Agent	Dosage	Evidence for use
Tetracycline capsule, 250 mg	1 capsule dissolved in 180 mL of water; rinse with this suspension four times daily for 4 to 5 days	Randomized, controlled studies1 support use
Tetracycline syrup, 250 mg per 5 mL	5 mL “swish and spit” four times daily for 4 to 5 days	As above
Minocycline tablet, 100 mg	1 tablet dissolved in 180 mL of water; rinse with this suspension twice daily for 4 to 5 days	As above
Triamcinolone 0.1% in Orabase (Kenalog in Orabase)	Apply to dried ulcer two to four times daily until healed	Randomized, controlled studies1 show decreased pain
Dexamethasone elixir, 0.5 mg per 5 mL	Swish and spit with 5 mL every 12 hours	As above
Thalidomide	200 mg, one to two times daily for 3 to 8 weeks Warning: contraindicated in pregnancy	Studies in HIV-infected patients only7
Amlexanox 5% paste	Apply to dried ulcer two to four times daily	Randomized, controlled studies9,10 show decreased symptoms and faster healing
Viscous lidocaine, 2%	Apply to ulcer as needed	For brief local pain relief only
Zinc lozenges	Suck one lozenge four to six times daily	No studies
Vitamin C, 500 mg	One tablet, four times daily	No studies
Vitamin B complex	One tablet, four times daily	No studies
l-Lysine, 500 mg	One tablet, one to three times daily	Studies in herpes only