Aciclovir 5% w/w cold sore cream

Do not use Cold Sore Cream if you:
• are allergic to aciclovir, valaciclovir, propylene glycol or to any of the ingredients of Cold Sore Cream.

Take special care with Cold Sore Cream:
• do not use on mucous membranes as the cream can cause irritation. The areas to avoid include the inside of the mouth and nose, the eyes and inside the vagina.
• do not use this product to treat mouth ulcers, or for herpes infections which are in or near your eyes, or in the genital area.
• do not use this cream if your cold sore is severe; you must see a doctor for advice on how to treat it.
• only use Cold Sore Cream to treat blisters on your lips and face.

If your immune system is weakened for any reason e.g. HIV infection, a bone marrow transplant or cancer
treatment, do not treat yourself with Cold Sore Cream; you must seek advice from your doctor.
While you have a cold sore, avoid spreading the infection to others by washing your hands carefully before and after applying the cream, and avoid touching the infected skin with anything else, especially with your hands or with towels.

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are or may be pregnant. Ask your doctor for advice before taking any medicine during pregnancy. The active ingredient aciclovir has been found to pass into breast milk.

For application to the surface of the skin only:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly before use.
2. Apply a thin layer of the cream to the infected area and the skin immediately next to it, 5 times a day at intervals of about 4 hours. Take care not to rub the infected skin any more than you need to.
3. Wash your hands again, to avoid spreading the infection.
4. Use the cream for up to 5 days. If the infection has not healed after this time, you can continue to use
 it for a further 5 days.

If your cold sore gets worse during the treatment period, or if it has not healed after 10 days of treatment,
STOP using the cream and seek advice from your doctor.

The active substance is aciclovir and the cream contains 50 mg in every 1 g (5%). The other ingredients are stearoyl macrogolglycerides, dimeticone, cetyl alcohol, liquid paraffin, white soft paraffin, propylene glycol and purified water.

Like all medicines, Cold Sore Cream can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If you notice the following: rash, itchy skin, weal, swelling of the lips, face and/or eyelids, they may be signs of an allergic reaction. Stop using Cold Sore Cream and seek medical advice immediately

Other side effects include:

Uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people)
  • a burning or stinging feeling after applying the cream that goes away
  • itching
  • mild drying or flaking of your skin

Rare (affects less than 1 in 1,000 people)
  • redness of your skin
  • skin rash