If you suffer from the virus that causes cold sores as well as other viral conditions, your doctor may have recommended a prescription medicine to treat it. Although there is no medication available at the present time that will cure any form of herpes, the virus that causes cold sores, you can stop the growth of the infection and keep it from spreading throughout your body by taking Acyclovir. Other common forms of the herpes virus include genital herpes, chicken pox,and shingles.

You should start taking Acyclovir as a treatment for cold sores as quickly as the symptoms begin to manifest themselves. If you feel a tingling that you know is the onset of developing a cold sore, that's the time to start the treatment. It is also important that you continue taking all of the medicine even if your symptoms vanish while you're taking the drug. While you are on this drug, it will be mandatory for you to drink lots of water in order to maintain proper kidney function. It's up to you whether you prefer to take it withor without food, but taking it after you've eaten can stop your stomach from being upset.

Many people are nervous to take prescribed drugs of any kind because of the side-effects. As in all cases, you will have to weigh the arguments of taking this medication. While you have an active case of any herpes virus, you are transmissible. You need to avoid activities which would put your sores in direct contact with somebody else. Taking the medication will help the disease clear up quicker so that you can resume a standard life.

Possible negative side-effects of Acyclovir include lower back pain, little urination, excess weakness, bruising, bleeding, nausea, headache, diarrhea, light-headedness, distended extremities, and loss of appetite. None of these side-effects are regarded as major, but if you detest putting any chemical substance into your body, you may like solely to let your cold sore run its natural course or to use topical medications.

Having a cold sore isnever fun, but you can help alleviate the symptoms and speed up recovery by taking Acyclovir to heal a cold sore. The decision is up to you and your doctor.