Docosanol topical and Tingling: What Users Say

• Lin...
• July 10, 2017

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "Abreva used to work, not anymore. It appears they have changed the formula. It has been a few years since I've had a cold sore or fever blister. Years ago, when I used Abreva, I could feel a tingling sensation when I applied it. Within 24 hours, you could tell a difference, the fever blister was not spreading but getting smaller. The Abreva purchased in 2017, you feel nothing when you put it on. Does not work like it used to. Please bring back the old formula."

• Gre...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 6, 2017

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I have taken this medicine since it first came out. I felt the tingle of a new sore the other day and bought a bottle of Abreva (this bottle has a pump to supply the medication, which is more liquidish). After 2 days of use, I realized that not only had the Abreva NOT worked, my cold sore had spread to 3 times the original size and was still contagious (tingly and sore). I mentioned this to my husband, who said we had an older squeeze tube of Abreva (paste consistency) in his bathroom, and he suggested I try that instead. After 12 hours and 2 applications, the cold sore is already getting better. My guess is that the makers of Abreva have watered down the active ingredient so much that it is no longer effective, so they make more money."

• boo...
• January 18, 2015

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."

• Jul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2017

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I am so impressed with this product. Thursday morning, started to get tingling and bubbles, went to the pharmacy and purchased Abreva in the afternoon and applied as directed since then... Here I am Saturday afternoon and already scabbing and drying up. Wow, thanks Abreva!"

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 8, 2015

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "This product works so well. Felt a tingle early that morning, cried, was depressed. Applies this for the first time, five times a day. The next day, I'm usually used to huge oozing clusters all on my chin, but I was amazed, no of that. It is now day 3, and it's completely gone."

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

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."

• Anonymous
• November 14, 2021

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "Horrible!!! I used it when I felt a tingling, and then it spread all over my bottom lip. I have a cluster of sores that keep spreading, so I just stopped using it. It doesn’t help anything but to spread them. DO NOT USE."

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 22, 2019

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I've been using this product on and off for about a year. Anytime I feel a flare-up, I'll pop a little bit of Abreva onto my lips underneath my lip balm, and it INSTANTLY (or at least overnight) takes care of the issue! My last flare-up yesterday had resulted in a blister forming. I panicked as I thought it might be too late for the medication to work its magic most effectively, but I applied anyway, and within one day the blister popped and revealed nice, soft lips underneath! Best of all, no further tingles or irritation."

• Anonymous
• October 13, 2019

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!!!"

• Use...
• December 31, 2017

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "Very sad. Used Abreva for the first time (slight redness and tingling), there was no blister and hardly a bump. Within 12 hours, the Abreva brought out the cold sore, and it has a collection of 6 swollen white blisters on the main sore. It also spread the virus, and I feel another coming on the other side of my upper lip, as well as my lower lip. I am speechless. Do not buy this!!! PLEASE!!!"

• Don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2018

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "Yesterday I noticed the tingling, and my bottom lip felt particularly chapped in the middle. Added a dab to that area and went to bed. Woke up to two enormous blisters right in the middle of my bottom lip line and a swollen, burning lip. I don't know what the purpose of this formula is, but it does the total opposite of its purpose."

• Apr...
• June 6, 2019

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "Used Abreva in the past and had no issues. This week I started feeling tingling on my face and went and bought a tube. It’s been 3 days and my lip is now swollen and spreading. I’m happy to see I’m not the only one this happened to. Definitely will never buy again and hope some of the suggestions on here will work for me and I can get rid of this embarrassing bubble on my face."

• Uni...
• July 21, 2017

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."

• Mya...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2019

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "The worst product ever. I put it on my cold sore the day I saw it pop up, it was tiny, and now my symptoms just worsened, and my blisters are HUGE. Not to mention, every time I’d apply it, it would burn and tingle like crazy. I WOULD NOT recommend."

• Mom...
• December 21, 2019

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "So I have suffered from cold sores for years. I finally decided to give Abreva a try. So yesterday morning, I woke up and could feel the tingling start, so when I left the house that morning, I had a red spot starting to form, stopped and got Abreva, applied it right away. Rubbing it in, followed the directions ALL day (ended up applying 4 times) a small blister (rare, normally a good size blister forms in a day or 2 for me) formed. When I woke up the next morning, the blister was already scabbed and was about 1/4-1/8 the size of the normal blister I get, only a small amount of tingling remains, very happy and will TOTALLY use again and recommend...."

• Sor...
• June 19, 2018

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "This was an awful experience. My sore was on the inside of my lower lip. The pharmacist told me to use this product. Said it was the best thing ever. Was he wrong? My mouth is full of sores and my tongue. Now I have to go to the doctor to get something to heal it. I am in so much pain. You need to get it off the market. My face was so numb and on fire and tingling. I almost went to the hospital thinking I was having a stroke."

• Anonymous
• October 12, 2019

For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "Put it on immediately in the morning when I felt the tingles, and by the end of the day, it got bigger and spread and looks terrible. I will never buy Abreva again."