Prescription Cold Sore Medication + Treatment in

Cold sores - also known as oral herpes or herpes labialis - are small fluid-filled blisters that appear on or around the lips. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This viral infection is spread through skin-to-skin contact (like a kiss) or through saliva.

The fever blisters that result from an HSV-1 infection will often occur in clusters in what’s called a cold sore outbreak. These small lesions will break open and leave a crusted-over scab on and around the lips. The healing time for these breaks is usually about 2-3 weeks.

Once you’ve been infected by the herpes simplex virus, you cannot get rid of it. The virus will stay dormant for weeks or months at a time and will only reappear during an outbreak or flare-up. Herpes infections are contagious even if sores aren’t present. Although cold sores cannot be cured, health care providers can provide treatment options to minimize symptoms and speed up healing time.

Most individuals experience the most severe symptoms during their first cold sore outbreak. Recurring flare-ups tend to be milder and quicker to heal. These outbreaks often occur in stages. These phases of an outbreak are detailed below.

- First stage: You will often feel the first signs of an outbreak roughly 12-24 hours before lesions appear. These preliminary symptoms include an itching or tingling sensation on or around the lips.

- Second stage: On the second day of an outbreak, blisters will begin to appear on or around the lips. These blisters are often red, swollen, and painful.

- Third stage: After 2-3 days, these blisters will open up and ooze fluid. This discharge is often clear or slightly yellow in color. After this weeping phase, the fluid will crust over and leave a scabbed wound on or around the lips. As the sore heals, it may break open again and bleed.

- Fourth stage: 1-2 weeks after you notice the first signs of an outbreak, the skin under the scabs will heal and the scabs will fall off. Cold sore outbreaks rarely - if ever - cause scarring. Recurring outbreaks commonly occur in the same parts of the mouth.

During the first outbreak, you may experience other symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Swollen lymph nodes

These symptoms are common side effects of your immune system fighting off an infection. The reactions listed above rarely occur during subsequent outbreaks.

As a treatment for cold sores, your health care provider may prescribe an oral medication or topical antiviral medication to reduce symptoms and minimize healing time. Prescription antiviral medicine used for the treatment of cold sores may include:

- Acyclovir (Zovirax)

- Valacyclovir (Valtrex)

- Famciclovir (Famvir)

- Penciclovir (Denavir)

In extreme cases, some antiviral medications can be given as an injection.

In addition to prescription antiviral drugs, your health care provider may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) treatments like docosanol (Abreva) to speed up the healing process. Apply it to the affected skin with a cotton swab at the first sign of symptoms. This keeps the sores from spreading to other places of your body. Other over-the-counter treatments use drying agents, such as alcohol, to help speed healing If a fever develops, or your sores are very painful, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen. Creams with lidocaine or benzocaine may offer some pain relief.

Yes. There are two herpes simplex virus types that can cause genital herpes. They are detailed below.

HSV-1: HSV-1 most commonly causes oral herpes (cold sores or lesions around the mouth). HSV-1 infections are generally milder - and recur less - than HSV-2 infections. Even though HSV-1 primarily affects the mouth, it can be spread to the genitals during oral sex.

HSV-2: An infection of the HSV-2 virus is the most common cause of genital herpes. HSV-2 is spread through skin-to-skin contact with an affected area. HSV-2 is highly contagious and can be transmitted even if the infected individual is not experiencing an active flare-up or open sores.

There are two types of drugs available to patients: over-the-counter drugs (OTC) or non-prescription drugs, and prescription drugs.

Prescription drugs are regulated by the FDA based on potential harmful side effects, toxicity, or method of use. Basically, prescription medication must be taken under the supervision of licensed health care professionals. Prescriptions help ensure the safe usage of these drugs.

Prescriptions are instructions given by a physician or health care professional to direct a certain health plan/ treatment plan for the patient. In most cases, this means written instructions by the doctor to a pharmacist authorizing the sale of prescription medications to the patient.

A doctor’s prescriptions are made up of three parts:

• Who is prescribing the medication/ treatment
  
• Who is the prescription is being written for
  
• The drug being prescribed
  

Brand name drugs often have cheaper generic drug counterparts that work identically to the brand name variant. A prescription will detail whether or not a brand-name drug or generic drug can be used for treatment, as well as the number of doses that should be given to the patient.

Note that prescriptions on Sesame are always at the discretion of your doctor or provider.

Sesame makes it easier than ever to get a prescription or refill a prescription from the comfort of your own home! To discuss a new prescription or refill, book a video visit with a doctor on Sesame. Physicians on Sesame can prescribe drugs that help treat infections, allergies, high blood pressure, and more.

Note that doctors on Sesame cannot prescribe controlled substances.

Plus, because Sesame works to set prices directly with doctors, you can find visits with doctors at rates up to 60% less than what you’ll find through insurance networks.

Book a video visit on Sesamecare.com based on the health care you need, and pick up a new prescription or existing prescription refill at a pharmacy of your choice. If you don’t want to go pick up a prescription in-person, many pharmacies offer a prescription mail service for home delivery. Your medication will be shipped directly to you. Browse services on Sesame, set up an appointment with a real doctor at your convenience, and get the care you need. It’s simple, convenient, and affordable. Book a visit today!

Sometimes! Depending on the prescription medication that you need refilled, you may be able to get a prescription refill without direct consultation with your doctor. Based on the medication you need and the state you live in, you might be able to get your prescription refilled online.

Telehealth has made it easier than ever to get in touch with a health care professional for a prescription refill. Sesame offers convenient and affordable 15-minute video visits with real, quality doctors in , so you can refill your prescription without the hassle of going to a doctor's office. It's simple: Search for the care you need, compare prices, and book a refill visit on your schedule.

Note: You cannot refill a prescription for a controlled substance without a doctor's consultation. Doctors on Sesame cannot prescribe narcotics or medication classified as controlled substances.

Sesame offers video prescription refill services at affordable prices starting at just $19. If you need a new prescription, doctors on Sesame can prescribe medication that helps treat blood pressure, infection, allergies, cholesterol problems, thyroid conditions, and more!

Here’s how it works:

• Search Sesamecare.com to find the doctor you want to see for the health care service you need.
  

• Compare our affordable cash-pay prices. Sesame works with doctors directly- not insurance companies. That means you can pay up to 60% less than what you’ll find through your insurance network, without the worry of surprise bills and hidden fees.
  

• Book at your convenience and pay upfront. Pay the one-time price listed on the site and set up a visit with a real, quality doctor on your schedule. It’s that simple.
  

Sesame offers prescription refills for a wide range of conditions and ailments. Book a visit (in-person or video) to get the care you need at one clear, affordable price. No insurance needed.

Yep! If you request a prescription transfer, you can easily move your prescription from one pharmacy to another. Plus, many pharmacies now offer mail services for home delivery. Here's how to request a prescription refill at a different pharmacy:

1) Call your new preferred pharmacy to request a transfer.

2) Provide that pharmacy with health insurance/ prescription info

3) Wait for the prescription to be transferred before you pick it up. It usually takes pharmacies a few days to transfer a prescription, but you will get a notification once this step has been completed. Either go pick up your prescription in person or set up home delivery.

If you need a prescription refill, book a visit with a real, quality doctor on Sesame today. Doctors on Sesame can refill prescriptions for high blood pressure, birth control, allergies, and more! Save up to 60% on your prescription refill visit when you book with Sesame.

Acyclovir (generic Zovirax) is an antiviral medication primarily used to treat cold sores (herpes simplex). It is also effective in treating shingles (herpes zoster), varicella (chickenpox), and genital herpes. Acyclovir is prescribed to more than 4 million Americans each year and can be taken orally, topically, or via injection.

Acyclovir works by targeting herpes simplex, the virus that causes cold sores. Even after a cold sore outbreak has dissipated, herpes simplex continues to live in your body - leaving you at risk of future outbreaks. As an antiviral drug, acyclovir targets herpes simplex to reduce the cadence and severity of these outbreaks - keeping you healthy and your cold sores to a minimum.

Acyclovir belongs to a group of antiviral drugs. These medications work by targeting viruses within the body and inhibiting their development. They identify and disarm key proteins within the virus, helping limit the infection and ease your symptoms. Antivirals are used to treat a range of conditions, including herpes, HIV, hepatitis, and even COVID-19.

It should be noted that acyclovir does not cure herpes. After infection, the herpes simplex never fully leaves your body. While it can remain dormant for long periods of time, it will be with you for the rest of your life. Acyclovir, though, can significantly reduce the likelihood and frequency of cold sore and herpes outbreaks and help ensure that - when cold sores do strike - they are less severe than would be without treatment.

Valacyclovir (generic for Valtrex) is a prescription medication used to treat conditions caused by the herpes virus. Valacyclovir can be used to treat cold sores (Herpes Labialis), genital herpes, and shingles (Herpes Zoster). Valacyclovir can be prescribed to children to treat cold sores and chickenpox.

Once the herpes virus has entered your body, it never fully leaves - even once your initial symptoms have worn off. This means that you may be at risk of developing shingles, cold sores, or genital herpes outbreak even years after your original infection. The CDC even estimates that 1 in every 6 Americans aged 14-49 has genital herpes.

While it cannot cure herpes (there is no cure, actually), valacyclovir is an antiviral agent that targets the herpes virus within your body, helping to alleviate and control outbreaks - whether they come in the form of cold sores, shingles, or more.

Doctors prescribe valacyclovir to treat shingles, cold sores, and genital herpes. In pediatric patients, doctors may prescribe valacyclovir to treat chickenpox and cold sores.

It is important to note that while valacyclovir is effective in managing symptoms associated with herpes, it is not a cure for the herpes virus. No cure currently exists for the condition.

You can expect to feel some symptom relief within 2 to 3 days of beginning a course of valacyclovir. As an antiviral drug, valacyclovir is most effective when taken within the first few days of the onset of your herpes symptoms.

It is important to note that while valacyclovir can help manage herpes symptoms, it is not a cure for the condition. In fact, no cure for herpes currently exists. Even while taking valacyclovir, herpes infections can be spread to others. It is recommended that you avoid sexual contact with others while the sores are present or if you think you may be experiencing an outbreak. In addition, you should avoid contact with open sores.

Yep! With SesameRx, you can get medication delivered right to your door with free and fast delivery - no insurance necessary. Our fully-integrated prescription service lets your doctor write you a prescription (or refill an existing one) during your visit. That way, you can focus on getting better and not worry about how and when you’ll get your prescription.

Please note that all prescriptions are at the sole discretion of your provider.