Zovirax cream approved for cold sores

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zovirax (acyclovir) cream for the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis, otherwise known as cold sores in adults and adolescents, 12 years of age and older.

Zovirax cream should be applied 5 times per day for 4 days. Therapy should be started as early as possible following first signs and symptoms, ideally during first tingle/ itching sensation or when blisters start to appear. Zovirax cream is not recommended by the FDA for the treatment of genital herpes.

This is the second drug recently approved for the treatment of cold sores in the US. In September last year, the FDA approved the use of Valtrex tablets (valaciclovir) for the treatment of cold sores in healthy adults.

Find the IHA leaflet: Facial Herpes in Resources on www.herpesalliance.org.