Docosanol topical and Itching: What Users Say

• Mum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2014

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I honestly didn't think Abreva would work. I got the first signs of a cold sore on a Thursday morning and applied the Abreva immediately. On Friday, my cold sore blistered just a little bit and was somewhat itchy, but the Abreva definitely kept the cold sore from getting any bigger and under control. By Saturday, I noticed that the blisters were already drying out and on the way to healing well. On Sunday, it was gone completely! I'd definitely use Abreva again! Without it, I'd have to face a whole week or more of enduring a very itchy, fast-growing, and ugly cold sore that would make me feel ugly and very self-conscious."

• boo...
• January 18, 2015

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I love this product. The first day I felt the tingling, I went to buy the product, and by the morning, I had no itching, tingling, or much of anything. They were really small. By the third day, they were pretty much gone. No one noticed I ever had it."

• Iva...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 3, 2020

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "Abreva really works for me. I’ve tried every other suggestion out there for the past several decades, to little avail. It must be used IMMEDIATELY upon the first tingle, HOWEVER, several times per day, and more often if it gets washed off in the shower or after eating. Rarely now do my cold sores get out of control for weeks on end. When I catch them early, and I happen to have Abreva at hand, I’m looking at 3 or 4 days max to keep it down or essentially invisible. I find that I still have to treat new ones that may try to pop up in close proximity, but that holds true whether you use Abreva or not. Keeping it down and treated also avoids serious scabbing, cracking, bleeding, which can all add days or weeks in additional healing time. Don’t give up, people, it’s probably the best thing out there if caught early. Sure, some breakouts are worse than others, but Abreva is still my best buddy. I keep it at hand always, at work, and bring it with me whenever I travel."

• Sad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2019

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I got my first cold sore in May. Saw my doctor, and he told me to keep using Abreva until it went away. Well, naive me used the Abreva for 3 weeks. I didn’t know exactly how the outbreaks usually went, so when they spread across both my upper and lower lip, I didn’t realize it was the Abreva causing the mess; until they swelled up like balloons overnight, and my face became bumpy and itchy. I got a prescription for Valtrex and stopped Abreva immediately after that. However, my lips STILL are not 100% back to normal (4 months later). It’s like it mostly goes away for no more than 1-2 weeks before it comes back. The Valtrex helps, but there’s something else going on here. I’d like to know if anyone else has issues like me."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2018

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I am not a person who gets cold sores often, but I had Abreva at my house, and I had the scare last time. Today I felt the tingly and itchy feeling within half an hour after I put the medicine on my lip, hoping it would make it better and not blister up because it was nothing but redness. Instead, it made things a hundred times worse. Within 12 hours, I felt discomfort, so I went to check what's going on, and when I wiped off the Abreva, I realized that there was a group of blisters, like a blister cluster, in two areas of my lips, one on the top and one on the bottom. It looks horrible, there's no way I can cover it up with makeup. It still feels tingly and itchy and swollen from the inside. This medication is horrible, I will never use it again. It's not only a waste of money, but as I'm reading comments, I'm not the only one whose cold sore was made much worse. Thanks, Abreva, now I can't leave my house for a week, I'm sure. I wish I could get my money back from this scam."

• Tao...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2019

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I agree with everyone here that says it made their cold sore 10x worse. I get cold sores like once or twice a year, and the last time I started to get one, I immediately applied Abreva, and the next day my lip was enormously swollen and spread to my bottom lip. I personally feel the best thing for cold sores is to apply Orajel for cold sores to it, ibuprofen for pain, Benadryl for the itching, and to use peroxide to clean it with cotton balls or just pouring it over the affected area. Abreva is awful and not to mention ridiculously expensive!"

• RSS...
• June 4, 2019

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I wish I'd read these reviews before sending my husband to the pharmacy yesterday to buy me some Abreva. I get cold sores from time to time, and this time I decided to actually buy something to speed along the healing process. BAD IDEA. I applied Abreva to my very small, barely noticeable cold sore yesterday afternoon. By bedtime, literally 4 hours after the first application, my lip was swollen to twice its normal size and what started as a tiny spot is now dime-sized. It literally looks like someone punched me in the face. Anywhere I applied the Abreva broke out into a huge cold sore. My lip looks terrible, and it hurts and itches like crazy. I am so upset! What was supposed to help made everything significantly worse! I should have just left it alone! I called the doctor, and they are calling me in a prescription for Valtrex so that maybe this monstrosity will go away! I have never been so embarrassed. Seriously... This is the worst cold sore I've ever had in my life!"

• Anonymous
• October 13, 2019

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "Felt a slight tingle on my upper lip with no visible bump/blister. Tingle went away within a few minutes. Just to be on the safe side, I applied Abreva. Immediately started itching and a bump appeared within 10 minutes. Another bump surfaced within an hour. Applied another dose, and lo and behold, I had a 3rd cluster of bumps forming within 6 hours. 20 of my smackeroos spent on something resembling a botched lip job. I know better. Every time I use this stuff-regardless of what stage my cold sore is in-it makes it worse. Every single time. But I want to believe in it. Not anymore. Today, I am over the false hope of Abreva and accepting of the fact that this OTC is wasted money and a detriment to the herpes healing process. Just threw it in the trash because it is garbage!!!"

• Uni...
• July 21, 2017

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I have been using Abreva for years, and it is incredibly good. I got off a phone call with the bank, and within minutes, the cold sore was starting to form, and my bottom lip was beginning to tingle and itch. At that point, I knew - so I drove as quickly as I could to the pharmacy and purchased a bottle. I applied it immediately, and the cold sore literally stopped in its tracks. I put it on at least 3 times that day, and by the next morning (today), it almost looks as if nothing is there. No red spot near the edge of my lip. Now, just a very small bump that is already beginning to get smaller and smaller. I would recommend this stuff to anyone. It works like magic if you put it on right when you feel the cold sore start to come in."

• Anonymous
• December 27, 2017

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I've used this product, and it worked the first time. After a week of stopping it, another one came, and I've used this again. Now it's making it worse. I've been suffering with two different spots on my lips for a month. I'm taking the Zovirax pills, and I think I'm allergic to them. They keep making me itch. Help, need something. This is terrible."

• Neu...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 17, 2016

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "Abreva (docosanol) is the only over-the-counter antiviral cold sore treatment available in the US. Most other over-the-counter brands will not have any effect on the duration and severity of the blister(s), other than treating the symptoms, which include pain, itchiness, etc. You should apply antivirals once you start to feel the 'tingly,' warm feeling in your lip before the blister arrives. This will inhibit the virus particles from replicating and infecting more cells, which would have made your sore bigger, more painful, and longer lasting. That being said, this doesn't work perfectly all the time. I swear by this, and I will NEVER waste money on anything that does not contain antivirals. Read the content label before you purchase and Google!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 6, 2022

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I am a woman, and I’ve had the oral herpes virus since I was 16, probably both, but never had an outbreak in my private area. I’m 22 now. I noticed I only get outbreaks 1-3 times a year. My skin gets oily and red around my lips, chin, and nose, with swollen lips. It’s super noticeable. I wish this wasn’t permanent because I don’t know how I can deal with this for years to come. It’s super uncomfortable. It’s strange because I never get “a cold sore,” I get a bunch of tiny bumps pretty much all around the edge of my lips and then have the yellow ooze that comes out of them. I’ve only used Abreva twice so far… My outbreak definitely lasts more than a week, and my lips stay swollen with the tiny bumps. I can’t tell if it really helps because I'm suffering each day. A week after everything healed, I had another outbreak. I am now trying L-lysine and the ointment, so I hope this works. I noticed Abreva made my face itchy and dry with skin peeling too after I healed."

• str...
• December 5, 2017

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "This product makes the cold sore worse. It made my one pimple-sized cold sore itch, and 2 more popped in the area. I have given it a chance in the past (3 more times), but now am convinced that it doesn't work. It's the most advertised on TV, but it's just a scam. Please save your money and try something like tea tree oil to make the blister small and dry."

• Zoe...
• February 6, 2016

Docosanol topical for Herpes Simplex (HSV) "The thing about the cold sore virus is that they mutate very quickly. That means they evolve quickly and thus will be able to fight off the cream. Therefore, every time another cold sore appears, it is better to use a different cream that you have not used before. Or apply manuka honey on it, it will help lessen the itchiness and may speed up healing time."