ascorbic-acid and Herpes-Labialis

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Drug Combinations; Ether; Herpes Labialis; Hesperidin; Humans; Idoxuridine; Interferons; Photochemotherapy; Stomatitis, Herpetic; Thymol; Vidarabine

We carried out a randomized double-bind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on the topical treatment of recurrent mucocutaneous herpes with a strong water solution of Ascoxal, an ascorbic acid-containing pharmaceutical formulation with mucolytic and non-specific antimicrobial activities. The lesion was firmly pressed with a cotton wool pad soaked in drug solution 3 times for 2 min with 30-min intervals on the first day only. Evaluation of the effects was by daily recordings of several different symptoms, including the presence and severity of erythema, induration, papulae or vesicles and scab by both the patient and a trained nurse, and by virus culture. Fourteen episodes with active treatment and 18 with the placebo were analyzed. According to the patients' records, the active treatment resulted in a significantly smaller cumulative number of days with scab (P < 0.01), or with any remaining symptom (P < 0.02) and significantly fewer occasions of worsening of any symptom after the treatment (P < 0.05). According to the nurse's records, the persistence of scabs was significantly shorter in the active treatment group (means 3.4 vs 5.9 days, P = 0.03). Virus culture after the first day of treatment yielded herpes simplex virus significantly less frequently in the active treatment group than in the placebo group (P < 0.01). In conclusion, a brief treatment with this ascorbic acid-containing preparation resulted in statistically significant clinical and antiviral effects, which calls for further and more extensive studies with a more intensive treatment schedule.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Double-Blind Method; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Herpes Labialis; Herpes Simplex; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Recurrence; Solutions

The efficacy of a water-soluble bioflavonoid-ascorbic acid complex was evaluated in the treatment of fifty episodes of recurrent herpes labialis. Twenty episodes were treated with a complex of 600 mg. of water-soluble bioflavonoids and 600 mg. of ascorbic acid, administered in equal increments three times daily. Twenty episodes were treated with a complex of 1,000 mg. of water-soluble bioflavonoids and 1,000 mg. of ascorbic acid, administered in equal increments five times daily. Ten episodes were treated with a lactose placebo. The therapeutic regimen was maintained for 3 days after the recognition of the initial symptoms associated with recurrent herpes labialis. The water-soluble bioflavonoid-ascorbic acid complex was observed to reduce vesiculation and to prevent the disruption of the vesicular membrane. The therapeutic measure was found to be most effective when initiated during the prodomal stage of the disease process. Optimum remission of symptoms was observed in 4.2 +/- 1.7 days with the 600 mg. dosage of the water-soluble bioflavonoid-ascorbic acid complex. No adverse reactions were reported by any of the patients who participated in this investigation.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Clinical Trials as Topic; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Flavonoids; Herpes Labialis; Humans; Placebos; Recurrence

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Drug Therapy, Combination; Flavonoids; Herpes Labialis; Humans