Valacyclovir and Blisters: What Users Say

• muc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2016

Valacyclovir for Herpes Simplex, Suppression "I am pregnant and found out I had genital herpes on New Year's Eve from my boyfriend giving me oral sex with a cold sore on his lip. It burned so bad when I went pee. I had painful blisters and bumps and awful itching with a nasty discharge and swelling. OB-GYN gave me Valtrex 1 gm to take twice a day. On day one, the painful swelling I had in my labia went down a lot. By day two, the burning was gone and the big blisters went down until they were super small. The itching also got a lot better. Day three, blisters and bumps scabbed over. It's now day four and all I had left is dried-up tiny scabs over where two of the blisters were and they don't hurt at all. Bumps are gone. Basically, my vagina looks and feels almost normal again."

• Kim...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 16, 2018

Valacyclovir for Herpes Simplex, Suppression "I was diagnosed with HSV-2 in 2001 after having sex for the first time. I was in so much pain and suffered from urinary retention and had to wear a catheter for about 2 months. I was so embarrassed and depressed. My partner accused me of giving him the virus; however, I was a virgin. I take Valtrex prn, and luckily I only have one to two outbreaks a year that last about 3 days and include one to two small blisters. No more urinary retention. I just wish I would have questioned my partner sooner related to a history of STDs."

• ste...
• January 5, 2015

Valacyclovir for Cold Sores "I've been getting cold sores for a while now, and before Valtrex, none of the creams would help, and I wouldn't notice a difference. Now when I feel a little bump, I take Valtrex right away, 4 pills ASAP, then another 4 a few hours later. If I catch it early enough, it won't go past the little bump and will be cleared up by the next day. If I catch it a little too late (sometimes they like to show up while I'm sleeping), I still take Valtrex and I will get the outbreak, but no swelling, blister. Still clears in 3 days. I also use Polysporin patches. This stuff is the closest thing to a cure right now. My doctor says to take 1 pill a day around the times of the year I usually get them, and sometimes I can go a year or a year and a half without one."

• iha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2016

Valacyclovir for Cold Sores "I would never take the time to do this if this pill didn't truly change my life. I have gotten cold sores for years now, just about every month. I finally asked my dentist if he could prescribe something for me because my wedding is coming up and I did not want to have one on my big day. I have used the medicine twice now. The first time, a blister never even formed, I just had the hard bump on my lip and it was gone by the second day. I felt my lip getting hard again Sunday, so I immediately took 2 pills and then 2 more 12 hours later. Monday morning, I woke up and a small blister had formed (didn't hurt or look bad, but I was still worried). It is now Tuesday morning, and my lip is completely healed! This pill works miracles!"

• Bri...
• January 4, 2015

Valacyclovir for Cold Sores "I took this at the very first tingling feeling that told me a cold sore was forming. I've been taking 2 pills a day for 2 days now, and my cold sore is not even visible. There is little to no irritation (with the help of some cream) and no redness or blistering. Best treatment I've ever used on my cold sores!"

• ABf...
• December 9, 2016

Valacyclovir for Cold Sores "I've gotten cold sores for years. I've had some disfiguring experiences with larger ones that scab over on or around my lips. They started in my 30s and, over thirty years, have always been with me. Sometimes I go for 7-8 months without being affected, but they never cease completely. There are times when I get one, it runs its course for about 10 days, then in a week or two, I get another that can be more severe. Generally, it works well. Although it is still effective at controlling an outbreak and reducing healing time, it is far from a cure, and outbreaks can still result in blisters even when taken A.S.A.P. after the first signs. TIMING IS IMPORTANT. Take at first tingle is a good rule, but if an outbreak occurs during sleep, not much can be done."

• olg...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 22, 2019

Valacyclovir for Cold Sores "I have had cold sores since I was 3 or 4, but only in the past couple of years have I seen an increase in the frequency (I used to get them 2 times a year, and now get them once or twice a month). I was prescribed Valtrex two years ago to combat the cold sores. I take two pills at the earliest sign of a tingle. Sometimes, the tingle goes away and there is no cold sore. However, sometimes a cold sore still forms. There is initial swelling and fever blisters, but the blisters do not become enlarged and quickly scab over. At its most effective, Valtrex prevents cold sores from forming. At its least effective, Valtrex lessens the pain, improves the appearance, and shortens the cycle of my cold sores (from tingle to scab in 2 or 3 days)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2018

For Cold Sores "This stuff is amazing! Seriously, it is magical! I woke up with a tingling on Saturday morning, took one dose (my doctor suggested 1 pill every 12 hours instead of 2), and prayed for a speedy recovery. Unfortunately, I still got a small cluster of blisters, but by Sunday evening, they had receded! It was like they had shrunk back into themselves! I will have these meds with me at all times because this was such a lifesaver! It is now Monday afternoon, and I am almost completely healed. Serious miracle worker! I only wish one of my previous doctors had given me this prescription earlier to save myself years of embarrassment and pain!"

• Col...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2015

For Cold Sores "After battling a cold on top of a stressful week, I woke up Saturday morning with a tingling spot on my lip. Checked the mirror and saw a little white bump. I ran to the med cabinet and took the first dose of valacyclovir. I kept an eye on it throughout the day. It got a little red, but no swelling and no blisters formed. I took the second dose before I went to sleep and woke up the next day, and it was a little red spot, that was it. It's now Tuesday, and it's almost completely healed. I don't know why I waited so long to use this stuff (been getting cold sores since high school, I'm 27 now). I don't even bother with Abreva anymore."

• Guc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 6, 2015

Valacyclovir for Cold Sores "I got this when I had already had 2 crusty cold sores and just got rid of 1. I get them a lot and they don't care-they show up for no reason! I took the 2 and then 2 later, and it helped clear those up in no time at all, but when I start on a new cold sore, I notice the 2 now and 2 later isn't working, but the doctor won't change the script, so I'm doing a bit of testing at home to see what helps. I haven't had a cold sore often enough now to say if taking 2 now, 2 later for 2 days helps or 4 now and 4 later for 1 day is best. I still have the painful blisters, and they still came in the overnight to the 2nd day-not more, just the ones that came the first day became fuller. This was on the 2 now and 2 later. I did catch it right when I felt the itch."

• hat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 15, 2015

For Cold Sores "Valtrex has worked beautifully for me for many years, but my health insurance will only cover the generic now. I've been taking the Mylan product, and for the past year have been on the verge of, or have suffered outbreaks monthly. The blisters are all under my lips and run up into my nose. I've seen other posts, somewhat dated, that say Mylan's version doesn't work for them and to try a different generic. I will do that, but at the moment, my pharmacy has the different manufacturer's Valacyclovir backordered. (Wonder why?) Anyone else had a similar experience?"