Does zovirax cream really work for lip cold sores?

I went to CVS tonight and bought the 5g Zovirax cream. Without insurance it was $400. With my PPO insurance it was $75. And the pills went from $160 (without ins) to $7 with insurance. How are people surviving insurance?? These prices are insane :-(

You can also take L-Lysine found in the vitamin section of the store/pharmacy and take it at onset or even after the cold sore is in full bloom If taken early it will dry up before it starts and if taken after full blown cold sore it cuts time down by at least 3/4 of the life span.  Works great.  I just got the ointment you are talking about from my mom so I am going to see how it works.

Thanks and good luck

I am sorry I am replying this late.....I never got a notification about your question. Anyway, you can get Zovirax 5g tube for lip sores in most of Europe from ANY pharmacy over the counter! As easy as that. No Doc. appointment necessary. The thing is you have to go there. Perhaps taking a vacation and bringing back a few tubes might be worth it. I am disgusted at the atrocious cost of this cream here in the USA. How can the pharmaceutical companies justify that when it is obviously NOT worth that much money!!!! I bet you could get a vacation to Europe for the money they want you to spend on this cream here!!! I feel for you, and hope you find a way to get this cream for the money it's really worth.....

Hi, this has been my gripe ever since I moved to the USA. Thankfully I have not had a cold sore for a couple of years now, but if I do, I always have a 5g tube handy that I bring back from Europe with me every time I go and visit family. It costs $15 and I can just go to the pharmacy and get it over the counter. No Doc. appointment. It really angers me when I read all these posts where these poor people are made to pay SO much. It makes me want to bring back a good supply and start selling it! If I sold one tube for $30 I would be making everyone happy and still make a 100% profit!!!

I cannot understand how the pharmaceutical companies in the USA can justify these prices. It is just immoral!

OMG! This really is IMMORAL!!! If you read my other posts, you will know that you can get a 5g zovirax cream for cold sores for about $15 in Europe over the counter. I suggest you use the money for a nice vacation to Europe and bring back a few tubes for future outbreaks, plus you will have a nice time! Or ask someone who is going to bring some back for you. Click on the link below, just scroll down till you come to the zovirax cream. This is from a "Wallgreens" type store in the UK called Boots.

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Its strange you can buy Zovirax cream over the counter in Asutralia too- I'm from Melbourne and it costs @ $15! I find the cream only works if you apply it at the first start of tingling. I use the Acyclovir tabs, they work every time

I've tried so many different over the counter remedies for cold sores and likely spent a fortune on them over time.  I've also tried the natural route -  tooth paste, tea bags, salt etc - all the usual things and finally this week,  found something that  made a difference within one day on full fledged cold sores.   Webber First Aid vitamin E cream in the First Aid isle of our local pharmacy, containing " an intense level of antioxidant Vitamin E".  I cannot believe how quickly it worked.  Slight stinging on open sores but it goes away very quickly.  This cream seems to also be thick enough to protect your lips when you eat or drink acidic foods.  I am going to always have this cream handy. 

Well i have a core sore now and have it for one week , went to the doctor and was perscribed zovirax , and the cost with insurance was $31.00 , it is awesome after three days it's almost gone ...and i never started using it a week after it started ...

Wow, I am amazed that you have to make an appointment to get the cream let alone the cost!!! Im in the UK and you can get it as cheap as maybe £2. I've seen a website, chemist direct selling the Aciclovir 5% cream for £1! I'm sure you guys in the states can order from a website that does international shipping?? It would still be far less than the price you are being charged. I mean shipping for a tiny tube cant be much. All the best.

Hi Guys,

I'm in Europe and Zovirax is readily available but, unless you get to the coldsore at the tingle stage, it's not great. I don't understand why you have to go to a Doctor, because by the time you do this and go to the pharmacy, it will be too late.

As a long time coldsore sufferer, the best thing is prevention!! If you incorporate L-lysine into your daily vitamins and mineral intake, it will reduce the amount of outbreaks you get.

Try it out!!

Hi, Lipactin always works for me in any stage of my cold sore.  You can buy this at any drugstore.  It dries the coldsore out any stage of growth, the tingle or beyond.

I feel bad for anyone who paid a lot of money for this.

I got a tube through insurance, so it was free.  It works OK.  It may be able to reduce the duration of the cold sore by 1 day or so.  Do some reading on the website.  It is NOT a miracle cream.  People are exaggerating the efficacy of it.  If you read the instructions it's all spelled out clearly.  If you have to pay a large sum of cash out of pocket for it, I would encourage you not to purchase it.  If you can get it cheap/free through insurance, you might as well get it.

I use it when I got cold sores, and it does seems to make them less intense, but they still come out, they still scab, and they still happen.

I just picked up a 50mg tube of acyclovir ointment 5% cream. I paid a $10 co-payment with my insurance.. im just starting to feel a tingle on my lip. I hope this stuff works.. I'll reply later with my results.

yeah its Herpes Simplex One, not genital herpes. Theres a BIG difference.

Denavir is a prescription product that is indiicated for oral herpes--cold sores--and it has been on the market since 1996.  It works great!