Zomig (Zolmitriptan) Patient Information: Side Effects and Drug Images at RxList

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May 27, 2012

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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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Zomig

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Zomig Patient Information Including Side Effects

Brand Names: Zomig, Zomig-ZMT

Generic Name: zolmitriptan (oral) (Pronunciation: ZOLE mi TRIP tan)

What is zolmitriptan (Zomig)?

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

Zolmitriptan is used to treat migraine headaches.

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

Zolmitriptan should not be used to treat common tension headaches or any headache that seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches. Use this medication only if your condition has been confirmed by a doctor as migraine headaches.

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

What are the possible side effects of zolmitriptan (Zomig)?

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 taking zolmitriptan and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

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 or pounding heartbeats, dizziness;
sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea;
numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes; or
(if you are also taking an antidepressant) - agitation, high fever, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of balance or coordination, overactive reflexes, hallucinations, fainting;

Less serious side effects may include:

dry mouth, upset stomach;
feeling of pain or pressure in your neck or throat;
drowsiness, weakness; or
feeling of warmth.

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 zolmitriptan (Zomig)?

Do not take zolmitriptan within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including zolmitriptan nasal spray, almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet), or ergot medicine such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), ergonovine (Ergotrate), methylergonovine (Methergine), or methysergide (Sansert).

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to zolmitriptan, or if you have a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, ischemic bowel disease, severe liver disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or history of a heart attack or stroke.

Do not use zolmitriptan 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 taking zolmitriptan, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder, 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).

Before taking zolmitriptan, 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).

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

After taking a zolmitriptan tablet, you must wait two (2) hours before taking a second tablet. Do not take more than 10 mg of zolmitriptan in 24 hours.

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