Topical 5 percent acyclovir in polyethylene glycol for herpes simplex labialis. Antiviral effect without clinical...

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of topical 5 percent acyclovir in polyethylene glycol was conducted among 208 patients with herpes simplex labialis. Reduced excretion of virus from lesions was seen in the subgroup of patients who entered the study within eight hours of lesion onset, but no differences were noted in the patients who began treatment nine to 25 hours after onset. No clinical benefit from treatment with acyclovir was observed.