preloader

Cold sores, Acyclovir and amazon.com

Cold sores, Acyclovir and amazon.com

5% Acyclovir from Amazon.com
5% Acyclovir from Amazon.com

Am I the last person in the know?  Have you ever felt like they are having a party, and you haven’t been invited?  That’s the way I am feeling.  Something is afoot.
This week I woke up with a cold sore on my lip.  For those of you who suffer as I do, you know the feeling, that dull burning sensation.  For those of you who want to know more about cold sores, also known as Herpes Simplex type 1, or their symptoms check here.
When I went through dental school the drug of choice for cold sores was Acyclovir.  From what I understand there is no cure for cold sores.  The virus infects the nerve receptors, and it will always be there.  And when triggered, it will go from a dormant stage to an active stage.  In my case, heat will trigger an outbreak.  If I get over-heated riding my bike or if I work out in the gym and my core body temperature goes up, give it a few days, and I’m sure to get a new sore on my lip.
The best way to use Acyclovir is when you first feel that burning sensation on your lip, that’s when you want to start rubbing the cream on the burning area.  They claim that the lesion will not get as big while using the cream; the virus will not be able to do as much damage, and that you should heal quicker.
Acyclovir is by prescription only, so I thought I would call in a script.  So I called in a prescription to Walmart.  Since I would be paying for the cream out of pocket, I asked how much the price would be.  I was quoted $701.88.  This would be $701.88 for a 5-gram tube, a small tube that I could put in my pocket to carry around and pull out on occasion to apply to my upper lip.

Let me say that again; I was quoted $701.88.

As I was walking through Camden, I couldn’t help but think of everyone who suffers from cold sores.  For $701.88, I wonder how many others are like myself and don’t have a choice; I would have to let the sore work its course.
I did go down to Rite-aid here in Camden to see what options I would have with over-the-counter medications.  Wow, that was an eye opener.  It’s amazing the stuff that is marketed. It made me wonder how effective these medications are, as compared to leaving the cold sore alone to run its course.   If I had to pick the best over-the-counter medication for cold sores, I would go with Abreva.  I did buy a tube, and overall it seems to be helping. If I had a choice though, I would rather use Acyclovir or Denavir.

Canadian Pharmacy options.

I have heard about patients who buy their medications from Canada.  I was wondering, is it even legal to buy my medications in Canada?  I found this great answer here.  The short answer is yes. Although it is technically illegal, if you are buying drugs for your own use for a three months supply, they will allow it. The down side with getting your medications online from Canada is that you may have to wait a month before you receive the medication.  That’s not going to help this time, but since I know that I will have cold sores in the future, maybe I can get some ahead of time.
As I was reading the different links on purchasing medications from Canada, I noticed that Amazon kept popping up, so I did a search on amazon.com for “5% acyclovir cream”.  Wow, that was easy.  The only problem was there were too many choices.  There appear to be lots of sellers with lots of good reviews.  I found a link where I could buy three tubes of the 5% acyclovir for $23.92, plus shipping and handling; it came out to $30.89.  So that’s $2,105 worth of ointment for $30 and change. Hmmm, Is it too good to be true?  No script necessary?  All I needed was my Amazon account.
I called Walmart and spoke to the pharmacist and asked them for their input.  Through the years I have worked with all the pharmacists in the area.  I love those guys.  So many times, when I am having questions or problems with medications, those guys are great.  I had to get their input.  After I had explained what I was seeing they mentioned that anybody could set up a website, anybody can make tubes of stuff and sell it.  None of that stuff is regulated and that it’s possible to get stuck with some real junk.
I am a big fan of the FDA.  I love the checks and balance systems that we have in place to protect our own.  I found this great link from the FDA, with stories, explaining why we do things the way we do here in the USA.
Is there something afoot?  As we know, computers and the internet have redefined so much of the way we do things such as music, movies, photos, and now pharmacies?  As we proceed into the future, I hope that we can have affordable solutions as well as protect our citizens.

6 Comments

  1. M-LM

    $701.88!!!!!!!
    Any more proof needed — our healthcare system is broken.

    August 5, 2013 at 9:45 am Reply
  2. Hello Dr. Medina,
    If you’re looking for an option to Acyclovir, or even Abreva, one that’s particularly effective for prevention when applied at the tingle, I recommend Cold Sores Begone Stick. I happen to be its developer over 20 yrs ago initially for my own use as a chronic cold sore sufferer. I found when applied at the early ‘tingle’, it seemed to abort the infection, and the sore never emerged, the same results achieved everytime. It’s a long story, but a layoff and already middle-aged, it threw me in a world that I resisted all my life, entrepreneurship. I’ve marketed to the natural products industry since then, received endorsements from major health magazines, i.e. Prevention and Natural Health. Celebrities order it from my website. It’s a lip balm that costs $10.99. I’d like to send you the product at no cost. If you find it effective for your next infection, would you be willing to write a follow up article about the alternative you found with the results you experienced?
    The second product came a few years later, Canker Sores Begone Stick. It’s not effective for sores triggered by acidic food, but if from stress, fatigue, illness, trauma to oral tissue-even chemo and radiation, it seems to work like nothing else. I’m happy to send you this product as well.
    Please visit the two websites below. There’s more info and video testimonials. Look forward to hearing from you.
    Robin Barr, Founder
    Robin Barr Enterprises, Inc., Mission Viejo, CA 92692
    Toll Free (888) 877-6315
    Product developer of two all natural, oral problem-solvers safe enough for kids:
    Cold Sores Begone Stick™, a topical, one-step preventative (http://www.ColdSoresBegone.com)
    Canker Sores Begone Stick™, heals in hours to a few days (http://www.CankerSoresBegone.com)

    August 6, 2013 at 2:28 pm Reply
  3. Irene Hopkins

    Great reding your articles! On a whim I went on a glutten free diet. To my astonishment my canker sores (that I got regularly) disappeared. And I pay the price when I can’t resist that slice of pizza which contains glutten. Since glutten can be the culprit for inflamation it may do the job on cold sores!
    Best to Lanita and the wonderful work you do!
    Irene

    October 30, 2013 at 10:29 am Reply
    1. Hello Irene,
      I do have members of my family that struggle with canker sores, I’ll have to pass on the possibility that it could be gluten. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a message.

      October 30, 2013 at 10:32 am Reply
  4. While there is not currently a cure for cold sores, there are a variety of treatment options that can reduce the severity of cold sore symptoms and the duration of the cold sores.

    February 14, 2014 at 2:37 am Reply
  5. There are many specialties stores that pop up this time of year and they will carry a large variety of choices for you
    even though the cost can be higher. 943 has antihypertensive
    properties in humans,” says one of the co-authors, Cem Aydogan, General Manager, Frutarom Health. org site at the Center for Research on Lauric Oils, Inc.
    My webpage: cold sores

    October 25, 2014 at 3:03 am Reply

Write a Comment

Google Rating
4.9
Based on 238 reviews
Yelp Rating
5.0
Based on 4 reviews
js_loader

Recent posts

Categories

Archives

Tags