home > drugs a-z list > imitrex injection (sumatriptan succinate injection) drug center > imitrex injection (sumatriptan succinate injection) drug - patient side effects and images

Recommended Topic Related To:

Imitrex Injection

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,...

Imitrex Injection

font size

Imitrex Injection Patient Information Including Side Effects

Brand Names: Imitrex, Imitrex Statdose, Imitrex Statdose Refill

Generic Name: sumatriptan (injection) (Pronunciation: soo ma TRIP tan)

What is sumatriptan injection (Imitrex Injection)?

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 injection is used to treat migraine headaches and cluster 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 6 mg Inj

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

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;
  • pain or redness where you injected the medicine;
  • feeling dizzy or sleepy; 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.

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

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to sumatriptan, or if you have ischemic bowel disease, severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe liver disease, or a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood 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), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), 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 using a sumatriptan injection, you must wait one (1) hour before using a second injection. Do not use more than two injections in 24 hours.

Related Drug Centers

Imitrex Injection - User Reviews

Imitrex Injection User Reviews

Now you can gain knowledge and insight about a drug treatment with Patient Discussions.

Here is a collection of user reviews for the medication Imitrex Injection sorted by most helpful. Patient Discussions FAQs

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

 

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.


Living Better

Find the secrets to longer life.