Brand Names: Imitrex, Imitrex Nasal

Generic Name: sumatriptan (oral/nasal) (Pronunciation: soo ma TRIP tan)

• What is sumatriptan (Imitrex)?
• What are the possible side effects of sumatriptan (Imitrex)?
• What is the most important information I should know about sumatriptan (Imitrex)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using sumatriptan (Imitrex)?
• How should I use sumatriptan (Imitrex)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Imitrex)?
• What happens if I overdose (Imitrex)?
• What should I avoid while using sumatriptan (Imitrex)?
• What other drugs will affect sumatriptan (Imitrex)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is sumatriptan (Imitrex)?

Sumatriptan is a headache medicine. It is believed to work by narrowing the blood vessels around the brain. Sumatriptan also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.

Sumatriptan tablets and nasal spray are used to treat migraine headaches.

Sumatriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

Sumatriptan may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Imitrex 100 mg

triangular, pink, imprinted with IMITREX, 100

Imitrex 25 mg

round, white, imprinted with I, 25

Imitrex 50 mg

triangular, white, imprinted with IMITREX, 50

Imitrex 50 mg-New

triangular, white, imprinted with IMITREX 50, LOGO

Imitrex Nasal

What are the possible side effects of sumatriptan (Imitrex)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using sumatriptan and call your doctor if you have a serious side effect such as:

• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
• sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
• fast heart rate, agitation, muscle stiffness, hallucinations, lack of coordination, with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
• sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea;
• seizure (convulsions); or
• numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes.

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• muscle pain;
• warmth or redness under your skin;
• pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body;
• sneezing, runny nose, congestion, cough;
• burning, numbness, pain or other irritation in your nose or throat after using the nasal spray;
• unusual taste in your mouth after using the nasal spray;
• dizziness, sleepiness; or
• drooling or sweating.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about sumatriptan (Imitrex)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to sumatriptan, or if you have ischemic bowel disease, severe liver disease, severe high blood pressure, or a history of heart disease, angina, circulation problems, heart attack, or stroke.

Sumatriptan can cause serious side effects on the heart, including heart attack or stroke. Although these side effects are rare, do not use this medication if you have a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, ischemic bowel disease, severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure, or history of a heart attack or stroke.

Before using sumatriptan, tell your doctor if you have a seizure disorder, high blood pressure, kidney or liver disease, coronary artery disease, or risk factors for coronary artery disease (such as 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).

Do not use sumatriptan within 24 hours before or after using almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), rizatriptan (Maxalt), naratriptan (Amerge), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or ergot medicine such as methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

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.

Before using sumatriptan, tell your doctor if you are also taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor).

Sumatriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

After taking a sumatriptan tablet, you must wait two (2) hours before taking a second tablet. Do not take more than 200 mg of sumatriptan tablets in 24 hours.

After using sumatriptan nasal spray, you must wait two (2) hours before using a second spray. Do not use more than 40 mg of sumatriptan nasal spray in 24 hours.