Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex User Reviews (Page 3)

• Thisr...
• October 22, 2016

Abreva (docosanol) "Abreva works wonders! Put it on your cold sore the minute you notice it coming. Make sure you clean the area and your fingers prior to use. Mine was gone after two days!!! I always get these sores due to overexposure to sun or stress and never was able to find something that would help. I've tried orajel, ice,saltwater and it just made it worse! It's a virus so it will spread if you "pop" one of the liquid filled bumps. Do not touch it unless you're putting abreva on. I cleaned the area and reapplied Abreva 5-7 times for two days. Try to do it as gently as possible and it will be gone. Hope this helps."

• AlinaT
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 2, 2016

Abreva (docosanol) "Does not work one bit. I get coldsores quite often. I've been trying Abreva for a few years now and it's a complete waste of money. Felt one come on. ..put Abreva literally every 15min and now it's bigger and it spread. ...don't waste your hard earned $25"

• PeteS...
• January 30, 2009

Abreva (docosanol) "The first two or three times I used this medication my lesions were past the "weeping" stage of the virus and on to healing. Subsequent applications of this medication now seem to have no effect. I've moved on to using Zovirax which seems like it not only halts any progress of the outbreak and my healing times are faster than any other medication I've used. Abreva just seems to not work at all now."

• alley...
• November 11, 2013

Abreva (docosanol) "As soon as I feel a tingling on my lip I apply Abreva - have a tube at work, in car and at home. In 5 yrs I have not had a cold sore break out if I apply Abreva in time. LOVE THIS STUFF and would pay a lot more than the $20 cost - also HARMON has it for $15."

• ssscc...
• November 30, 2009

Abreva (docosanol) "I get cold sores once or twice a year, and Abreva has made them less noticeable and has shortened their length significantly. You have to catch them the first day though, or it makes little difference. It skips the blistering stage entirely - it goes from a tingle to having already crusted over."

• NessaW
• March 18, 2017

Abreva (docosanol) "One morning I woke up with a tiny unnoticeable cold sore so I decided to get abreva and so I cleaned the area of the sore an put it on with clean hands an went to bed. I woke up this morning with a huge cold sore that is now spreading bad . Never use it again"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2016

Abreva (docosanol) "Don't waste your money on this. All this product does is take away the pain. I got this as soon as i felt a cold sore coming and applied it religiously and it did nothing for me. On the 4th day of my outbreak someone told me to try "New Skin" its a type of liquid bandaid, got it at wallmart for 4$. Less than 12 hours after putting new skin on the outbreak has drastically gone down in size and the nasty scabs were gone. It just looked like a small burn."

• cystal
• December 31, 2015

Abreva (docosanol) "Abreva sucks I don't get cold sores myself but my boyfriend does and every time he used abreva like it says when you start to feel it coming on he'd use it but abreva seems to only make it WORSE and puff out. So some lady said to try GLY OXIDE you can find it at any drug store but it works 10000 times better than abreva. Just thought I'd leave this thought with some of you maybe you can try it too."

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2012

Abreva (docosanol) "I love this product. Usually my cold sores are anywhere from 1-2 weeks, I woke up with a cold sore Friday got the cream and applied it at least every hour and that very day the sore burst on its own and it is Monday morning and its already healing and has gotten SIGNIFICANTLY smaller and I noticed its not as red as it was so its hardly noticeable. I'm sure this will be gone by Weds/Thurs the latest. It is very small packaging but every time I put some on I use a Qtip and a little goes a long way. It still looks unused and I've put it on at least every hour since I got it. Honestly at first I was discouraged from using it because of the reviews but I'm so glad I still got it."

• Propa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 6, 2017

Abreva (docosanol) "Abreva helps with the pain and itching that cold sores can cause. But that's it. The herpes virus is internal. It sheds during times of stress or sickness. No topical medication is going to stop the herpes virus from running its course internally. Only oral medications taken by mouth can shorten the cycle of the herpes virus when it sheds. Personally, I take Acyclovir, prescribed by my dermatologist, upon feeling the first tingle of a herpes cold sore. I have found that It cuts the cycle in half. Other people prefer Valtrex. If you want real results during a herpes outbreak, you need an oral medication. Keep it handy in your prescription cabinet. Not a topical cream. Herpes is an internal virus. Talk to your doctor."

• Jayhem
• May 6, 2017

Abreva (docosanol) "Tried it many time, even use it as a preventing fact, still got them and it didn't make them heal any faster, the bottle is package to look bigger than it actually is. I think its a total expensive scam!"

• Samus
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2015

Abreva (docosanol) "When it comes to cold sores, I've tried every remedy there is, both medical and home remedies. When I read all of the 'amazing' reviews of abreva I was pretty skeptical because I thought they might have been paid, but I after I bought and used abreva I felt compelled to write a review. It is the best! My cold sores tend to last for about 10 days and when I use abreva, the usually only last about 3. I'm pretty diligent with reapplying throughout the day, but I'm seriously so happy to have finally found a product that actually works."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2015

Abreva (docosanol) "I have been plagued with cold sores my entire life and this is the only topical cream that works at all. My doctor also prescribed me Valtrex and when I pair the two my cold sore disappears within hours."

• Cold...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 22, 2015

Abreva (docosanol) "I just had the second worst experience with cold sores. I have had them my entire life. Once I had two of them on my bottom lip in the sixth grade, horrible experience. Anyways. I just had one on my upper lip 2 weeks ago, Then got a cold. (Don't wipe your nose too hard!!) - caused me a minor cold sore, that was gone within a day with Abreva because I caught it soon. And if things couldn't get any better. The next morning I woke up with a fat lip and a nasty cold sore. I suspect it was due to my dry lips. Keep your lips moisturized! Abreva works guys. Trust me. My suggestion?? Pop those blisters and quickly dry them up with a tissue. and put Abreva over the blister for faster results. Think about it-- you're essentially speeding up the work."

• Anony...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 21, 2016

Abreva (docosanol) "I have never wanted to try anything else than Abreva. I really like this product. I have cold sores often because of a lot of different reasons, but it world for me every time. Usually they last for about 2 weeks and they get really big and really gross, but if I put Abreva on even only once a day, it lasts for about a week and it stays lip colored and you can barely see it. And to be honest. It may or may not work for you but then again, everyone reacts different to things. So you can't really refer yourself to comments, you just need to try it for yourself. I like it. Some people don't. Maybe you will, maybe you won't. I really hope, whoever you are, that abreva will work for you."

• Never...
• October 5, 2019

Abreva (docosanol) "1/3 cup of warm water and a full spoon of salt. Mix well. Swish around your mouth for about 30 sec. it will burn... a lot. Do this 3-4 times a day and I kid you not it’ll go away within 3 days. Painful but worth it"

• Ace1in
• May 29, 2016

Abreva (docosanol) "I had a cold sore on the side of my mouth (not exaggerating) for two months ,it would start to heal then right before it would get better it would come back . I finally went and got some abreva after checking the reviews and it worked like a miracle in such a short time, I just could not believe it. I'm so happy with it, I'm here writing good reviews"

• GirlU...
• October 20, 2019

Abreva (docosanol) "Used Abreva once prior (from the tube). Had some swelling but within three days everything seemed to be healed and back to normal. Used the new pump this time and, MY GOD, things have taken a turn for the worse. Sometimes, after being in the sun for hours and from not getting enough rest, I’ll develop super tiny blisters on the inside of my upper lip. I put Abreva (from the pump) on this time and used it as I did with the Abreva from the tube. NEVER AGAIN. My entire lip is swollen 10x it’s normal size. It now looks like I have a million tiny little bubbles in my lip that I am PRAYING do not surface. The original three little blisters are now 7-8 and are oozing. It hasn’t spread to my face or upper lip but seems to have spread across my entire bottom lip. I don’t know if it’s an allergic reaction or if the condition has worsened. Either way, I will not use this product again. I stopped using it completely for the past 24 hours thinking the symptoms would subside. I was wrong."

• Anonymous
• December 4, 2014

Abreva (docosanol) "I am currently using Abreva for the first time and I will absolutely use it again! I did not apply until after the blister appeared. It was a large cluster sores (about the size of a dime). I am so happy with how fast it worked! Typically, my cold sores last 10 days. It's been 4 and my cold sore has significantly reduced in size - its practically gone. I'm confident it'll be gone by day 7. There has been no crusty dry stage - which I feel is the most embarrassing. I have to agree with another comment I read about the bright white color. I would have liked to use it more frequently throughout the day, but didn't want to draw anymore attention with white paste all over my face at work. It was worth the $20, a little goes a long way!"

• MzKK
• June 19, 2015

Abreva (docosanol) "I am in my 60's and have suffered cold sores most of my life. My first use of Abreva was a year ago.....I now use it a few times per year when I feel a cold sore coming on. I never have scabs or sores any more. The cold sore does not develop! I wish I had known sooner. It has made my life better. I cannot stand how big my cold sores get."

• D9819
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2020

Abreva (docosanol) "I swear I am experiencing the same thing with the Abreva pump! I’ve used the tube , no problem, so I got a tingle, got the pump...& BOOM , the worst cold sore ever, it swelled , oozing & spread, also little hive like bumps on top lip as someone else stated. I went to the Dr. yesterday & was told I had an allergic reaction was given 2 shots one predinisone the other Benadryl....sent home with a script for both to take in pill form. The swelling went down some it’s been about 24 hrs but the blisters are weeping and so am I. I’m just going to finish my meds, scrap the Abreva & continue with tee tree oil, aloe & original Neosporin..... after ready these comments I’m glad I know I’m not crazy."

• OneQu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 5, 2020

Abreva (docosanol) "I agree with the first few I've read. Abreva does NOT work and its WAY overpriced. Been to see the doctor who gave me valtrex for the cold sores and said to use Abreva topically also. Guess what? Months later I still have them. I've experimented and neither works, either together or on its own. No matter what I do it never develops beyond a blister, just kind of ebbs and flows in severity. I'm so frustrated I could scream. Been fighting the dang things for almost a year now. Ridiculous that there isn't something out there that works."

• Suffe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 14, 2016

Abreva (docosanol) "Had cold sores since I was 4 years old, when the core sore would first form it would feel tingly (NEVER ITCHY) and then as the cold sore grew it would be severely painful that if it was accidentally bumped into I would feel like going through the roof. sometimes it would grow as big as an adult males thumb nail and be about 1/2 inch thick. Initially I tried Lipactin Which I have to admit worked to make the cold sore a reasonable size. All I can say is Thank-God for Abreva because of this medicine, I can put it on and my cold sore reduces to the size of a pea or even smaller. For people that haven't had results I think it matters on how you feel when the cold sore is coming on, if yours is itchy this stuff might not work."

• Abreva...
• February 17, 2017

Abreva (docosanol) "This product saves me all the time, if any one has issues they should be sure to consider how to maintain your lip on the path of healing. Examples: DO NOT LICK LIPS, it is such a terrible way to spread to the other parts of your lips and also the inside. I also advise to make sure you put chap-stick to moisten the rest of your lips but not including the infected area because you will spread it. Best advise I can give you is apply Abreva as soon as you feel even the slightest bump. It helps it prevent it and quicken the process. Make sure you use a Q-tip because I think the best way to cure a cold sore is being very clean with it and fast to cure. Abreva is probably best in the market and the first to consider."

• Anonymous
• July 18, 2018

Abreva (docosanol) "I have had cold sores once or twice per year since I was a young kid. I heard about Abreva several years ago and tried it. Wow! It worked great. Nothing I have tried before, and I had tried several remedies, worked as well. Smaller blister, less discomfort and much quicker healing. It really did shorten the healing time by half or better. OCD guy that I am, I apply it much more often than directed, probably at least ten times per day. I have no idea if the extra applications really help but the stuff really does work."