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3.9 Overall Rating

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Most voted positive review

19 People found this comment helpful

I woke up in the mid of the night with intense soreness in my upper left gum area and my upper left lip was extreme sensitive even a gentle breeze could send tingling and burning sensation. At first I thought this might be casued by my hay fever. On the third day I went to the ER for extreme pain and a visible track of redness from my upper lip towards to the side of the nose and then to my chee...

Most voted negative review

4 People found this comment helpful

My daughter was given this medication at urgent care because she got sun poisoning on her lips and blistered up. After a few days of taking it, she began to have panic attacks and was in a total state of confusion. Luckliy she was not taking the pills every 8 hours. Instead she was taking it only two times a day at most. I came here and read the side effects and instantly took her off the meds...

Shared reviews and ratings

Famciclovir | 45-54 | Male | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
11/5/2021
Condition: Recurrent Cold Sore
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

As I read all these reviews, I hate to know how we are all cursed with this condition. Thank God for modern medicine. I've experienced outbrakes on my lips as long as I remember (6-7yrs old). The key to this rx is to take it as soon as you feel a tingle. I've failed to take it right away (while traveling for work) and experienced a massive outbreak. Nearly had to fly home ahead of time. I consider this a curse due to the fact that if not treated immediately, you're in for hell for 1-2weeks.

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Anonymous | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
3/9/2020
Condition: Cold Sore
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I often don't realize I have a cold sore until after 1 or 2 small bumps appear on my lip.I take the 3 blister sealed pills and then 3 more pills 12 hrs later. After 2-3 hours of first dose I feel dizzy a bit and have rapid heart rate. I am ok with this side effect if it halts the cold sore from developing. I find it dries it up within 3-4 days usually.

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nana | 75 or over | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
9/14/2019
Condition: Shingles
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Was given this drug within 3 days of outbreak. PA was puzzled because it occured on the toes of one foot. I had shingles 50 years ago and never forgot the sypmtoms. medication stopped the outbreak within two days. Few side effects.

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mt | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
8/3/2017
Condition: Shingles
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Have had cold sores and shingles for 10 years. Now I know that if I have a cold sore, within a week, my back nerves will flare up and cause great pain. I take this at the first sign, mouth tingling,and it prevents the pain in my back, and cures the mouth sore.

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dctrkumar | 65-74 | Male | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
9/10/2016
Condition: Genital Herpes
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I had frequent outbreaks of HSV2 since 1971..A dermatologist prescribed this medication in 2011..For five years now I have had NO outbteaks...

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ri | 65-74 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
3/20/2016
Condition: Shingles
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Severe acid reflux had to stop will call dr to cont with another to finish

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Worksalotslp | 45-54 | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
3/7/2016
Condition: Cold Sore
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I suffer from cold sores when I have ongoing stressors. If the stress is consistent I begin getting what I consider "cluster" cold sores, meaning several outbreaks monthly for a couple of months in a row. Recently while visiting my dermatologist for a unrelated problem, I had a cold sore healing on my nose and he shared this medication. The dose is 1500 mg as one single dose. I do not have side effects, I take the single dose as soon as I feel tingling or burning and have not had a cold sore form since! Everyone responds differently to medication but for me it is effective. Read More Read Less

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healthyone75 | 35-44 | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
2/22/2016
Condition: Shingles in Patients Without a Normal Immune System
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

So far, I've taken 9 pills. (3 x 500mg per day). I'm an otherwise, healthy 40 yr old woman. So far, with having 9 pills over the last 3.5 days, only side effect I've had is I kind of get a headache around the time I am to pop the next pill, but it is a very, very mild headache. I am not experiencing any urinary or stomach issues at this point right now, however, I do still have 12 more pills to take this week over the course of 4 days. It does seemed to have stopped my rash from spreading any further and pain is subsiding. I seem to have to just have a mild case of shingles on the left side of my back just under my shoulder blade area... a few sprinkled over to underneath my left armpit and a few on my left breast. Sprinkles here Read More Read Less

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blo | 55-64 | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
1/20/2016
Condition: Shingles
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

helped with symptoms of shingles but sideaffects are awful. Nausia, dirrhea, indigestion, tiredness. they are almost unbearable.

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msbremer | 65-74 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
11/12/2015
Condition: Shingles
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I was a tad worried about taking this drug after reading the reviews. My Shingles was diagnosed about 3 days after the bumps started appearing on the left side of my skull. The infection was somewhat painful, but not terrible. Within two days of taking the drug and pain subsided and within 6 days it was pretty much cured. A month later there is no pain for me. Sounds like I'm fortunate. We did get the shot, so perhaps my infection was less severe.

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Anonymous | 55-64 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
11/11/2015
Condition: Shingles
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

This medicine helps with the itching, stinging and pain, and it did stop the blister from apowaring, as I started the medicine early. I didn't like the Sleepyness, and fatigue. It also caused some stomach issues and pain urinating....I am not sure if I would take this again or not

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susie1912 | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
1/9/2015
Condition: Recurrent Genital Herpes
Overall rating 3.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I found that I did not get a headache if I took this medicine with food.

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Anonymous | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
9/8/2014
Condition: Suppression of Recurrent Herpes Simplex Infection in HIV
Overall rating 2.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

STILL HAVENT WORKED YET

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Monkskin2 | 65-74 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
7/14/2014
Condition: Shingles in Patients Without a Normal Immune System
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I am a 67 yr old woman with the second bout with shingles. I had the vaccine between outbreaks all of this within one year. The med halted the shingles, it was taken within 48 hours of first symptoms. I never got to blistering and the pain and itching was greatly controlled with8888888 ice treatment. Side effects were fatigue, cramping and some diarrhea. I did have itchy skin which progressed to a rash and more intense itching on various areas of my body. Have three more days of med therapy and am debating discontinuing the shingles med. Will visit my doc tomorrow and hope she will supply me with some steroids to clear up my rash and extreme itching. Shingles are fine med did the trick.Read More Read Less

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RD4233. | 19-24 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
5/8/2014
Condition: Cold Sore
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Have been suffering from cold sores since I was in primary school and only recently discovered famciclovir. Took three tablets (1500mg) when a i felt the burning feeling and a small bump had started to form already! That was on a tuesday, by the friday all that was left was a tiny scab, practically fully healed. Can't recommend this drug enough absolutely knocked the cold sore on the head. Now keep a pack of the tablets with me at all times. Only negative is that it does give me a mild headache but well worth it considering the 3-4 day healing time as opposed to the usual 10 or so it usually takes for me. Read More Read Less

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Pauly | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
2/24/2014
Condition: Genital Herpes
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

After having labia majora removed, my Specialist also recommended daily Famvir and have been on for 13 years now.

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Melody | 55-64 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
12/7/2013
Condition: Shingles
Overall rating 3.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I started taking this medication within 6 hours of the onset of the rash. This was two days after I was in severe pain. After taking this medication for three days, the rash is starting to dry up. It never did blister. So I like the effectiveness of it. But my stomach is in bad shape. It hurts with each step I take. It's fine when I stand still or sit. I quit taking it. If my stomach is not better in two days, I'm calling my doctor. In my case, I'm not sure I would take it again.

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Anonymous | 55-64 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
11/27/2013
Condition: Shingles
Overall rating 2.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

After the eighth dose of the drug I experienced severe cramping which led to diarrhea. That led to expelling blood. Gastric bleeding? It was taken with food, on a scheduled basis. I will never take this again.

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Anonymous | 45-54 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
8/6/2013
Condition: Prevent Shingles in Patients Without a Normal Immune System
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

The minute I took it my heart started racing. Unfortunately I took the second dose and it got worse. Heart rate at least a 110, weakness and difficult to breathe. I was given this because of shingles.

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dont have | 55-64 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
7/29/2013
Condition: Other
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Fourth day and called doctor. Seemed to start working; however, symptoms seem to be coming back. I had this mouth/tongue infection for about 1 month. Dr. states it may take longer than the 3 days to cure and will remain in system. I am told to give it a chance.

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