Sitavig

Sitavig treats cold sores. It is applied to the upper gum region. Sitavig can cause headache and pain where the tablet is placed.

Sitavig Overview

Reviewed: December 29, 2014
Updated: 

Sitavig is a prescription medication used to treat recurrent cold sores (herpes labialis) in immunocompetent adults. Sitavig belongs to a group of drugs called nucleoside analogues, which work by stopping the spread of the herpes virus in the body.

Sitavig comes in a buccal tablet that is applied as a singe dose to the upper gum region. Do not crush, chew, suck or swallow Sitavig buccal tablets.

Common side effects include headache and application site pain.

 

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What are you taking for?

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  • Other
  • Aids-related Opportunistic Infections
  • Chickenpox
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections
  • Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex
  • Epstein-barr Virus Infections
  • Herpes Genitalis
  • Herpes Labialis
  • Herpes Simplex
  • Herpes Zoster
  • Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus

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  • Less than a week
  • A couple weeks
  • A month or so
  • A few months
  • A year or so
  • Two years or more

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Sitavig Cautionary Labels

precautions

Uses of Sitavig

Sitavig is a prescription medication used to treat recurrent cold sores (herpes labialis) in immunocompetent adults. 

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Manufacturer

Sitavig Drug Class

Side Effects of Sitavig

Common side effects of Sitavig include headache and application site pain.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist about any concerns about this medication.

Tell your doctor about any side effect that is severe or does not go away.

This is not a complete list of side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

 

 

Sitavig Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take probenecid (Probalan).

This is not a complete list of Sitavig drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

 

Sitavig Precautions

Do not use Sitavig if you are allergic to acyclovir, Valtrex (also known as valacyclovir), or any of the ingredients in this medication.

Sitavig Food Interactions

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Sitavig there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet.

Inform MD

Before you start using Sitavig, tell your doctor if you are:

  • have kidney problems
  • pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
  • allergic to Sitavig or any other medication

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

 

Sitavig and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Sitavig falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Sitavig. But in animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Sitavig and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Sitavig is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Sitavig Usage

Use Sitavig only as directed by your doctor. 

  • Buccal tablet is applied as a single dose to the upper gum region within one hour after the onset of cold sore symptoms and before the appearance of any signs of cold sores.
  • Do not crush, chew, suck or swallow buccal tablets.
  • Sitavig should be applied within 1 hour after you have the first symptom of a cold sore, such as itching, redness, burning, or tingling, and before a cold sore appears.
  • Sitavig should be applied on the same side of your mouth as the cold sore symptoms.
  • Sitavig should be applied to your upper gum, just above your incisor tooth.
  • Sitavig should not be applied to the inside of your lip or your cheek.
  • If Sitavig does not stick to your upper gum or falls off of your upper gum within the first 6 hours after you apply it, the same tablet should be placed back onto your upper gum right away. If this Sitavig tablet does not stay in place, apply another Sitavig tablet to your upper gum.  
  • Do not re-apply Sitavig if it falls out or you swallow it after it has been in place 6 hours or longer.
  • If you swallow Sitavig within the first 6 hours of applying it, drink a glass of water and place a new Sitavig tablet onto your upper gum.

How to Apply Sitavig:

Step 1: Before you apply Sitavig, find the area on your upper gum, just above either the left or the right incisor. The incisor tooth is the tooth just to the right or left of your two front teeth.

Step 2: Peel back the cover of the blister pack. Take 1 Sitavig out of the blister pack. When removed from the blister pack, Sitavig must be used right away. Sitavig is round on one side and flat on the other side. 

Step 3: Place the flat side of Sitavig on your dry fingertip. Apply the round side of Sitavig to your upper gum. The flat side will be facing the inside of your lip.

Step 4: Hold Sitavig in place by applying a slight pressure with your finger on the outside of your upper lip, over the area where Sitavig is placed, for 30 seconds. This will help Sitavig stick to your gum. 

Step 5: Leave the Sitavig tablet in place until it dissolves.

Sitavig Dosage

Sitavig buccal tablet is applied as a single dose to the upper gum region within one hour after the onset of cold sore symptoms and before the appearance of any signs of cold sores.

Sitavig Overdose

If you administer too much Sitavig, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.