When you are struggling with the pain and itch from your cold sores, any kind of cold sore treatment that can offer relief to you would be a blessing to you.

The cold sore medications available over the counter (OTC) are broadly categorized into 3 main groups, each for one function. One group provides pain and itch relief, and are best applied during the tingling stage of cold sores. The other groups either slows down/prevent the cold sore lesion from aggravating, or directly stop the herpes simplex 1 virus at its track and therefore promotes healing. Some of the OTC medications contain treatment agents that have one or more of the properties mentioned. When applying all these medications, you need to remember that the results will vary from individual to individual depending on the severity of your cold sores.

Here are a few more common medications for cold sores:

1) Anbesol Cold Sore Therapy Ointment with Vitamin E & Aloe

Provides pain relief.

2) Abreva

This cold sore medicine is approved by the FDA. It is reported to aid in healing.

3) Cold Sore Rescue

Natural gel that contains agents which possess anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. Promotes faster healing.

4) Zilactin Cold Sore Gel

Pain relief medicine. Provides a protective layer on sore area and reduce irritation caused by eating.

5) LipClear Lysine Cold Stick

Moisturizing properties help to heal skin cracking commonly associated with cold sores. Protection from sun which is a common trigger for cold sore outbreaks.

While these medications do offer some kind of reprieve for your cold sore pains and itches, they are not instant cures or magical healing portions. Though they have been reported to aid in healing, the effect it has in speeding up the recovery of the cold sores can be dismal. However, they can make the 7 ? 10 days of suffering a lot easier.

I would like to offer a piece of good old advice if you intend to use these medications. Cold sores are contagious, so make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly after application least you spread it to other parts of your body, or to others. You may think this is a no-brainer but did you know that there are repeated cases of cold sores just because of this little habit everyone forgets?

Finally, to answer my question, OTC medications can be good for pain relief, but for a complete cold sore treatment solution, the way to go is using natural remedies. Find out more at my blog.