Docosanol (
Abreva®) is a non-prescription
cold sore medicine. It is unlikely to interact with other medications. In fact, there are no known drug interactions with docosanol at this time. It is important to note, however, that the drug has not been studied in combination with other topical products, such as lip balms, creams, or ointments. It is not known if these products might enhance or decrease the effectiveness of Abreva.
Cosmetics do not appear to interact with docosanol and can be applied on top of it. However, be sure to use a disposable applicator (such as a cotton swab) to avoid spreading the virus to the cosmetic.
Since it is possible that there are drug interactions with docosanol that are not currently known, you should talk with your pharmacist or healthcare provider about any specific drug interactions that may apply to you.
