Okay so, if you’ve got a cold sore (ugh, same here), you might be wondering how much acyclovir you’re suppose to take. Like do you pop one pill or a bunch? And how many days? I remember the first time I got prescribed it, the label was like “take 5 times daily” and I was like… wait WHAT??
So yeah, here’s what I’ve learned from experience and also from what my doc told me. I’m not a doctor tho — just someone who’s had way too many cold sores and had to deal with this stuff.
What Even Is Acyclovir?
Acyclovir is an antiviral med — it’s used for treating cold sores, genital herpes, shingles, stuff like that. But when we’re talkin’ about cold sores (the kind you get on your lip), it helps stop the virus from spreading and helps it heal faster.
It doesn’t cure the herpes virus (sadly nothing does), but it does make the cold sore go away quicker and sometimes less painful.
Dosage – How Much Acyclovir to Take?
For treating a cold sore outbreak (just when it shows up)
This is usually what the doctor gives if you don’t get cold sores too often:
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400 mg tablet — take 1 pill 5 times a day for 5 days
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That’s like every 4 hours (but skip the middle of the night)
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Or if you have 200 mg tablets, then you’d take 2 pills (total 400mg) each time
You don’t gotta wake up at 2am to take it lol — just try to space it through the day. Like morning, mid-morning, lunch, dinner, before bed.
Start ASAP when you feel the cold sore coming (that tingly or itchy feeling). That’s when it works best.
For people who get cold sores all the time
If you get them like every month or whatever, your doctor might put you on daily suppressive therapy:
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400 mg pill twice a day (like morning and night)
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You take this every day for a while — could be months
This helps prevent cold sores from even showing up. But you gotta take it daily.
What About the Cream Version?
There’s also an acyclovir cream you can put on your lip. It’s okay, but honestly most people say the pills work better. The cream is usually:
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Applied 5 times a day
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For 4 to 5 days
It works best if you put it on right when you feel the cold sore starting.
Some people use both pills and cream together. Totally fine if your doc says it’s cool.
Don’t Take More Than You’re Supposed To
I made this mistake once and thought taking more would make it go away faster. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. Just made me feel kinda off and my stomach was mad at me for 2 days
More ≠ better. Stick to what your doctor said or what’s on your prescription label. If it’s not working, go back to your doc — don’t guess or double up doses.
❌ What If I Miss a Dose?
If you forget a dose and it’s still kinda close to the time, just take it. But if it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the one you missed. Don’t take two at once. That’s not good.
Drink Water!!
One thing I learned the hard way: drink a lot of water while taking acyclovir. It can be rough on your kidneys if you’re dehydrated, especially if you’re taking it multiple times a day.
So like, keep a water bottle on you and just sip all day. It helps.
Any Side Effects?
Most people are totally fine, but a few things can happen:
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Headache
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Nausea or stomach ache
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Feeling dizzy or tired
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Weird taste in mouth
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Rash (rare, but watch for it)
If you get anything super weird like trouble breathing, confusion, really bad rash, or you’re not peeing like normal — call your doctor ASAP. Those are rare but serious side effects.
Final Thoughts
So to sum it up:
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400 mg 5x a day for 5 days is the common dose for cold sore outbreaks
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If you get cold sores a lot, 400 mg twice a day might be your long-term dose
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Always follow your doctor or pharmacy instructions
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Start taking it as soon as you feel the cold sore coming
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Drink water & don’t skip doses!
Cold sores suck but they’re not the end of the world. Acyclovir def helps — just gotta use it right and early. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions too, like if you should have pills on-hand all the time (I do — lifesaver when I feel one coming on).
⚠️ Disclaimer
I’m not a doctor or medical professional. This is just based on personal experience and general info. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any meds or changing your dose. Everyone’s health situation is different, and your doctor knows best!