From the Guidelines
The treatment of Herpes Labialis typically involves the use of antiviral medications, such as acyclovir (200-400mg, 3-5 times daily for 7-10 days) or valacyclovir (500-1000mg, twice daily for 7-10 days), to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms 1.
Treatment Options
- Topical applications, including docosanol 10% cream (applied 5 times daily for 4 days) or penciclovir 1% cream (applied every 2 hours during waking hours for 4 days), may also be used to alleviate symptoms 1.
- In severe cases, oral famciclovir (1500mg, single dose or 500mg, twice daily for 7-10 days) may be prescribed to manage symptoms and prevent recurrence 1.
Key Considerations
- The aim of antiviral therapy is to block viral replication to enable shortening the duration of symptoms and accelerate the resolution of lesions 1.
- Early treatment is crucial to ensure an optimal therapeutic beneficial effect 1.
- Patient education using targeted campaigns is specifically recommended for HSV, stressing the importance of initiating treatment during the prodrome phase 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Herpes labialis (cold sores):The recommended dosage of famciclovir tablets for the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis is 1500 mg as a single dose. Therapy should be initiated at the first sign or symptom of herpes labialis (e.g., tingling, itching, burning, pain, or lesion).
Denavir was studied in two double-blind, placebo (vehicle)-controlled trials for the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis in which otherwise healthy adults were randomized to either Denavir or placebo. Therapy was to be initiated by the subjects within 1 hour of noticing signs or symptoms and continued for 4 days, with application of study medication every 2 hours while awake.
The treatment for Herpes Labialis is:
- Famciclovir (PO): 1500 mg as a single dose, initiated at the first sign or symptom of herpes labialis 2
- Penciclovir (TOP): applied every 2 hours while awake for 4 days, initiated within 1 hour of noticing signs or symptoms 3
From the Research
Treatment Options for Herpes Labialis
The treatment for Herpes Labialis includes:
- Oral antiviral medications such as valacyclovir and acyclovir 4, 5, 6
- Topical antiviral creams and gels, such as acyclovir 5% cream and penciclovir 5, 6
- Topical botanical gels 7
- Sunscreen with SPF 15 or above to prevent recurrence 5, 6
Oral Antiviral Medications
- Valacyclovir has been shown to be effective in reducing the duration of Herpes Labialis episodes 4
- Acyclovir has been shown to be effective in reducing the duration of Herpes Labialis episodes and preventing recurrence 5, 6
- Famciclovir has also been studied as a potential treatment option, but the evidence is uncertain 5
Topical Treatments
- Topical antiviral creams and gels, such as acyclovir 5% cream and penciclovir, have been shown to be effective in reducing the duration of Herpes Labialis episodes 5, 6
- A topical botanical gel has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms, pain score, and lesion duration in a case report 7