Prescription Cold Sore Medication Online

Treat cold sores at home

  • Prevent and treat cold sores at home
  • Use insurance or pay affordable out-of-pocket prices
  • Shipping is free with discreet packaging

Header Image for Oral Herpes Treatment Page
24/7 access to care
Affordable with or without insurance
Unlimited messaging with providers
Free shipping and automatic refills
24/7 access to care
Affordable with or without insurance
Unlimited messaging with providers
Free shipping and automatic refills
24/7 access to care
Affordable with or without insurance
Unlimited messaging with providers
Free shipping and automatic refills
24/7 access to care
Affordable with or without insurance
Unlimited messaging with providers
Free shipping and automatic refills

How it works

1

Request your prescription

Answer a few health questions to get started and pay $30 for your medical consultation. This price includes unlimited messaging with our medical team for a year.

2

Our providers review

After evaluating your needs, our licensed providers will write a prescription (if medically appropriate).

3

We deliver your medication

Your prescription will be delivered fast and for free in discreet, unbranded packaging. Refills are automatic for one year.

Valacyclovir for cold sores

The antiviral medication valacyclovir (generic Valtrex) is a pill that lessens the frequency and symptoms of oral herpes, and reduces the chance that you’ll pass the virus to a partner. You can take valacyclovir when you feel an outbreak coming on to lessen symptoms, or take a dose every day for prevention. Valacyclovir is safe and effective, side effects are rare. Nurx prescribes valacyclovir online and discreetly delivers it to your door.`

Note: We only prescribe medication if you’ve previously had an oral herpes diagnosis. If you haven’t been diagnosed with herpes we suggest you see your local provider for diagnosis during your next outbreak.

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Genital herpes prevention + treatment

If you experience both cold sores (oral herpes) and genital herpes outbreaks we can write you a single prescription for valacyclovir to prevent or treat both types of herpes.

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Treatment options + pricing

If you experience outbreaks often, a daily dose of valacyclovir can prevent them*. But if your outbreaks are less frequent you might choose to only take valacyclovir when you feel an outbreak coming on — this will lessen the severity of your symptoms and help your outbreak heal faster. Our medical team will recommend a treatment strategy for you.

*A Nurx medical provider may prescribe valacyclovir with instructions to take it every day to prevent oral herpes outbreaks. This is called “suppressive” treatment and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved valacyclovir as a suppressive treatment for oral herpes, which means this is an “off label” use of the medication. It is legal and not uncommon for physicians to prescribe FDA-approved medications for off-label uses if they conclude that it is the ideal course of treatment for their patients.

What We Offer Price with Insurance Price without Insurance
Valacyclovir for Outbreaks $0 + applicable co-pays or deductible $45 for a 3 month supply
Valacyclovir for Daily Prevention $0 + applicable co-pays or deductible $75 for a 3 month supply*
Medical Consultation (includes unlimited messaging with the Nurx medical team for 1 year) $30 $30

*For a 90-day supply of daily valacyclovir the out-of-pocket price is 83 cents per pill.

Real patient stories

"Tired of trying to get doctor on phone everytime i get a cold sore and rush to pharmacy! We all know that the earlier you take, the better! And when you on the beach all day Friday and Saturday morning your like OMG! I HAVE TO WAIT TIL MONDAY TO SEE DOCTOR?!?!! Nope! Not anymore! Having it on hand makes life so much easier!"

"never think to discuss my cold-sores with my doc because I rarely have one at the time I go, so I don't think about it, OR I don't want to pay a $30 copay to go for JUST a cold-sore. NURX made it simple to answer the required questions (at midnight) within minutes, I received a response the next day and was approved, the meds were in my mailbox within a week. Will be recommending to ALL my frien"

"Simple, Affordable, Quick, and Easy! Now I can get my cold sores under control so I can kiss my baby again!"

"I have had cold sores since I was 2 or 3 years old, and getting medication has always required making an appointment with a derm, and waiting in the office for 20 minutes just to talk to the doctor for 2 minutes in order to get okayed for a refill. have been using valtrex for as long as I can remember, and the convenience of receiving it by mail (at a lower price than the appointment+scrip) is d"

"I suffer from cold sores and detest having to take time out of my work week to go to the doctor just to get a refill on a prescription I have used successfully for years. Discovered Nurx and couldn't believe how easy, fast and accommodating it was! So happy!!"

"Amazing service you provide, thank you. Within a few days my prescription was shipped and at my door. It's been hard to manage my herpes since losing my job/benefits with covid and I'm not yet eligible for insurance at my new job. Finding Nurx was a blessing and a half. Thank you again."

...

Common questions

  • How does prescription cold sore treatment with Nurx work?


    If you have been diagnosed with herpes in the past, visit the Nurx website or download the Nurx app and answer a few questions about your health, including how frequently you experience oral herpes outbreaks. Our medical provider team will review your health history and write a prescription for the medication valacyclovir if they decide that it’s an appropriate treatment option for you. Our pharmacy will fill your prescription and you’ll receive the medication in the mail in 3-5 days. We’ll bill your insurance if you have it, and offer affordable pricing if you pay directly.

  • How much does prescription cold sore treatment cost through Nurx?

    Here is a breakdown of the cost of oral herpes treatment through Nurx:

    Medical consultation: After you answer questions about your health you pay $30 for a medical consultation, during which a member of our healthcare team reviews your health profile and (if appropriate) writes you a prescription. The price of the medical consultation includes unlimited follow-up with the Nurx provider team for a year, so you can ask questions about herpes or your prescription.

    If you pay with insurance: We will bill your insurance directly for your medication and the price you pay will depend on the specifics of your plan. Because valacyclovir is a generic medication your copay (if you have one) should be quite affordable.

    If you do not pay with insurance: When you pay directly for the medication it costs $45 for a 3-month supply of outbreak treatment (meaning you only take the medication when you experience an outbreak or feel one coming on). It costs $75 for a 3-month supply of preventive therapy (meaning that you take a pill every day to prevent outbreaks*). If you have both oral and genital herpes and need outbreak treatment the price will be $60 for a 3-month supply.

    Shipping is always free.

    *A Nurx medical provider may prescribe valacyclovir with instructions to take it every day to prevent oral herpes outbreaks. This is called “suppressive” treatment and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved valacyclovir as a suppressive treatment for oral herpes, which means this is an “off label” use of the medication. It is legal and not uncommon for physicians to prescribe FDA-approved medications for off-label uses if they conclude that it is the ideal course of treatment for their patients. Please message your Nurx provider if you have questions about taking valacyclovir daily for oral herpes prevention.

  • What type of prescription cold sore treatment does Nurx prescribe?

    We prescribe valacyclovir (the generic version of Valtrex), a pill which is the most effective medication for treating or preventing herpes outbreaks. When taken at the start of an oral herpes outbreak, valacyclovir will decrease the intensity of symptoms, decrease the duration of the outbreak, and reduce the risk of spreading herpes.

    Valacyclovir may also be prescribed to be taken daily to prevent outbreaks. Taking valacyclovir daily for oral herpes prevention is an “off label” prescription, meaning the FDA has not approved the medication for this purpose, though it has approved this use for the prevention of genital herpes. It is entirely legal for healthcare providers to write off-label prescriptions if they conclude that it is safe and appropriate.

    Valacyclovir is quite safe and generally has few side effects, but possible side effects include headaches, dizziness, depression, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, stomach pain, and joint pain.

  • Who can use prescription cold sore treatment from Nurx?

    We offer treatment to patients who have already been diagnosed with herpes by a healthcare provider or lab test. If you haven’t had a diagnosis but believe you may have herpes, we recommend that you see a local healthcare provider for evaluation the next time you have an outbreak. If you are diagnosed with oral herpes, our medical team would be more than happy to help manage your herpes treatment moving forward.

    Nurx provides oral herpes treatment to patients in the states we are currently available in, except Washington where there are additional regulations.

    We prescribe herpes treatment to patients age 13 and up, with the exception of patients in South Carolina, where we prescribe to patients 16 and up.

  • What’s the difference between preventative and outbreak treatments?

    For outbreak treatment, patients take a valacyclovir pill at the first sign of an outbreak (when you experience tingling, itching, burning, or whatever your typical first symptoms are), then take a second pill later in the same day. When taken at the start of an oral herpes outbreak, valacyclovir will decrease the intensity of symptoms, decrease the duration of the outbreak, and reduce the chances of spreading herpes to others.

    Patients who experience more frequent outbreaks (usually more than six per year) may choose to take valacyclovir daily as preventive treatment, which can suppress oral herpes outbreaks by up to 80%. Taking valacyclovir daily also decreases the chances that you will transmit herpes to others. Daily valacyclovir therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for genital herpes, but prescribing valacyclovir to be taken daily for oral herpes prevention is an “off label” prescription. It is legal for medical providers to write off-label prescriptions if they conclude that it is safe and appropriate.

  • Why is the medication the same for cold sores and genital herpes?


    The oral medication valacyclovir is an antiviral treatment for both types of herpes. Oral and genital herpes are caused by the two types of herpes virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Oral herpes is more often caused by HSV-1 infection, and genital herpes is associated with HSV-2 infection, but it is possible to have an oral infection with HSV-2 or a genital infection with HSV-1. In any of these cases, valacyclovir is very effective at preventing or treating outbreaks.

  • Do you prescribe cold sore treatment to pregnant women?


    Although Nurx does not replace comprehensive prenatal care, we do prescribe and deliver oral herpes medication to pregnant women. Valacyclovir is safe for pregnant women and their unborn children. Both oral and genital herpes can pose serious risks for a newborn baby, so if you are infected with herpes it is important that you discuss these risks with your OB-GYN or midwife, who can advise you on the best way to protect your infant.

DR. ADRIENNE C ROBERTSON, MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Meet your medical team

We are doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and physician assistants who are passionate about providing patient care. The Nurx medical team believes that everyone deserves access to personalized, non-judgmental healthcare, and that open and honest communication is key.

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Exceptional care at every step

At Nurx, we make it easy to get the expert healthcare you deserve. From schedules to health history, everybody is different—so we provide treatment and care that’s personalized to you. Through life’s cycles, changes, and transitions, we’re here to help you make informed choices about your health.

Exceptional care at every step
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