A 36-year-old member asked:
Is abreva and denavir (penciclovir) the same?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Nick Debnathanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 21 years experience
Different: While they are both topical treatments for cold sores (herpes simplex), they are different medications. They both may shorten the duration of an active cold sore outbreak somewhat, but through different mechanisms. Abreva has an advantage in that it is available without a prescription.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 9, 2018
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