Cheaper Generic ZOVIRAX for coldsores

Sofa_Sogood

It costs a fortune and for less than a spoonful.

My mum was prescribed it and the tube was huge, but she had shingles at the time. As I seem to get cold sores at this time of year, but not solely at this time, should I ask my doctor for a bigger tube?

I don't want to abuse the system, but the cost of it, over the chemist's counter, is a joke. And a pocket-filler for some drug company ...

Any advice please?

Sofa_Sogood

I realise this side of the board's a touchy subject, so just a broad answer would be appreciated.

TIA

AussieLass

I got sick of paying the high price of it as well. I have been using a dab of perfume each time I feel a cold sore coming on. I only get them on my nose. So don't know how it would go on the mouth. It's worked perfectly for me, and they have never become full blown. I've been doing it now for a few years. It's worth a try anyway. HTH

aliasojo

Best bet is simply to ask the pharmacist if there is a generic alternative. If not, I'm sure Doc would consider prescribing a bigger tube. Certainly worth asking.

cheekymole

aftershave, it stings but it's good

Toothsmith

Zovirax (Acyclovir) is very good for cold sores if you catch them at the tingly stage. It's not that much good if you don't.

There is a cream based on a drug called pencyclovir called Vectavir. This is prescripton only, but my patients report it as much more effective than Zovirax. It is still best if put on at the tingle, but it still works very well if you miss that stage.

I did think that both were only available in 2g tubes, but on checking my BNF, I have found acyclovir has a 10g pump dispenser as well. The price listed for 10g Acyclovir (generic) is £8.74, For Zovirax £15.94 (That'll be the cost of the telly adverts!) and Vectavir £4.20 for the 2g tube (So a private prescription from your dentist may work out cheaper.)

I'm afraid perfume, etc doesn't work. It may dry it up a bit, but it's more likely that the flare ups you get aren't very severe anyway.

The place a cold sore affects depends on where to virus lays dormant. After a flare up it 'hides' in a nerve. The nerve it hides in is the nerve that supplies the place it affects. Tht's why they generally appear in the same place each time.

They can lead to quite serious compliations in some people. Your dentist may appreciate it if you stay away from the practice whilst the thing is active. It is also important to avoid immunosupressed people (AIDS victims, people shortly after chemotherapy or people who have had organ transplants.)

As for cost, these drugs are incredibly clever. Viruses are little b*ggers and hide within normal cells. The development costs must have been astronomical.

Savvy_Sue

Toothsmith wrote:

They can lead to quite serious compliations in some people. Your dentist may appreciate it if you stay away from the practice whilst the thing is active. It is also important to avoid immunosupressed people (AIDS victims, people shortly after chemotherapy or people who have had organ transplants.)

Also people with eczema ... the combination of eczema and the cold sore virus can be life threatening and is at best extremely unpleasant!

shokadelika

Use neat tea tree essential oil make sure its the real thing though not body shop stuff etc works a treat.

LumpyBumpy

I have used in the past something called "Soothe Lip" that was from Superdrug and worked exactly the same as Zovirax but abit cheaper. Also depending on where you live try looking in places like Home Bargains and Wilkinsons they often sell Zovirax and similar products cheaper. Obviously I realise that cold sores effect people differently and for different periods of time, but I do find that it lasts me ages and worth the money!

johannamse

I use Boots own, cheaper and better

Turning_into_scrooge

You could try using essential oil of tea tree it actually works in exactly the same way as zovirax only it tastes disgusting. I never buy zovirax i always use just 1 drop of tea tree on a cotton bud applied 3 times a day and find it works quicker than zovirax and is much cheaper.