Cold sores

IsItJuly3rdYet

I seem to get cold sores when I am stressed. I am definitely alittle stressed about this pregnancy so that is definitely why one has come out. What are some safe things that I can take for the itching/pain relief? I have arbreva. That helps alittle but I also read about taking medicines like Tylenol but I don't know which are safe. Does anyone know? I haven't been able to reach my doctor so I was wondering if anyone on here could help?

JenzRas

Valtrex can be taken during pregnancy. But, i think the rule of thumb is to avoid meds during the first trimester.

jlucal

I also suffer from cold sores.  I take D3 everyday with my prenatals.  It is suppose to support immune health.  Also, the second I feel one coming on (and you'll have to trust me on this) I start putting rubbing alcohol on it (on a qtip).  The higher the percentage of alcohol the better.  I continue to put it on the cold sore (10xs per day or so) until it's gone.  It doesn't work perfect every time, but there have been more times than not, that I have actually stopped a full on outbreak and the entire process from start to finish is a week.  Again, doesn't always work but I'd say for me it works 75%-80% of the time.  I would just confirm that rubbing alcohol is okay....

kcavallin

I feel your pain, I currently have 2 sores right now and my lip is so swollen I just want to cut it off! I find abreva doesn't help. I have a prescription for Zovirax which usually does the trick but have not confirmed if it's safe to use yet so I've been avoiding.

bumpuser10607170

A couple years ago my cold sores were so bad that I finally went and got a prescription for acyclovir. I would get a cold sore once or twice a month and they would last for about 2 weeks at a time. I took it a couple times after my bfp but decided to stop and wait to ask the Dr. She said it's totally fine (same with the Zovirax cream that I also had prescribed in case the pills didn't work and I got one anyway).

I've been fortunate that I haven't had a cold sore this whole time that I haven't been taking it though, and I hate the idea of taking meds every day/every other when I don't need it so I'm still going to hold off until I actually feel one coming since the signs are really obvious for me.

MisSmartyPants

My DH is notorious for those nasty sores. He gets them all the time - tired, anxious, stressed, overworked, exposure to sun, exposure to wind, unclean edge of a water bottle or glass...weakened immune system. He would get them twice a month!! He tried everything, and so far only a strict regimen on rx Valtrex works. He was taking regularly for an extended period of time to weaken the virus, and now only takes a double dosage if he feels one creeping out. It stops the development, and speeds up the healing process. Not sure if it is good for a pregnant woman though.

charlie+7

My Dr has taken my Valtrax away for 1st Trimester. I've had 3 cold sores in 10 weeks :-(. I can't take my herbal immune booster either. She said there's little research on Valtrax but we can reconsider 2nd Trimester. I've been given aciclovir tablets instead as they've been around longer.