Treatment

Cold sores generally clear up without treatment in two to four weeks. Several types of prescription antiviral medications may speed the healing process. Examples include:

• .Acyclovir (Zovirax)
• Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
• Famciclovir
• Penciclovir (Denavir)

Some of these products are packaged as pills to be swallowed. Others are creams to be applied to the sores several times a day. In general, the pills work better than the creams. For very severe infections, some antiviral drugs can be given with an injection.