special offer

Generic Name: Zovirax Cream (acyclovir-topical)

Zovirax Cream Reviews

For Cold Sores "I'm from the UK, and have had cold sores all my life (40s). Zovirax is a complete waste of money. For years, I used it because I believed the marketing - and I thought that cold sores just got bigger, but about 5 years ago, I tried just leaving well alone. Without Zovirax, they crust faster, don't spread, and heal faster and more naturally. With Zovirax, I find it burns the skin, they spread (keep popping up outside the original zone), and scar for longer. I've also not really found that Zovirax prevents them if you get there during the original tingling either. Also, the tube size is a scandal."


For Cold Sores "I do suffer from cold sores, especially when I'm stressed. Unfortunately, I don't get the tingling stage, I just wake up to a bump on my lip. For anyone that knows me, I absolutely hate cold sores! It makes me feel so crap about myself. I used to suffer really badly to the point it would spread, and I would have 3-4 cold sores on my lips very painful! Nothing would help. Until I found this cream! It is an angel from above, a Godsend. This cream clears my cold sores up within a day!! So next morning I wake up, and it's gone, even when it's blistered, it's gone! It's expensive for a tiny tube but definitely worth it!!"


For Cold Sores "I have been suffering with cold sores for 20 years now, they usually happen once a year. I am so horrified when they happen. I take work off and basically live in my house for 2 weeks. I came across a YouTube video after feeling a bump coming on, and that's when I came across Zovirax. I thought, what the heck, I've tried everything else. I went to my doctor the same day (thank God I got in). It cost me about $90, but it was worth it. This stuff is a godsend! My cold sore was already at the blister stage, so it was day 2. Applied the cream all day for 2 days, you can't even tell I have a cold sore! There is nothing! I wish I knew about this stuff years ago. Would have saved me a lot of agony."


For Cold Sores "I'm also from the UK and like most of the comments from the UK, the cream does not help. Again bought some and it seems to make it spread. I'm sure if I didn't use it it would not be as bad as it is this morning. Maybe there IS a difference between US and UK . I must remind myself not to bother with this again.... try something else... pity"


For Cold Sores "The worst stuff I have ever used. It burnt and scarred my skin. The cold sore was almost invisible, and Zovirax burnt it and thee surrounding skin. It made it look awful, and made it painful, and took three weeks to heal. NEVER AGAIN, Beware!"


For Cold Sores "When I feel a cold sore coming on (tingle), I rub it on, and it stops the outbreak. Only thing is, it tastes horrible; sometimes it's hard not to rub your lips around the mouth without getting some in."


For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I have lived 14 years with cold sores from HSV 1, spending $20/tube on Abreva and suffering from annual break outs, some worse than others, but all embarrassing and painful! I never thought to ask for an prescfription, but coincidentally had a cold sore on my lip when I went to see my OBGYN last year. She noticed it and wrote me an Rx for Zovirax cream, and I let it sit in my wallet for a couple months until I felt the tell-tale "tingling". This stuff really works, and if you apply it early enough, the sore won't even really form or blister and will completely disappear within 3-5 days. It's amazing, and totally worth it. Do yourself a favor and get it! It was only $30, and the tube is bigger than a tube of Abreva."


For Cold Sores "living in UK i doubt if the ingredients are changed in zovirax here but I've been getting cold sores (mayby 10-15 a year..) since I was little and have always been using zovirax and now more commonly the compeed patches. The stuff is useless if anything it spreads it around even though I keep immaculate hygene with them, only using cotton but to apply etc. The only thing the cream seems to do is hold it at the stage its at and as soon as the cream is off for more than half a day it erupts again... I can have the cream on for ten days at a time. NOT CHEAP AND NOT EFFECTIVE. HELP"


For Cold Sores "Honestly one of the best treatments for HSV or coldsores around! I start feeling a cold sore coming on (a tingling, burning sensation) and on goes the Zovirax. Instant relief from the pain and the sore stops in it's tracks! Definitely worth every penny of that "


For Cold Sores "OMG LOL extremely ridiculous how Zovirax cream expensive in USA $700 plus! Zovirax cream It costs in other countries less than $20.00 It's very sad how they take advantage of people here in USA. Less than $20. Lol same Zovirax cream. Have mercy on people and stop using them like this!"


For Cold Sores "Zovirax cream is amazing. I hardly ever get an actual cold sore anymore, because I apply the cream as soon as I feel any tingle and it prevents the outbreak. Well, 3 days ago, I missed the tingle because I had a huge pimple forming on my chin, just under my lip, and it was so painful that it masked the tingle on my lip. By the time I woke up & realized what was happening, my lip had already swollen quite badly. I was horrified & thought the battle was already lost, but I immediately started applying Zovirax. My lip still swelled up to 3 times its size over the next 36 hours, but then it started to recede and never even blistered! It is now 3 days after it started & my lip is almost back to normal. I cannot believe it worked when the cold sore had already taken hold, and stopped the blisters from erupting. I love this stuff so much! It cost about $80 for a 5g tube the last time I bought it, but it lasts a long time for me. I always carry it in my purse so I am armed for battle."


For Cold Sores "Zorvirax duo honestly works wonders! As soon as I feel the tingling I lather it on and it’s gone the next day! There are also tablets that you can take but they only work if the cold sore hasn’t appeared yet and you’re only getting the tingling sensation. Just ask for them at your chemist. They’re 3 pills and you take them all at once and the cold sore doesn’t even come up. I got my lips done and I got a cold sore the next day used the cream and it was gone. I went to get them done a second time and took the tablets as a precaution and no cold sore even appeared! Love love love the cream!"


For Cold Sores "Zovirax does work. The trick is to apply small amounts as soon as possible and as often as possible. The more times you apply the more chances you have of healing quicker. Applying 3 x a day just aint going to cut it. (Every hour or less if you have to)"


For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I first contracted G. Herpes and where the semen contacted my skin and I've had eruptions of horrible painful blistering sores. It's first a tingle and I immediately know... I have Valtrex but it takes longer to work even if I take it at first tingle. For my cold sores I used to get sores on my chin, but no longer. I get them on my ear... uh huh that's right. My ear and the small of my back, right where my jeans hit. Once my ear swelled up so much and my neck too, nothing helped but this cream. It stopped my chin sores (underneath where a second neck would be if I had one) altogether. My back sores happen at severe stress, ugh, abreva doesn't help. This cream does 100% for me."


For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I got HSV-1 in 2008 from my cheating on my now ex-wife. It was never a problem until a breakout in 2010. I never went on antivirals until this breakout and I now know why this was so bad. In summer of 2010 I had neck surgery and had 4 fusions from c4-c7 and after reviewing this, the virus lies dormant in the base of the neck in nerve are called the ganglion. If you have HSV-2 (genital) herpes it lies in the lower back dormant. So, my first breakout 6 months ago in June 2011 gave me the worst ever making not only a cold sore but fever blister clusters on top and middle lip. Been on acyclovir since July 400mg twice daily. Still barely helped. 3 days ago got Zovirax cream and after 6 months its finally gone. This works awesome."


For Cold Sores "I have had coldsores for 20 years. In the last few years of using Zovirax, I have noticed it makes the sores far worse and they have been taking two full weeks to heal and leaving a red mark for months afterwards (instead of 7 - 10 days like they used to). It occurred to me that the coldsore got a lot worse after applying the Zovirax cream, including making the coldsore and surrounding skin peal really badly and go red. I have had a big outbreak on my lip less than 72 hours ago and for the first time, I decided not to apply Zovirax cream but instead have just put a blob on Vaseline on it instead. The sore started healing straight away and is almost invisible in just three days! I cannot believe it and I can't believe that Zovirax has been making my sores worse these past few years. I won't ever be using it again."


For Cold Sores "The cold sores usually don't even appear if I apply the cream at the first signs of tingling. Once, I failed to catch the tingly symptoms at the start, and only realised when my lips began to harden and split. I rushed to the pharmacy to purchase Zovirax, and I managed to dodge the embarrassing process of allowing the cold sore to fully blister and crust. I bet no one even suspected I had cold sores. I don't know why everyone is comparing prices here, but it costs approximately USD $15 for a 2g tube where I come from. Just apply a little will do, I'm not sure why someone mentioned finishing the 2g tube within 3 days. It can last me two years, before it expires. Read the directions that it comes with."


For Cold Sores "Had to immediately clean it off my lips. The burning from this cream was far too intense for me. I'm 35 weeks pregnant so my immune system is already compromised. This is the worst cold sore outbreak I've had, where pills, supplements, home remedies, and Abreva hasn't helped. I pray that it clears up soon."


For Cold Sores "I used this in the UK. £7. For a tiny tube. Which would have been worth it if it had worked. It advised to use 'liberally ' on affected area which I did. The cold sore was one of the ones that's on the are on the edge of your lip and into the inner part inside your mouth. The cream kept sticking to my upper lip. When I went to brush my teeth that night my gums were bright red really painful and bleeding. I rinsed my mouth with lots of water and wiped off the Zovirax and that calmed things down a bit. If that wasn't bad enough my cold sore is now far worse. I would advise. Don't use this product. 0/10"


For Cold Sores "Zovirax cream has 50mg of acyclovir in it -doesn't it? It was in the contents ingredients information list. Zovirax cream is a MIRACLE CURE!! Coldsores -dab it on asap a small tiny bit -Bumps on skin like welts or hives (Shingles?) +very painful +scary looking like chicken pox -connect the bumps/dots. It's stress+anxiety like someone else said...lack of sleep+you haven't been eating since the ?other? day+working extra daysTHENnights+ little catnap sleeps+ you find junk sugar loaded snacks +even the fruit+applesauce cups+granola =huge sugar/salt +sugar drinks+ creamy sugar coffee day+night to just get through those sudden double shifts =Reactions- cold sores +hive like sores+ACNE! Omg! ZOVIRAX by prescription will save YOUR day!!! : )"


For Cold Sores "Zovirax burnt my skin around the cold sore leaving a red mark 2-3 times larger than my cold sore! It also caused this skin to peel. My cold sore is essentially gone after approximately 6 days but now I am left with a very obvious and huge red mark. If you use this cream and it stings or burns at all when you apply it I would suggest stopping usage straight away. It says that this may be a “mild” symptom of using the cream. I wish I had stopped using it as soon as I felt the stinging sensation."


For Herpes Simplex (HSV) "I have had a spot come up twice in 14 years on my index finger. Index finger on right hand, infected when worked as a dental assistant on patients. This time they prescribed this cream and I noticed a great change. You never know what you're exposed to in the medical/ dental field. Gloves still tear. But luckily they are Meds to help. This product has lessened the swelling and throbbing."


For Cold Sores "Zovirax works great on cold sores. I use at first sign for a few days and it doesn't even blister. If I get a blister it doesn't get big and dries up 2 to 3 days. Abreva never worked for me. This stuff is great"


For Cold Sores "Best cold sore cream I've used. Suffer from cold sores frequently and no other treatment has really worked. This, however, eases pain and stops spread and growth in just a few days. As well as this it's so cheap only a few quid. Would highly recommend it."


For Cold Sores "I'm from the uk and Zovirax cost £6 which is probably $9 for a small little tube, it's rubbish, felt tingle so went straight to the shop and bought Zovirax, been applying it every 4-5 hours, 3 days later and the cold sore has blistered at side of my mouth, would of been better using tcp, it burns a bit but it does the job"

More about Zovirax Cream (acyclovir topical)

  • Check interactions
  • Compare alternatives
  • Pricing & coupons
  • Side effects
  • Dosage information
  • During pregnancy
  • Drug class: topical antivirals
  • Breastfeeding

Patient resources

  • Zovirax Topical drug information

Professional resources

  • Zovirax Cream prescribing information
  • Acyclovir (Topical) (AHFS Monograph)

Other formulations

  • Zovirax
  • Zovirax (Acyclovir Topical)

Related treatment guides

  • Cold Sores
  • Herpes Simplex (HSV)