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Fever Blister Medication
If you experience pain and discomfort from a fever blister, medication can be taken to improve symptoms and to speed up the healing process. These medicines, which are available over-the-counter and by prescription, come in the form of tablets, ointments, and creams. Lysine is a supplement that can also be used for treating and preventing fever blisters.
A variety of medicines are available for fever blisters, including prescription medications, nonprescription medications, and supplements.
All of the prescription medications approved to treat fever blisters belong to a group known as antivirals. Antivirals can be effective in speeding up healing and decreasing the pain and discomfort often associated with fever blisters.
Topical prescription fever blister medicines (creams or ointments that are applied directly to the fever blister) include:
- Zovirax® cream (acyclovir cream)
- Zovirax® ointment (acyclovir ointment) -- approved for people with a weakened immune system
- Denavir® cream (penciclovir).
Oral prescription medications (tablets that are taken by mouth) include:
- Famvir® (famciclovir)
- Valtrex® (valacyclovir).
All of these medicines work best if used at the first sign of a fever blister (symptoms often include tingling, itching, burning, or redness).
It is important to understand that treatment with these medications does not prevent future outbreaks of fever blisters. They are also not approved for use in children (except Zovirax cream and Denavir cream, which can be used in children 12 years of age and older).
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD