Cold sores

We use telemedicine technology and US-licensed healthcare professionals to provide cold sore treatments discreetly, conveniently, and inexpensively.

It starts with your online visit. Your doctor or nurse practitioner needs to know about your health (e.g., your medications, lifestyle issues, prior surgeries) and how cold sores affect you.

They also need personal ID so they know who they will be helping in the coming year. They review everything, determine if you’re a candidate for telemedicine and, if so (most people are), they will craft a personalized treatment plan.

Their treatment plan will include a great deal of information about oral herpes. It is important you take the time to read it all. You will be better prepared to manage your condition as a partner—and not just a patient.

If you qualify, our doctors or nurse practitioners will provide prescribe the right course of treatment to help you take control of cold sore outbreaks.

Our Physicians prescribe Valacyclovir (generic Valtrex) to treat cold sores (oral herpes). When used properly, this medication can abort an outbreak at the first sign that one is coming on or lessen its severity.

Cold sore (oral herpes) medication is available, and it works extremely well. But it requires you to dedicate the time to learn about your condition and work with your physician to craft the ideal, personalized treatment plan.

When you do, you’ll be able to identify your specific symptoms (prodrome) and use your medication to shorten or stop the outbreak from occurring.

What follows is a summary and does not include every side effect possible.

Common side effects include headache, feeling sick, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, skin reaction after exposure to sunlight (photosensitivity), rash, or itching (pruritus).

Uncommon side effects include feeling confused, seeing or hearing things that aren’t there (hallucinations), feeling very drowsy, tremors, or feeling agitated, shortness of breath (dyspnea), stomach discomfort, rash, sometimes itchy, hive-like rash (urticaria), low back pain (kidney pain), blood in the urine (hematuria), reduction in the number of blood platelets which are cells that help blood to clot (thrombocytopenia), reduction in the number of white blood cells (leucopenia), increase in substances produced by the liver

Rare side effects include unsteadiness when walking and lack of coordination (ataxia), slow, slurred speech (dysarthria), fits (convulsions), altered brain function (encephalopathy), unconsciousness (coma), confused or disturbed thoughts (delirium), kidney problems where you pass little or no urine. Lastly, watch out for a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). These are rare in people taking Valtrex. Anaphylaxis is marked by the rapid development of flushing, itchy skin rash, swelling of the lips, face, neck, and throat—causing difficulty in breathing (angioedema), fall in blood pressure leading to collapse. If any of these occur, get emergency treatment immediately.

Yes. Our doctors and nurse practitioners can prescribe medication and help you dial in the most effective treatment plan for your unique needs.

Healthcare professionals on the Ro platform use telemedicine technologies to treat cold sores in the same way they treat patients in-person. Doctors or nurse practitioners ask you questions to evaluate your symptoms and make sure it’s safe and appropriate to prescribe cold sore medication. The healthcare professionals on the Ro platform use your answers to assess your condition and create a treatment plan. That’s why it’s vital you answer each question to the best of your knowledge and ensure that every communication with your physician is truthful, accurate, and thorough.

No.

Though they infect different parts of the body, cold sores (oral herpes) and genital herpes are caused by the same virus. There are two strains of the herpes virus; cold sores are more frequently caused by HSV-1, while genital herpes is more commonly associated with HSV-2. Both strains of the virus can be effectively treated using the same medication.

Your online visit costs $15. This doesn’t include the cost of your medication (if prescribed). If a physician determines you’re not a good candidate for telemedicine, you’ll get a full refund for your online visit.

Our services are not covered by insurance, but the $15 online visit is less than most co-pays.

If prescribed, the cost of treatment depends on the type of medication and the number of doses you receive. Check out the current Ro Pharmacy Network prices. Prices at your local pharmacy may vary and are often twice the cost of the Ro Pharmacy Network.

You’re only charged for the medication after a physician has approved a personalized treatment plan. If you’re unsuitable for telemedicine, you’ll be refunded for your online visit ($15).