In this article, I’m going to teach you how to use Valtrex for cold sores. Ninety percent of all people get at least one cold sore in their life. This first occurrence is often the worst (mine sure was!).
After the first infection, many people develop antibodies and never have another cold sore. However, about 40% of American adults have recurring cold sores.
This was me for almost 20 years.
I had so many outbreaks that I suffered from serious psychological issues induced by cold sores.
To make a long story short…
I figured out how to prevent cold sore outbreaks, and I haven’t had a cold sore for over three years now. However, millions of people are still suffering, and that’s why I created this blog.
I’ve made it my Life’s Purpose and Mission to help others learn how to prevent and treat cold sores.
So now a lot of my time is spent researching and writing about all of the best cold sore remedies in the world. After writing some informative and helpful articles on natural remedies and over-the-counter remedies, now the time has come for me to do the first article in the category of prescription medications for cold sores.
Many people are using Valtrex for cold sores, and in this article, I’m going to cover the Pros and Cons and give you a detailed Review on the use of Valtrex for cold sores.
Valtrex For Cold Sores – Cold Sore Overview
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are groups of small blisters that form on or near the lips. Cold sores are a result of something called herpes simplex virus (HSV).
There are two types of HSV, and both can cause cold sores. HSV-1 typically is responsible for cold sores, and HSV-2 is most often the cause of genital herpes.
However, both types of HSV can cause cold sores or genital herpes.
After primary infection, the virus resides in the associated dorsal root ganglion where it lies dormant until an external stimuli (such as stress or immunosuppression) initiate reactivation of the virus from dormancy.
The virus lives on forever, and that’s why people continue to get cold sores over and over again.
Valtrex For Cold Sores – Valtrex Overview
Valtrex is the brand name for valacyclovir, an antiviral drug that is most commonly used to treat infections by the herpes viruses that cause cold sores, genital herpes, and shingles. Valtrex was approved for medical use in 1995.
Valtrex is indicated for the treatment of HSV and VZV infections, including:
- Cold sores and genital herpes (treatment and prevention)
- Reduction of HSV transmission from people with recurrent infection to uninfected individuals
- Herpes zoster (shingles)
- Prevention against herpes viruses in immunocompromised patients
- Prevention of cytomegalovirus following organ transplantation
Valtrex is a prodrug of acyclovir. This simply means that your body converts Valtrex to acyclovir after it’s absorbed.
The net result of this process is that the medication is:
- Delivered efficiently
- Absorbed well
Due to these effects, the medication can be taken fewer times per day. Valtrex works by stopping the herpes viruses from reproducing.
Herpes simplex virus
This leads to HSV infecting fewer cells in your body. Once Valtrex enters the HSV-infected cells, Valtrex begins to block the effects of DNA polymerase, an important enzyme which is needed by the herpes viruses to copy their genetic material and spread to other cells.
When Valtrex blocks the effects of DNA polymerase, the herpes viruses are not able to multiply. When the viruses can’t multiply, the magnitude of severity of the herpes infection is lessened, so one typically has a smaller cold sore which heals faster than usual.
DNA polymerase
Valtrex For Cold Sores – Research Studies
The benefits of using Valtrex for cold sores have been scientifically documented in research studies. In two major studies involving a total of 3,151 participants, using Valtrex for cold sores had favorable results over a placebo.
Here is the summary of the researchers:
“These studies show that 1-day, high-dose valacyclovir therapy at the first symptom of a cold sore is a safe and effective treatment. Both 1- and 2-day valacyclovir regimens provide clinically and statistically significant benefits over placebo in duration of the episode and time to lesion healing. Time to cessation of pain and/or discomfort was also significantly decreased by 1- or 2-day treatment with valacyclovir.
The proportion of subjects with prevented and/or blocked cold sore lesions was higher in the valacyclovir-treated groups, although statistical significance was not reached. These two large, well-controlled trials provide evidence that early, high-dose, short-duration antiviral intervention can shorten the clinical course of cold sores and that 2 days of therapy provide no additional benefit over 1 day.”
Valtrex Dosage For Cold Sores – How To Use Valtrex
As you can see, using Valtrex for cold sores is a proven method for treatment. If you’re going to use Valtrex for cold sores, make sure you follow the proper dosing guidelines as outlined on Valtrex.com.
Valtrex dosage for cold sores:
- Always use Valtrex under the supervision of your doctor.
- Valtrex may be taken on an empty stomach or with food.
- Take 2 grams of Valtrex twice daily for 1 day taken 12 hours apart. Therapy should be initiated at the earliest symptom of a cold sore (e.g., tingling, itching, or burning).
- Before taking Valtrex, make sure you review the possible side effects and interactions.
Valtrex dosage for genital herpes:
- Recurrent Episodes: The recommended dosage of Valtrex for treatment of recurrent genital herpes is 500 mg twice daily for 3 days. Initiate treatment at the first sign or symptom of an episode.
- Suppressive Therapy: The recommended dosage of Valtrex for chronic suppressive therapy of recurrent genital herpes is 1 gram once daily in patients with normal immune function. In patients with a history of 9 or fewer recurrences per year, an alternative dose is 500 mg once daily. In HIV-1-infected patients with a CD4+ cell count greater than or equal to 100 cells/mm3 , the recommended dosage of Valtrex for chronic suppressive therapy of recurrent genital herpes is 500 mg twice daily.
- Reduction of Transmission: The recommended dosage of Valtrex for reduction of transmission of genital herpes in patients with a history of 9 or fewer recurrences per year is 500 mg once daily for the source partner.
Note: As you can see, Valtrex is not FDA-approved for recurrent episodes, suppressive therapy, or reduction of transmission of cold sores (but it is for genital herpes). However, many doctors prescribe Valtrex for off-label cold sore purposes, such as daily use for cold sore prevention, etc.
Valtrex For Cold Sores – Conclusion
Many people have prevented or reduced the healing time of their herpes simplex lesions by using Valtrex for cold sores. It has shown favorable results in research studies, however, some people don’t get amazing results, and some people have side effects from using Valtrex.
The key to cold sores is to prevent them from forming in the first place.
Thus, I encourage you to check out my Ultimate Guide to Preventing Cold Sores.
It’s free and has absolutely everything you need to know.
If you have any comments or questions on the use of Valtrex for cold sores, please post them in the comment box below.
Sara says
I’ve been curious about how to best care for cold sores while taking valtrex and waiting for the sores to heal. I’m not sure if washing is good, as I don’t want to wash the scab away and have them begin to ooze again. But maybe that’s fine? I do my best to not touch them, and wash my hands frequently, but have yet to wash my face since the sores opened and began to scab. If you have any tips I’d appreciate your feedback ☺️
Matt says
Hi Sara,
I’ve experimented in the past with a few methods. What I found worked best for me was to just leave the sore alone once it scabbed. I would not wash the scab. I would not go in the ocean or in a swimming pool. And I would even be careful of what I ate, making sure to eat small bites of food with a fork, so as to not lead to the scab breaking open.
If you are diligent and let it scab over and don’t mess with the scab at all, it will heal fast and come off naturally. It’s ugly having a scab, but that for me was the fastest way to have nothing on my lip anymore. When I showered and the water took the scab off, the scab would start to grow back, and I continued doing things that removed the scab before it was healed. This caused a delayed healing time, and embarrassing moments when eating and the scab came off after taking a huge bit of a burger, thus having the scab come off and my lip starts bleeding.
What I learned was to avoid doing anything that messed with the scab. If you let it be and don’t do anything to make it come off, the natural healing process will be swift.
Diane says
I got my first cold sore about a month ago in about eight years. I had another come up today and my doctor prescribed Valtrex, my first time. My previous doctor told me to take L-Lysine, an amino acid that keeps the cold sores at bay; he suggested I take daily. I did for awhile when I was having a great number of cold sores and the L-Lysine really helped. I had forgotten how painful cold sores could be. Matt is right, leave the scab; mine took about 10 days to fully heal because i was trying to remove the scab before healing. Once you are healed, think about a regimen of L-Lysine; that kept my cold sores away for many years.
Matt says
Lysine is awesome. Shown in multiple studies to help prevent cold sores. Proven natural remedy. Great advice Diane. ???? Here is an article on Lysine in case any readers that don’t know about it want to learn more:
How To Use Lysine For Cold Sores>>
Stacy says
Is there any evidence that taking more than the four (two plus two in 12 hours) pills is helpful? I have taken two last night and two this morning but I can tell I am still going to blister. Would any more lessen it even a little more and do you get no more effect after four pills? Thank you!