Progress in making more effective cold sore medication has been relatively slow and with between 70 and 90 percent of the US population with the virus that causes cold sore the collective benefit would be enormous. Perhaps surprisingly, some research suggests that current medications are no more effective than natural remedies, which is probably one of the big factors in why so many sufferers chose this treatment route, along with side effects and cost.
Research is ongoing, however, but until such a time as really effective cold sore medication is discovered it will be up to each individual sufferer to find out what suits them best.
The best known medications for cold sores include:
Abreva
Abreva is the only over the counter medication cold sore medication approved by the FDA and is widely available from drug stores. It can be effective in reducing itching for a several hours, while some claim that if taken at the tingling stage Abreva is capable of preventing the blister occurring altogether. Abreava’s active ingredient is a concentrated quantity (10%) of docosanol, which is a naturally occurring compound found in many foods in low doses.
Zovirax
Zovirax is one of the top selling prescription drugs for cold sores and when applied at the tingling stage of an outbreak, can completely suppress cold sore development, although more commonly the outbreak is much less severe and heals within a few days. It can also be applied to blisters to reduce irritation. Zovirax is acyclovir based.
