Cold sores happen in stages: You have a tingling ... or you can get docosanol (Abreva) over the counter. Pills you swallow, like acyclovir (Sitavig, Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), or valacyclovir ...

Abreva is an over-the-counter topical remedy used to help speed healing and minimize pain from a cold sore. It must be used many times a day to speed the healing. Cold sores can become complicated ...

Consider using an over-the-counter (OTC) antiviral ointment, such as docosanol (Abreva). Many people start with this common OTC option and use it until their cold sores have healed. You can also ...