OTC drugs are available to relieve discomfort and hasten healing in someone suffering from from a herpes outbreak. There is even an OTC medicine with antiviral qualities called Abreva (docosanol).
The following over-the-counter drugs are widely used by health clinic to treat genital herpes symptoms:
Topical pain relievers: These numbing drugs are applied to the skin. Lidocaine creams or ointments (such as Aspercreme and Anbesol), camphor and phenol (Campho-Phenique), and benzocaine (Orajel and Carmex Cold Sore) are examples.
Pain medications used orally: Tylenol (acetaminophen) is an oral pain reliever that can help with the discomfort of a herpes outbreak. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) are sold over-the-counter (OTC) and they can help reduce pain while lowering redness and swelling.
1% hydrocortisone cream: A low-dose topical steroid that helps relieve inflammation, redness, and burning from a herpes outbreak. To treat genital Herpes, hydrocortisone cream is frequently used in conjunction with a prescription antiviral medication.
Abreva 10% docosanol cream: This is the only over-the-counter (OTC) antiviral medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating cold sores. It is a topical cream that should be applied to the skin five times a day at the first symptom of an outbreak (such as tingling, itching, or bumping). According to research, early skin care treatment using it can cut an epidemic’s duration by one to two days. Abreva isn’t authorized to treat genital Herpes.
Lysine ointment: Lysine is an amino acid with antiviral properties, according to some. Quantum Leap Lip Care and Lip Clear Lysine Plus are two lysine-based ointments that can be used to treat sores. The evidence for their usage needs to be more comprehensive.
FemiClear: It is an over-the-counter ointment used to treat genital hsv. It is made from natural substances such as lemongrass and willow bark and promises to eliminate 99.9% of herpes viruses. There is no proof that FemiClear changes the course of herpes infection.