the nurse recommended this when i told her i wanted to talk to dr about dd's cold sores. i won't see him for 2 weeks, does anyone use this does it work? how andwhen do you use it and full does or what? thanks i just haven't gotten to store to get it and i htink i'm procrastinating because i'm a little worried about it. any side effects.???
Found this on the Abreva website under the FAQs...
Q.Who can use it? Is it safe?
A:Abreva can be used by adults and children over 12. Abreva is considered safe and well tolerated. Abreva should be used five times a day for up to 10 days. And because cold sores are contagious, you won't want to share your tube of Abreva with others. Doing so may spread the infection.
So unless your daughter is 12 or older, I wouldn't do it.
I have a friend that gets cold sores several times per year. She tried abreva and find it takes too long. Someone at her Work told her to apply anti-persperant. She swears by it now and keeps one that is for cold sore use only. I've also read aloe-Vera work if you have a plant or tea tree oil. Those two might be worth a try before you go with chemicals.
Abreva is an ointment you put on the sores. It is pricey and worth every penny! I put it on mine as often as possible. I also now have a prescription for when I get cold sores. I can't remember the name but I take 4 pills on the day I feel the cold sore coming on. It has shortened them to 5 days instead of 10. Good luck!
Just read other answers - I will definitely be trying the tea tree oil - heck I'll try anything to get rid of them faster. Also - if you buy a lip balm sick, don't use it to rub on the cold sore, use your finger.
I've gotten cold sores since I was a very little kid.
I'm the only person in my family who has ever had to deal with them.
I've actually had shingles, which is caused by the same virus, so I take acyclovir at the first tinglings.
I have never used Abreva, but one thing I discovered years ago was Herpecin-L. You can buy it over the counter, it comes in a tube like lipstick and it's really very soothing. It definitely helps.
If the nurse recommended Abreva, I don't know why you'd be so afraid to try it. I mean, I've learned over the years what works for me and cold sores are no fun. If it can give your child some relief, why not try it?
Ask a pharmacist. They are incredibly knowledgeable. I rely on my trusted pharmacists all the time.
Best wishes.
I get cold sores very often, Abreva has been the only overthe counter medication that helps me. it is wonderful to me, before my cold sores will swollen and took more than a week to heal, with abreva it is gone in 3 or 4 days. if cold sore left untreated it turns very awful, lips get inflamated and tends to spreads to other areas..unfortunately, abreva does this wonderful job only is apply right after simptoms appears otherwise it takes longer to heal.
I get cold sores and tried Abreva. It doesn't work any better than Blistex and cost over 3 times as much.
I found out Tea Tree Oil works almost overnight. Just put a little on a cotton swab and dab on cold sore and they dry up in a matter of hours. Since I started using Tea Tree Oil I noticed I don't get them as often either.
