Valacyclovir is what we prescribe for our cold sore treatment. Valacyclovir is the generic form of Valtrex, and it is a prescription antiviral medication used to treat herpes virus infections, including cold sores, shingles, and genital herpes in adults. You can take valacyclovir when you notice early signs of a genital herpes outbreak in order to prevent the outbreak or reduce its duration and severity.
There is no cure for cold sores, but valacyclovir can treat individual outbreaks as they occur. Additionally valacyclovir helps the sores heal faster and relieve the pain and discomfort of an outbreak.