Cold Sore Medicines: A Guide to Over-the-Counter (OTC) and Prescription Treatments
Bothersome cold sores can be treated with over-the-counter and prescription medications. Learn how to treat cold sores and which medicines may work best for you.
Xerese
Used for Cold Sores
Used for Cold Sores
Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) is a prescription cream that's applied on the lips and around the mouth to help treat cold sores (also known as herpes labialis). It's a combination of two medications: acyclovir (an antiviral) and hydrocortisone (a topical steroid). Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) works best if you use it 5 times a day as soon as you have a cold sore outbreak (when cold sore symptoms start). Typically, treatment lasts for 5 days. Most people don't experience a lot of side effects from the medication, but it might cause some mild burning and stinging during application.
What is Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone)?
What is Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) used for?
- Shorten the healing time and treat symptoms (tingling, pain, burning, itching) of repeated cold sores in people 6 years and older
How Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) works
Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) is a combination of two medications.
- Acyclovir is an antiviral medication. It stops the herpes simplex virus (HSV) from making copies of itself.
- Hydrocortisone is a steroid. It lowers the amount of inflammatory chemicals that cause redness, itching, and swelling. This helps lower skin inflammation.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Xerese |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Antiviral / Corticosteroid |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Side effects aren't common. See other side effects.
Less Common Side Effects
- Dry skin
- Burning or tingling feeling
- Skin redness
- Changes in skin color
- Skin inflammation
The following Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Burning, itching, redness, rash, swelling, soreness, or tingling at the application site
change in skin color at the application site
dryness or flaking of the skin
flushing or redness of the skin
unusually warm skin
Incidence not known
Blistering, burning, or crusting of the skin
itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$1592.79
GoodRx discount
$1302.67
Pros and cons of Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone)
Pros
- Combines two medications into one topical cream for convenience
- Generally well-tolerated
- Safe to use for adults and children 6 years and older
Cons
- Need to apply the medication 5 times a day
- Must use at first signs and symptoms of a cold sore for the medication to work as best as it can
- Not a cure for cold sores
Pharmacist tips for Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone)
- Only use Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) on cold sores around the outside of your mouth. Don't put this medication into your mouth or swallow it. Never use it in your eyes, nose, or ears or on your genitals.
- Use Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) as soon as you notice symptoms of a cold sore (e.g., painful, fluid-filled blisters).
- Wash your hands before and after you use Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) to prevent getting medication in your eyes or mouth.
- How to apply Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone): Clean and dry the skin around your cold sore. Then, cover the cold sore (including its outer edges) with the cream thoroughly and completely using your fingertip or a cotton swab. Avoid rubbing the medication in harshly since this can cause the infection to spread or get worse.
- Don't cover your cold sore with a bandage after you apply Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone).
- Avoid using skin products, such as makeup, sunscreen, or lip balm, on or around your cold sore to avoid contaminating these products.
- Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) isn't a cure for cold sores. It only helps to shorten the time it takes for your cold sores to heal and prevents them from getting worse.
- Cold sores are contagious until your sores are completely healed, which can take up to 3 weeks. Try to avoid close physical contact with other people when you have a cold sore, even when you're treating it with Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone). This is because cold sores can easily spread to others. Avoid kissing or sharing items (e.g., utensils, lip balm) that have touched your mouth.
- Talk with a healthcare professional if your cold sores get worse of if they haven't gotten better after 2 weeks. They can check whether there's a better treatment option for you.
- Talk with your primary care provider if you get cold sores often. They might discuss with you about prescribing antivirals pills for you to prevent outbreaks.
Risks and warnings for Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone)
Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Use only on your skin
Use Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) for cold sores that are on the lips and around the mouth only. Don’t put the medication in your eyes, nose, or mouth or on the genitals.
Avoid using longer than 2 weeks
Typically, you shouldn't use Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) for longer than 2 weeks unless directed by your primary care provider. Let your primary care provider know if your mouth sores have gotten worse or haven't gotten better after 2 weeks. Your primary care provider can examine your mouth sores and see whether you need other treatment.
Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) works to treat cold sores, which are usually caused by HSV (a virus). It might not work well for mouth sores caused by fungal or bacterial infections, which can be hard to tell apart from a viral cold sore. Continuing to use Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) can cause your mouth sores to get worse if it's not the appropriate medication for you.
Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) dosage
The average cost for 1 tube of 5g of 5%/1% of Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) is $1,302.67 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 18.21% off the average retail price of $1,592.79. 
Tube of cream
Tube of cream| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5g of 5%/1% | 1 tube | $1,302.67 | $1,302.67 |
Typical dosage for Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone)
Apply Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) to the affected area(s) 5 times a day for 5 days. Xerese cream contains acyclovir 5% and hydrocortisone 1%.
Interactions between Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) and other drugs
Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Xerese (brand)
$1,302.67
What are alternatives to Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Xerese (acyclovir / hydrocortisone)
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