Cold sores

[Tiffany2]

Hello..I have PMR and was wondering if anyone has suffered with cold sores whilst on Pred. I'm on my 4th one in just 3 weeks.

Thanks

[SnazzyD]

Hello. Yes and no. In the run up to diagnosis I was getting them every few weeks for months. Then It all stopped on high dose Pred. I expected more when being more immunosupressed but I didn’t. When I got to 7mg and below with my body quite stressed with adrenal function that wasn’t up to par, they started again. It is usually in mid withdrawal. That may not be the cause but the timing is suspicious. If you are on a reasonably high dose you need to be careful and watch that they are not spreading or increasing in number rapidly. If so it may mean you need an antiviral or you have a secondary infection in them. What dose are you on?

[Tiffany2 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks for replying! 25mgs for another 2 weeks then down to 20mgs before I see the Rheumy again. She thinks I could have RA and maybe not PRM. I tried 15 mgs to start with for 3 weeks but it had no affect so hence the referral to the Rheumy.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I assume you are using acyclovir cream? Maybe your GP would give you acyclovir tablets to tackle it at source. I found that using the cream almost like a lip balm over a longer period as soon as I felt the tingle prevented them getting worse. It was a problem I had with PMR even before being on pred - no idea why - and ot has been far less of a problem since.

If you ask at an independent chemist (if you can find such a thing) then you should get a tube of generic acyclovir fairly cheaply. Don't go to Boots - their in-house brand is almost as expensive as Zovirax!

[Tiffany2 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I live in Australia but can find that cream no doubt. Forgot to mention it to the Rheumy at todays visit.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tiffany2]

You will get generic cold sore cream at the pharmacy. Sorry - wrote the reply and then wondered if you were in the UK! I think it is worth a try though.

Could you expand your profile page a bit so we know abit about you? It is so helpful.

[SheffieldJane]

I got an unsightly whopper with my recent cold. I think it’s part and parcel of a compromised immune system. Of course once you have the herpes simplex virus it stays with you and will pop up with every cold etc

Mine has actually left a scar. Apart from the over the counter cold sore remedies, I found that plain Vaseline helped it to heal and keep the germs from my nose away - not nice.

[Tiffany2 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you for replying. A new one seems to be pooping up each week with no cold. Oh, well another annoying thing to deal with! I will ask my Doctor about them if they continue.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Tiffany2]

Yes do! That’s different, the doctor may prescribe an ant- viral.