| Drugs >
Sumatriptan Succinate |
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| Pronunciation |
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 (SOO
ma trip tan SUKS i
nate) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Imitrex® |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Imigran (Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Serotonin 5-HT1D Receptor Agonist |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to sumatriptan or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Ischemic heart disease,
angina (chest pain or pressure coming from the heart), Prinzmetal's angina,
heart attack, stroke, ischemic bowel disease, intermittent claudication, high
blood pressure that is not controlled, certain types of migraines, severe liver
disease.
- If you are using it to prevent yourself from getting migraines.
- If you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (isocarboxazid,
phenelzine, tranylcypromine) in the last 14 days.
- If you have taken naratriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, or any
sumatriptan-like medicine in the last 24 hours.
- If you have taken a ergot-containing (methysergide, dihydroergotamine)
medicine in the last 24 hours.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used to get rid of or decrease the pain and symptoms
of a migraine headache or cluster headache attacks (injection only). It is
not
used to prevent future attacks.
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| How does it work? |
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- Sumatriptan works by squeezing certain blood vessels in the brain and
preventing irritation/inflammation.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Oral:
- Swallow tablet whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
- Take with liquids as early as possible after the attack has started.
- If no headache relief 2 hours after first dose, take another dose up
to 100 mg. There may be additional doses given at 2-hour intervals.
- Do not take more than 200 mg as a total daily dose; 100 mg as a total
daily dose after an injection.
- Intranasal spray:
- Give as a single dose in one nostril as early as possible after the
attack has started.
- If the dose is 10 mg, a single 5 mg spray can be given into each
nostril.
- If the headache returns, the dose may be repeated once after 2 hours.
- Do not take more than 40 mg as a total daily dose.
- Injectable:
- The shot is given under the skin as early as possible after the attack
has started.
- Do not give more than two 6 mg shots (must be separated by 1 hour) in
a day.
- Follow instructions given by nurse on how to give shot. Throw away
needles in red box and return box to healthcare provider when
full.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- This medicine is taken on an as needed basis, not on a regularly
scheduled one. It can be taken any time during the course of the headache, but
sooner is better.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can worsen headache.
- Do not take if you have a history of angina (chest pain from the
heart), heart spasms, heart attack, or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- Do not take within 24 hours of other headache medicines. Talk with
healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are taking any medicines for
depression. Certain medicines do not mix well with this medicine.
- Tell healthcare provider if you have had any history of seizures or
are on seizure medicine.
- Use caution if you have risk factors for heart disease (high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, overweight, diabetes, cigarette smoking, a male
>40 years of age, other family members with heart disease, postmenopausal
women). Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Feeling sleepy, lightheaded, or dizzy. Avoid driving, doing other
tasks or activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine
affects you.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- For the intranasal spray, a bad or unusual taste, nausea and vomiting,
nasal cavity discomfort are common.
- For the oral tablet and shot, tingling, warm sensation, flushing, and
chest tightness, pressure, or heaviness are common. The shot also causes pain at
the site of injection.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Watch for return of headache. Talk with healthcare provider if it
changes from usual course or if it does not get better with this
medicine.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- No relief of headache after treatment as above.
- Chest pains, tightness or heaviness, throat pain or tightness, fast
heartbeats, or shortness of breath.
- Too tired or sleepy.
- Passing out, fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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