docosanol
Patient Counselling
Wash your
hands before and after applying the cream.
You should start treatment with docosanol as soon as possible after the first symptoms of a cold sore develop. Apply a thin layer of the cream to the cold sore and gently rub it in. Apply the cream 5 times per day until the lesion has healed, up to a maximum of 10 days.
Docosanol cream should only be applied externally, to the skin. Do not apply the cream inside the mouth or near the eyes.
This medication is generally well tolerated by patients. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms after applying docosanol cream: hives, rash, difficulty breathing, tightness in your chest or throat, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. These could be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
If your cold sore does not improve within 10 days, or gets worse during that time, contact your health care provider.
Do not share this medication with other people. Doing so may result in the infection being spread to others.
Reference:
Lexicomp. Docosanol. Updated 2014. Available from: http://online.lexi.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/patch_f/6776. Accessed July 17, 2014.
You should start treatment with docosanol as soon as possible after the first symptoms of a cold sore develop. Apply a thin layer of the cream to the cold sore and gently rub it in. Apply the cream 5 times per day until the lesion has healed, up to a maximum of 10 days.
Docosanol cream should only be applied externally, to the skin. Do not apply the cream inside the mouth or near the eyes.
This medication is generally well tolerated by patients. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms after applying docosanol cream: hives, rash, difficulty breathing, tightness in your chest or throat, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. These could be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
If your cold sore does not improve within 10 days, or gets worse during that time, contact your health care provider.
Do not share this medication with other people. Doing so may result in the infection being spread to others.
Reference:
Lexicomp. Docosanol. Updated 2014. Available from: http://online.lexi.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/patch_f/6776. Accessed July 17, 2014.