Top treat cold sores Resources

Easy ways to treat cold sores

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus 1. Once this virus is contracted it cannot be completely removed from the body. You can only treat the sores that are caused by this virus. The flare ups of this virus can be prevented or treated. This virus will remain dormant in the nerve cells for many years and under favorable conditions it may outbreak. Treatments are done to reduce the pain that is caused by the sores and to prevent the additional recurring flare ups. Treating the flare-ups is called the episodic therapy. In HIV positive patients the flare ups need to be treated for a long time to prevent any recurrences. This method is called the suppressive therapy. Allopathic treatments using Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, and Famciclovir are done to treat cold sores.

Acyclovir is used to treat both oral and genital herpes. It is found through research that acyclovir is safe to treat for people with HIV and herpes. This medicine is available as pills, creams and intravenous formulations. Pills are the preferred form of treatment for mild to moderate flare ups or long term suppressive therapy. For serious infections intravenous acyclovir is used. Oral dose that is normally taken is 400 mg for 3 or 4 times a day and it is taken for around 10 days. This level of dosage is usually recommended for patients who have frequent flare ups. It is better to consult a doctor regarding the dosage that is required for the flare up you have got. Valacyclovir is a similar drug to that of acyclovir and it is used in HIV positive people. The advantage of using Valacyclovir is that it can be given in low dosages when compared to acyclovir. Valacyclovir causes side effects very rarely. Famciclovir is another medicine that is used to treat and prevent cold sores. This is a pill form of the topical cream penciclovir. It is used primarily to prevent cold sores in the future. Foscarnet is medicine that is used for people who are not responding properly to the above medicines. This drug is administered intravenous daily.

Disclaimer : The text presented on these pages is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. It may not represent your true individual medical situation. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting a qualified health care provider. Please consult your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns.

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