Cold sores and humira

[smenter]

How to manage cold sores while on humira.

[Victoria-NRAS Partner Moderator NRAS]

Hi Smenter

Might be worth asking your GP or local pharmacist and definitely mention it to your rheumatology team at the next appointment and give them an idea of how often you're getting the cold sores. Hope you find something to bring them under control soon. They can be very painful and uncomfortable!

Best wishes

Victoria

(NRAS)

[Hidden]

In the 70's I had 3 lots of 6x immunisations of smallpox (so 18 exposures) which used to work wonderfully till the world decided we didnt need smallpox vaccine anymore. So now I suffer in silence. Usually the roof of my mouth is infected and its painful... they come every few weeks and I probably have one on the outside of my mouth about 6 times a year.

This is my experience only and you might want to ask your doc if its ok first. I try to minimise their effect by immediately breaking the first sign of a bubble with a sterile needle. Then I keep on bathing it with an alcohol wipe, like the ones they use for injections. It certainly makes the duration shorter and they definitely arent as big if you get them early. It also seems to stop it cross infecting to the other side or opposite lip, just be careful, use gloves and dont let the serum from the blister get on anything else. Oh and yes it kind of stings

I've tried many other creams and meds but this is what works best for me.

I'm on simponi, mtx and leflunomide so I know how vulnerable you feel. Good luck.

[linbin in reply to Hidden]

Hi. I had a problem with sores at either corner of my mouth for a while. Never had them before and suddenly they became a real pest. Some said it was due to dentures I had to have as Rheumatoid Syndrome had severely affected my teeth. All kinds of suggestions were made and tried unsucessfully...until I was given this tip by a nurse.

Try Listerine Original Mouthwash. Not to mouthwash with, (although no reason why not, other than it tastes icky), but to dab onto the corners of my mouth a few times each day until the sores cleared up. Then to keep an eye on it and use again at the first sign of any soreness. It worked and continues to work.

Its just mouthwash so can't do any harm and might be worth a try. But it has to be Listerine Original...not any of the other flavours

Take care now.