Say goodbye to cold sores
Get cold sore medication prescribed online in Canada.
Tried and true treatments
Access the most effective, clinically-proven treatments for Cold Sores.
“I no longer have to worry about rushing to the walk-in when I have cold sores.”
Samantha, a Felix patient
Get care without leaving your couch
Skip the trip to your doctor’s office and the line at your local pharmacy. Access treatment on any device, anytime you need it.
Convenient and discreet
No more awkward conversations with your doctor or pharmacist. Just a discreet package, delivered to your door.
“I no longer have to worry about rushing to the walk-in when I have cold sores.”
Samantha, a Felix patient
How Felix works
Tell us about your health
Answer a few simple questions about your health.
Receive a treatment plan
Your healthcare practitioner will build a personalized plan just for you.
Get your medication
We’ll deliver your medication directly to your home for free in discreet packaging.
Trusted by over 1 million Canadians
Exceptional care delivered by experts
Access our network of experienced healthcare practitioners across Canada.
Dr. Kelly Anderson, MD
Medical Director, Felix
Pricing
Frequently asked questions
Cold Sores
How effective is cold sore medication?
Treating a cold sore in its earliest stage can result in a smaller sore that heals quickly. Ideally, the cold sore may be stopped in its tracks, so it never appears at all. People who frequently get cold sores may want to have the appropriate medications on hand so that they can begin using them at the earliest possible stage.
With Felix, you can choose your refill schedule and have your treatment delivered to your door so you can always have your medication when you need it.
What types of cold sore treatment do you offer?
We offer antivirals — the medicines that have been proven to work on cold sores. They work to stop a virus from replicating which can stop the cold sore from developing or may reduce its size and healing time. Antiviral medications are only available with a prescription from a healthcare practitioner, like those at Felix.
Cold sore antivirals can come in two different forms:
- topical medication (cream) that is applied directly to the area
- oral medications (pills) that are taken by mouth
What about side effects of cold sore medications?
Antivirals are well-tolerated by most people. However, not everyone can or should take antivirals. The benefits and risks must be discussed with a healthcare practitioner.
Topical treatments can have some side effects including dry lips, dryness of skin, cracked lips, burning skin, shedding skin, itching, flakiness, and stinging on the skin.
The more common side effects of oral antiviral treatment include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and/or stomach discomfort. In some cases, oral medications may not be the best choice for certain people. People with kidney damage or kidney failure may need a lower dosage. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have kidney problems before you start taking the drug.
If you experience side effects, we always suggest you discuss them with a healthcare practitioner.
How much does prescription cold sore medication cost?
Cold sore medication filled with our Felix pharmacy partners is comparable to what you'd pay at your local pharmacy. Starting at $5.95 per packet for an outbreak (not including the pharmacy fill fee), the price will vary based on the drug chosen, the province it is shipped to, and the refill schedule chosen.
If your healthcare practitioner believes cold sore medication is right for you, they can provide you with a prescription and discretely deliver your medication right to your door, at no additional cost.
Can I get a refill of my existing cold sore prescription?
Yes! But you will need to transfer your current prescription to Felix.
If you already have a prescription with at least one refill remaining, you can transfer it to the Felix Pharmacy network. Please email our Customer Support team at hello@felixforyou.ca and they will be able to assist you with the transfer.
Can I get cold sore treatment online?
Yes, with Felix you can get treatment for cold sores online. Complete a short online assessment and review options. Once approved by the licensed healthcare practitioner, your medication will be shipped discretely to your door.
Online Visits
How does the visit work?
After creating an account, you will complete a medical assessment for evaluation by one of the Felix healthcare practitioners.
During your assessment, you will have the opportunity to send your practitioner questions via secure messaging.
In most cases, practitioners will complete your assessment with secure messaging alone but sometimes they may determine you require an audio or video visit and/or further diagnostic testing to help determine the best treatment plan for you.
If your practitioner has determined a prescription treatment is appropriate, they will approve your visit and write you a prescription. Our pharmacy will then ship your prescription to your home.
You’ll be able to message your healthcare practitioner if you have questions or want to make changes to your treatment at any time.
Do I need to complete my online visit at a scheduled time?
No. We use an asynchronous telemedicine model so you can complete your online visit in your own time and we save your progress so you can come back later to finish it.
If you are completing a visit in the mental health or weight loss categories, your healthcare practitioner may require a phone or video call to discuss your medical profile further during the assessment process.
Does the online visit require a phone or video appointment?
Most assessments do not require a phone or video conversation. Once a prescriber has reviewed the info in your assessment they will respond to you via secure instant messages that you can access within your Felix account.
If you are completing a visit in the mental health or weight loss categories, your healthcare practitioner may require a phone or video call to discuss your medical profile further during the assessment process.
How quickly will a healthcare practitioner review my online visit?
You can expect to receive a response from a healthcare practitioner within 24 hours of submission. If you’ve been waiting longer than this, please email hello@felixforyou.ca and we’ll look into it.
Can I just get the treatment and skip the online visit?
No. A visit with a licensed healthcare practitioner is required for all treatments currently provided through Felix’s service.
Please email our Customer Support team at hello@felixforyou.ca and they will be able to assist you with the transfer.
Shipping
How long will it take to get my medication?
Not long. After completing your assessment, a practitioner will generally respond within 24 hours, and often much sooner.
The pharmacy will process and fill your prescription within 2-3 business days of your prescription approval date if there is nothing blocking them from doing so.
All packages are shipped via Express Post, which usually takes 2-3 business days. You will receive an email with your tracking number once your treatment has been shipped.
Is your packaging discreet?
Absolutely. All Felix shipments arrive in a nondescript blister package so you can have your medication shipped wherever makes sense for you as long as there is someone there to sign for it.
Do I have to be home to receive my package?
A signature upon delivery may be required.
How much does it cost for shipping my medication?
There is currently no cost to have your medication sent to you from our Felix Pharmacy network.
What courier do you use for shipping?
Our pharmacy partners use Canada Post and/or Purolator for shipping.
Insurance
Am I covered by my insurance?
Treatment coverage varies greatly between different insurance plans.
The good news is that if you are covered, Felix can bill your insurer directly, and then process your treatment plan at no additional cost to you. We recommend that you upload your private and/or provincial benefit card during the online visit so that our pharmacy partner can apply any coverage you are eligible for before processing your treatment plan.
Insurance coverage for treatment plans through Felix doesn't include the cost of your visit.
Is the online visit covered by my insurance or provincial health plans?
A Felix online visit is considered asynchronous since it is conveniently completed through a secure chat bases system. Currently, asynchronous visits are not covered by insurance or provincial health plans so you will be charged a visit fee, depending on the category of treatment you are requesting.
Is the medication covered by my insurance or provincial health plans?
Medication coverage varies greatly between different plans, provinces, and has specific criteria that determine eligibility. For private insurance, we recommend contacting your benefits administrator with your details and the Drug Identification Number (DIN) and the drug name to determine your coverage.
For more details on provincial health plan coverage see below:
Alberta: Learn more about AHCIP here. Search for covered drugs here.
British Columbia: Learn more about MSP here. Search for covered drugs here.
Manitoba: Learn more about MHSIP here. Search for covered drugs here.
Newfoundland and Labrador: Learn more about MCP here. Search for covered drugs here.
Nova Scotia: Learn more about MSI here. Search for covered drugs here.
Ontario: Learn more about OHIP+ here. Search for covered drugs here.
Prince Edward Island: Learn more about Health PEI here. Search for covered drugs here.
Saskatchewan: Learn more about Saskatchewan Health Coverage here. Search for covered drugs here.
Is birth control covered by OHIP in Ontario?
OHIP+ covers some birth control for eligible residents of Ontario who are under 25 years old and do not have private insurance. You can check if your birth control medication is covered here. Make sure to upload your Ontario health card during your online visit so our pharmacy partners can apply your coverage directly.
Felix 101
What is Felix?
Felix is Canada’s first truly integrated healthcare platform. We provide on-demand treatment for everyday health needs like weight loss, mental health, sexual health, and more. Founded in 2019, our digital-first approach to healthcare includes everything from diagnosis to prescription — all accessible from the comfort of home.
Does Felix replace my doctor?
No. Felix provides a faster, hassle-free way for you to get a prescription to certain medications but our service does not replace your primary care provider. For matters that extend beyond obtaining a prescription lifestyle medication safely and easily, we encourage you to consult your primary health practitioner in person — whether for checkups, personal health concerns, or to inform them about the medications you are currently using.
Can I be accurately assessed remotely?
Absolutely. Our online assessments have been designed to ask all the necessary questions required for diagnosis. We've worked with specialist to create an assessment process that can provide sufficient information for the healthcare practitioner to determine whether or not you are eligible for a prescription and craft an appropriate treatment plan.
It's an emergency. What do I do?
Call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency room immediately. Felix is not intended for medical emergencies. Once the emergency has been addressed or resolved, contact your prescribing practitioner to inform them of your experience as this may impact your current treatment plan.
Who can use Felix?
Anyone who is 18 years or older older (16 or older for acne and birth control prescriptions), and is located in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan or Ontario. We cannot ship treatments outside of these provinces at this time.
Prescriptions
How long does a prescription last?
Prescriptions written by Felix healthcare practitioners will last up to 12 months from the date of issue. Generally, your Felix prescription will contain refills for the prescribed medication. However, the amount of medication and the number of refills prescribed will ultimately be decided by the practitioner who reviews your online visit.
How do I change my medication after it has been prescribed?
Changing medication does legally require a new prescription as the healthcare practitioner will need to both cancel the existing prescription as well as review a health assessment of yours in the context of this different drug.
Go to Treatments, click "View details" on your prescription, and use the "Change my treatment plan" feature to submit a free follow-up visit and request a medication change with your healthcare practitioner.
I already have a prescription, can I transfer it to Felix?
At this time we are not accepting external patient transfers into the Felix Pharmacy network due to capacity restrictions. We hope to have the capacity to accept your transfer soon.
How do I apply for multiple treatments?
Once you’ve created your Felix account and set up your medical profile, you can complete an online visit to any of the treatment categories you are eligible for using that same account.
What is the pharmacy fill fee?
Every pharmacy charges a dispensing fee for filling prescriptions. Think of it as a service fee for knowledge and service provided by the pharmacist. If you get your medication through Felix, our pharmacy is still required to charge a fill fee and that fee is included in the price of medication that we display. A $12.00 fill fee is charged for each drug, every time you get a refill.