore coming on, it works great. I don't get the little blisters that form on the lip, it just feels a little swollen. It goes away after 3 days. Unfortunately, it doesn't work once the blisters have formed. So if you get a cold sore in the morning and only get home at 8 PM to take the Valtrex, it won't work the same way. So I always have it in my purse just in case. Lifesaver."

• Lor...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 23, 2013

"For those who are prescribed Valtrex who then report they have not gotten relief-make sure your next prescription is not filled with the generic version. That happened to me, I had been taking Valtrex for about 10 years with great success. Then it stopped working to my dismay. I realized the prescription bottle contained the generic version. I had to go back to my doctor and explain the generic version's ineffectiveness on me and to specify NO GENERIC. I'm back on Valtrex, and it works wonderfully."

• Mon...
• August 9, 2018

"I’ve gotten horrific cold sores ever since I was a kid. There have been many times that I stayed home from work and school because I felt so disgusting, but thanks to this stuff I don’t have to worry about that so much anymore. I had a dermatologist that began prescribing me 1g tablets and instructed me to take 3 whenever I feel like a cold sore might be coming on. That helped me so much! I used to get outbreaks at least once a month, and now I only get them 1-2 times a year! Amazing!"

• Sda...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2013

"I had a cold sore appear in my nose on a Wednesday morning. I called my doctor, and she called in a prescription for Valacyclovir, and by Monday it was gone! Granted, there was still a little sore area from my skin healing, but nothing like having the cold sore without the medication! When I took my medicine, it stopped it from growing, and by 36 hours it was already scabbed and healing! My outbreaks usually take up to 2 weeks to heal, and with taking the medicine, it cut that time in half. I know if I would have had the medicine at the first sign, it would have never grown! I will never get stuck in the situation of never having any on hand, I always keep some in my medicine cabinet! Best medicine EVER!"

• iha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2016

"I would never take the time to do this if this pill didn't truly change my life. I have gotten cold sores for years now, just about every month. I finally asked my dentist if he could prescribe something for me because my wedding is coming up and I did not want to have one on my big day. I have used the medicine twice now. The first time, a blister never even formed, I just had the hard bump on my lip and it was gone by the second day. I felt my lip getting hard again Sunday, so I immediately took 2 pills and then 2 more 12 hours later. Monday morning, I woke up and a small blister had formed (didn't hurt or look bad, but I was still worried). It is now Tuesday morning, and my lip is completely healed! This pill works miracles!"

• Pla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2015

"I'm a 40-year-old UPS guy. I started getting cold sores 3 years ago. They used to happen only when I was working out in the cold, but now it's in the middle of July. They always last 2 weeks. I've tried Abreva, L-Lysine, Campo-Phenique, ice, limiting arginine-rich foods, and nothing worked. Today, day 3 of Abreva and Campo-Phenique failing, I was full-blown, huge pustules on my lip looking like they were about to explode, so I went to my doctor. I took 1 GM of Valtrex this AM, and within 45 minutes, it started feeling different and my lip started tingling. By 5 PM, it was softer/less pressure. I took another 1 GM at 7 PM. I just looked in the mirror at 10 PM and the pustules are much smaller and never popped. So far, so good!"

• Sex...
• December 10, 2015

"I have been getting cold sores since I was 9 years old. Sadly, when I was little, they didn't know what cold sores were and how contagious they were. Therefore, they were spread much more often than today. They are miserable, not only are they very painful, it's hard to eat as well, but they are very, very embarrassing. People look at you like you have the plague. I used to suffer for 2 weeks during an outbreak, but now I take Valtrex at the first sign, and if I catch it fast enough, I don't even get the cold sore. If not, then it's pretty much gone in 3 days. It doesn't get near as big or as painful, and it's much easier to hide. I love this medication and can't say enough good things about it. Try it, you won't be disappointed."

• Fan...
• November 8, 2013

"I was in school around 8:00 and started to feel a tingling sensation. By 10:00, I knew it was a cold sore. I had basketball practice after school until 7:30, so I couldn't use it as soon as I felt it. When I got home, I took one pill, went to bed, and took another in the morning. It's the next day, and the swelling has gone down tremendously, and it's already getting flat. By tomorrow, it will probably be gone."

• Kay...
• January 15, 2013

"I've been a cold sore sufferer for years. Growing up, I used to get outbreaks at least ten times a year, unfortunately, Valtrex wasn't around. About a year and a half ago, I got a terrible cold sore while really sick, and it was my most painful and depressing one I've ever gotten. I went to the doctor, and he then prescribed me Valtrex. I filled it right away. Even though my sore was full-blown, ugly, and visible, he directed me to take 2 g and then another 12 hours later another 2 grams. So I did exactly what he said. I woke up the next morning and what a difference. A sore I would have had for two weeks was already completely scabbed overnight. Two weeks turned to six days, if that."

• Mcp...
• September 5, 2015

"I have had cold sores/fever blisters my whole life, my baby sister also. She would get them on her nose and lip. We both would never have relief from them. In 2006, I showed a doctor some spots on my forehead, and at the time, I had a nasty cold sore. The doc came in, the first thing he said was, 'What's on your lip?' and the nurse had asked me the same thing. This was a dermatologist's office. I said, 'It's a fever blister,' with a crazy look on my face. He said, 'I can make those go away for good.' I said, 'Prove it.' Well, almost 10 years later, and I get no more cold sores. If I feel like one is coming up, I just pop a one-gram pill, and it's gone. My sister finally got the point a few years back and got a prescription for it. She's two plus years clean."

• Bri...
• January 4, 2015

"I took this at the very first tingling feeling that told me a cold sore was forming. I've been taking 2 pills a day for 2 days now, and my cold sore is not even visible. There is little to no irritation (with the help of some cream) and no redness or blistering. Best treatment I've ever used on my cold sores!"

• Van...
• January 2, 2016

"I had a terrible outbreak. My chin felt red and swollen. I had sores and pus really bad. As soon as it was healed, I would break out again. This lasted for six months. I had been to my family doctor and several dermatologists, finally, I met with a dermatologist who prescribed Valtrex. What a lifesaver. With school starting again Monday, I was stressing out. I could feel my chin start to swell, so I decided to get a refill and try it. It worked! Yesterday, my chin felt swollen and sore, and I was starting to get red bumps under my bottom lip. I took 2 in the afternoon and 2 more when I went to bed, and this morning it seems to be gone! No swelling and no red bumps!! Thank you to whoever invented this miracle drug!!"

• Anonymous
• April 8, 2011

"My outbreaks are something that could be seen on the Discovery Health Channel as an extreme case. My lip swells to a grotesque size if not treated, and I would literally shut myself in for 4-5 days and have one trusted friend (who would see my monstrosity) bring me groceries and take my kid to school and bring her back. I would cry whenever I saw myself in the mirror. This would happen about once a year. Then I took Valtrex. Once you feel a tingling, take two right away, then another two 6-8 hours later. Then keep the pattern going for a few days after it's gone to ensure it won't come right back. Use Abreva at the onset as well, and relax, sleep, and eat healthy. No smoking. If you do this, it'll be gone within 3-4 days."

• Dou...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 14, 2016

"I have suffered with getting cold sores since I was a kid, never bothered me until a few years ago. I began getting them, and as soon as one would heal, another would form. So I talked to my doctor, and he prescribed Valtrex. It was amazing, as soon as I get the tingle of the cold sore, I take Valtrex, and the cold sore raises a little, but the blister never forms. I cannot say enough about how it also has changed the frequency as to how often I get them now-maybe every 6 months to a year between outbreaks."

• Ano...
• July 22, 2013

"So yesterday morning (Sunday), I woke up with a cluster of little blisters on my top lip. This has never happened before. I tried to go to the doctor, but they were closed already by the time I got there. I took off work today and went in, and they prescribed 2 grams of valacyclovir twice a day. I took the first dose right away, and the blisters seem to have flattened out already. I will take the second dose tonight. I hope by morning they are mostly cleared up, or at least they clear up before Saturday, as I have big events going on this coming weekend. The reviews on here give me hope that it will clear up fast with Valtrex. Wish I would have gone earlier yesterday to get it!"

• Ove...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 16, 2016

"Until about age 56, had never had a cold sore. Suddenly had a spot on my butt, went to the clinic, PA thought it was a spider bite, antibodies given, no relief. The next time it occurred (same spot), got in to see the dermatologist immediately. He stated it was a form of chickenpox virus (not sexual related). Gave Valtrex, worked great. Pharmacist also recommended taking L-Lysine daily to help prevent occurrences. Used to have only 2 occurrences a year - February and August - my work stress months. Have not had any more occurrences."

• Val...
• March 18, 2013

"Where to begin... I have had cold sores for life. All year round, at least a few each month. Parents told me I have suffered from them when I was only 10 days old. They took me multiple times to emerge due to the overwhelming appearance that you can imagine on an infant's face. Growing up, it never got easier. I had multiple blistering cold sores all around my mouth and also all around my nose, even in my nose. There are many things that would trigger it, such as stress, fever, dehydration. My skin was very sensitive to the point that when the dentist used to stretch my mouth to clean it, I would get it. I have tried everything possible, and only Valtrex worked for me. Now when I get it, it's once in a blue moon (when I'm dehydrated)."

• Fem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2017

"Had a cold for about a week, tried using Abreva. Didn't help. It went to the emergency, they prescribed me Valtrex. Right after the first dose, you see major progress in the way it looks. I may be healed completely in 3 days. This stuff does work. Don't waste money on Abreva, just call your doctor for some Valtrex!!!!!"

• 20s...
• October 31, 2012

"As a 20-year-old girl, a huge, ugly cold sore is pretty much one of the most unsightly things that could happen to your face. I've been getting them literally once a month since I was 11, guess I caught it at my gymnastics gym sharing water, and nothing has been more helpful than 2g of Valtrex at the first sign. No OTC treatment ever shortened my healing time, but Valtrex completely stops the blisters in their tracks. If I take it right when I feel the tingle/bump, it usually never even breaks the skin. I would highly recommend this medicine to anyone with a cold sore problem."

• Liz...
• March 16, 2017

"Had cold sores all my life... got my first breakout at age 15, and it was terrifying. I had no idea what they were. Used everything and tried everything, and nothing worked! It was hell. In January, I went to the dermatologist, and he saw that I had cold sores, so he prescribed me Valtrex. It's life-changing, and what I love most is I actually see a change within the first day or second day. It stops the swelling and stops the cold sores from growing... it's amazing. Call your doctor and ask him for some Valtrex!"

• Tim...
• June 4, 2014

"Got this prescription about 2 months ago, just in case I felt a cold sore coming on. Well, this morning I finally got to try it, and as far as I can tell, it seems to be working as well as past reviewers have posted. I felt it getting itchy for a couple of hours (I always have an itchy nose, so I just monitored it). I went to the bathroom at work about 2.5 hrs after feeling initial itching and noticed it turning red. (My cold sores come around the lower part of my nostril and partially inside my nose). I took 2 pills, and after about 30 mins, the itching and slight throbbing went away. It's now been 11 hrs since I took the first 2 pills, and the redness does seem to be retreating (but time will tell, different lighting in my home than my work)."

• Dia...
• May 23, 2024

"I sometimes get a cold sore after routine dental hygiene appointments in the corner of my mouth. I noticed the tingling sensation associated with getting a cold sore and started Valtrex within hours before blister appeared. Within 3 hours the tingling and burning sensation had subsided! I took another dose 12 hours later and by morning I had a little hardened skin, but no blister ever formed. Truly a drug that does what it says… I always keep this drug on hand."

• Anonymous
• April 22, 2010

"I got a small dot on my lip on Tuesday at work and thought it might be a cold sore coming on, but I wasn't sure. By Tuesday evening, however, I was sure it was a cold sore and started putting Abreva on it. By the time I woke up on Wednesday, it was a full-blown cold sore. The doctor prescribed Valtrex, 2 pills (1000 mg each) to take immediately and 2 pills (1000 mg each) to take 12 hours later. I was skeptical after reading mixed reviews online, but when I woke up this morning, it had already started to scab. Had I not gone to the doctor, this would have dragged out for at least 4-5 more days before it even got to the scab phase. I am so relieved to have found this product."

• Say...
• November 30, 2014

"I ALWAYS get cold sores every time I get sick, so this morning when I woke up (after being sick all night) I noticed a little bump. I was so upset, I got so tired of cold sores. Every time I get them, they are huge and awful looking. So, I went to the doctor for the first time about my cold sores and was prescribed Valtrex, and I was only given 4 pills, and it was instructed to take all 4 pills in one day. I was a bit disappointed in that, though. I took all 4 and went to bed. Usually by the next morning (without medication) the cold sore gets bigger, but this time it didn't! I still had a small bump, but it would have been worse without the medication. From someone who suffers from bad cold sores, I am SO happy with this medicine!"

• ABf...
• December 9, 2016

"I've gotten cold sores for years. I've had some disfiguring experiences with larger ones that scab over on or around my lips. They started in my 30s and, over thirty years, have always been with me. Sometimes I go for 7-8 months without being affected, but they never cease completely. There are times when I get one, it runs its course for about 10 days, then in a week or two, I get another that can be more severe. Generally, it works well. Although it is still effective at controlling an outbreak and reducing healing time, it is far from a cure, and outbreaks can still result in blisters even when taken A.S.A.P. after the first signs. TIMING IS IMPORTANT. Take at first tingle is a good rule, but if an outbreak occurs during sleep, not much can be done."