When Abreva first came on the market I ran out and got a tube because I have suffered with cold sores/fever blisters for as far back as I can remember. I had tried prescriptions for the outbreaks, but even that didn't seem to help very much with the outbreak. So, I tried Abreva on my next cold sore as soon as I felt the numbing, tingling, and I had excellent results. That was a few years ago though. It lessened the severity of the sores and helped speed up healing like you wouldn't believe. The reason I gave it 3 stars is because after using it time and time again for future outbreaks, for me, the Abreva just doesn't do the wonderful job it used to. It's like I'm starting to get resistant to it now as it no longer works in the way it used to. It still provides relief for the burning and itching that goes along with cold sores, but it seems to have lost its effectivness for lessening the severity and duration of the outbreak for me.

I've got to admit-I was really hoping. Unfortunately, Abreva did not deliver. I get perhaps 2-3 lip cold sores a year; nothing horrible, but enough of a drag that I'm willing to try anything to lessen the pain and shorten the duration. I'm now on my second try/second coldsore with Abreva, and both times the results have been exactly the same... they lessen the pain somewhat, but they nearly magnify the ugly look of the sore. Applying exactly as directed, Abreva goes through a cycle of drying up the sore to the point of bleeding and peeling, and then cycling to the other extreme - wet and oozing. Lessen the duration? Not really - I still have the sore for approximately a week. Really disappointing. I won't buy again.

This stuff is great! I've only been using it for two days, and I can already see a decrease in the size and pain. Hopefully it never reaches the ugly stage. It is expensive, but I think it's worth it.

I've been using Abreva for a few years now. I remember I was hesitant to try it because it can be quite expensive for such a tiny tube, but I'm very glad I did. I've tried other products, a few recommended by friends as working 'great', and while some offered temporary relief, none helped the sore heal faster. Abreva does it all! I try to apply it often as soon as I feel a tingle, and see bumps. When I do this, the sore never develops. Many times the sore develops before I realize it. When this happens, I immediately apply Abreva many times during the day. It has never failed to relieve the symptoms & heal the sore faster than an other product I have tried. The diminutive size of the tube might worry some people. Dont let it. I have not used an entire tube on 1 sore yet. A little goes a long way when applying this product. I HIGHLY recommend this product over all others for existing & developing cold sores.

PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!! I didn't think that what was on my lip was a cold sore; it was just a dry patch on my lip, it would swell, tingle, and itch every once in a while. I just tried to keep it oiled but it stayed there since August. I finally decided to try Abreva and absolutely nothing happened. I guess I had to use this product when my problem first appeared, but you'd still think it would have done something. I used it until the tube was empty, but still it was disappointing.

I had my first cold sore about four months ago, a nasty blistering mess that lasted for almost two weeks. My sister informed after the fact that I should have tried Abreva. Oh well, live and learn. Yesterday early afternoon, I felt an itching on my lip. After examining my lip in the mirror and discovering a cluster of about seven tiny bumps, I tried Abreva. As I am typing this, it is the next night and the bumps are now gone. This stuff works. It's worth the price. I applied it with a Q-tip about every hour, and now the bumps are gone. I am now applying about every two hours, and I still have almost an entire tube left. A little goes a long way. The key is to use it often (more than the recommened 5 times a day) and try to apply it as soon as you feel that itchy tingle or notice a bump. I don't own stock in Abreva, but I wish I did, because the stuff is amazing.

Abreva is wonderful! I started using it the day after I got a cold sore, and it was gone in a few days. I was so impressed, because normally my cold sores hang around for over a week. I recommend this!

I've only had one other cold sore four years ago, but it was bad enough that I was devastated to get another one last week. I am not used to them, so I didn't recognize the tingle. Suddenly there was a bump and I knew it was probably a cold sore. I immediately bought Abreva. I was shocked that it was so small, but you don't have to use very much. So far, the sore has not blistered, but hasn't really gotten better either. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! The worst part about this product is that it's in a metal tube. Every time you open it, it squirts out all over the place, wasting a lot of the already expensive medicine! Other than that, there are no negative side effects. So if it doesn't work, at least it doesn't seem to be making it any worse.

Abreva is amazing! I take it everywhere. At the hint of tingling, it dries it up, and saves me two weeks of embarrassment. Worth every penny!

Abreva provides maximum benefit if I apply it at the first tingling hint of an incipient cold sore. If I do, Abreva prevents the sore from blistering and cuts its duration by half. Tardy application reduces its effectiveness, but it is still beneficial. Recently I was on a trip involving considerable exposure to hot, arid conditions, causing my lips to crack and develop a cold sore. I had no Abreva with me and didn't start to apply it until the sore was four days old, although not blistered. This product has kept a very large sore from breaking through the skin. The sore still hurts and will need to run its course, but I credit Abreva with limiting its severity.