Imitrex (Sumatriptan Succinate) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 27, 2012

Imitrex

Migraine »

What is a migraine headache?

A migraine headache is a form of vascular headache. Migraine headache is caused by vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) that causes the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the large arteries of the brain. Enlargement of these blood vessels stretches the nerves that coil around them and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the arteries magnifies the pain.

Migraine attacks commonly activate the sympathetic nervous system in the body. The sympathetic nervous system is often thought of as the part of the nervous system that controls primitive responses to stress and pain, the so-called "fight or flight" response, and this activation causes many of the symptoms associated with migraine attacks; for example, the increased sympathetic nervous activity in the intestine causes nausea, vomiting,...

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Imitrex

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Imitrex Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using sumatriptan (Imitrex)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to sumatriptan, or if you have:

a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, or history of a heart attack or stroke;
ischemic bowel disease;
severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure; or
severe liver disease.

Do not use sumatriptan if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the past 14 days.

Sumatriptan can cause rare but serious side effects on the heart, including heart attack or stroke. If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before using sumatriptan, tell your doctor if you have:

epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
high blood pressure;
liver disease;
kidney disease; or
coronary artery disease (or risk factors that include diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby. Before using sumatriptan, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Your name may need to be listed on a sumatriptan pregnancy registry when you start using this medication.

Sumatriptan can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

This medicine should not be given to anyone under 18 or over 65 years of age.

How should I use sumatriptan (Imitrex)?

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Overuse of migraine headache medicine can actually make your headaches worse. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

Use sumatriptan as soon as you notice headache symptoms, or after an attack has already begun.

Your doctor may want to give your first dose of this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting to see if you have any serious side effects.

Take one sumatriptan tablet whole with a full glass of water. Do not split the tablet.

After taking a tablet: If your headache does not completely go away, or goes away and comes back, take a second tablet two (2) hours after the first. Do not take more than 200 mg of sumatriptan oral tablets in 24 hours. If your symptoms have not improved, contact your doctor before taking any more tablets.

Sumatriptan nasal spray comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Blow your nose to clear your nasal passages before using the nasal spray. Try not to sneeze or blow your nose just after using the spray.

After using the nasal spray: If your headache does not completely go away after using the spray, call your doctor before using a second spray of sumatriptan. If your headache goes away and then comes back, you may use a second spray if it has been at least two hours since you used the first spray. Do not use more than 40 mg of sumatriptan nasal spray in 24 hours. If your symptoms do not improve, contact your doctor before using any more sprays.

Contact your doctor if you have more than four headaches in one month (30 days).

Store sumatriptan at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

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