Valtrex ? - cold sores - Herpes Message Board

mrsmediauph · 07-08-2008, 01:48 PM

Hi. I have been getting cold sores off and on for the past 30 years. Recently I have been getting about 1 a month. I have tried every product they make over the counter. I use Carmex every day, a few times a day and take 500mg of Lysine. Last Thursday I woke up with the biggest cold sore ever. My bottom lip was so swollen and sore it looked like someone punched me in the mouth. It is now Tuesday and it is getting better but I still have it. I called my GYN today and she prescribed 500mg of Valtrex once a day to try to prevent recurring outbreaks. I'm kind of nervous about taking it every day. Would I do better to just take it when I feel a cold sore coming on or have one? I guess I'm just a little nervous about taking it every day. Thank you.

TopGeek · 07-09-2008, 09:58 AM

I tend to agree with you. In Europe, the normal dose of oral acyclovir (Valtrex in the US) is 800mg once followed by 400mg 3-5 times per day for 5 days.
I know the recommendation in the US is a preventive dose every day but I suspect there is a commercial motive.
Instinctively, I feel that the virus is more likely to develop immunity to constant medication. The long-term effects on the human body are also an unknown factor.