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Imitrex Consumer Information

IMITREX

Generic Name: sumatriptan (SOO ma trip tin)

Brand Names: Imitrex, Imitrex Nasal, Imitrex Statdose

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

• Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you have heart disease including angina (chest pain), history of a heart attack, or high blood pressure. Serious, even fatal, side effects involving the heart have been reported with sumatriptan and other similar medicines.
• Do not use sumatriptan without first talking to your doctor if the headache you are experiencing is not like other migraines that you have had.
• Never take more of this medication than is prescribed by your doctor. If your symptoms are not being treated, contact your doctor.
• Sumatriptan may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities until you can evaluate the effects of the medication.

What is sumatriptan?

• Sumatriptan is a headache medicine. It is believed to work by causing vasoconstriction (narrowing) of blood vessels (arteries and veins) around the brain. Sumatriptan also reduces the release of substances in the body that contribute to headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.
• Sumatriptan is used to treat vascular headaches such as migraine and cluster headaches. Sumatriptan will not prevent migraines or cluster headaches or reduce the number of attacks. It will only treat a migraine or cluster headache that is already occurring.
• Sumatriptan may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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

• Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you have heart disease including angina (chest pain), history of a heart attack, or high blood pressure. Serious, even fatal, side effects involving the heart have been reported with sumatriptan and other similar medicines.
• Do not take sumatriptan without first talking to your doctor if you
• have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days;
• have taken an ergot-based medication within the last 24 hours--ergot-based medicines include methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergostat, Medihaler Ergotamine), dihydroergotamine mesylate (D.H.E., Migranal Nasal Spray), and ergotamine combination products (Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine, Cafatine, Cafatine-PB, Cafetrate);
• have taken almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), or sumatriptan (Imitrex) within the last 24 hours;
• have basilar or hemiplegic migraine headaches;
• have a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA or "mini-stroke");
• are experiencing a headache that is not like other migraines you have had; or
• have an allergy to sumatriptan or other similar medicines such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig).
• Taking sumatriptan may be dangerous if you have any of the conditions, or have taken any of the medications, listed above.
• Before taking sumatriptan, tell your doctor if you have
• risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease, high cholesterol (a type of fat in the blood), are overweight, have diabetes, smoke cigarettes, are postmenopausal, or are a male over 40 years of age;
• have circulation problems such as Raynaud's syndrome;
• liver disease;
• kidney disease; or
• seizures or epilepsy.
• You may not be able to take sumatriptan, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• Sumatriptan is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether sumatriptan will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
• Sumatriptan passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant. Do not use sumatriptan without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I use sumatriptan?

• Use sumatriptan exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take one tablet, administer an injection, or use the nasal spray as soon as you notice symptoms of a migraine, or at any time during an attack.
• Take each oral dose with a full glass of water. If your symptoms go away, but then return, you can take an additional oral dose with an interval of at least 2 hours between doses, up to a maximum of 200 mg in 24 hours, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Never take more than this amount.
• Administer sumatriptan injectable directly beneath the skin (subcutaneously) as soon as you notice symptoms of a migraine or cluster headache. Ask your doctor or nurse to show you how to use the auto-injector, and read the directions that accompany the package. Do not inject this medication if you are unsure how. Never inject any sumatriptan that is discolored or that has particles in it. If your headache is relieved, but then returns, you can use a second dose 1 hour after the first dose. Do not use more than 2 doses in 24 hours.
• For sumatriptan nasal, gently blow your nose to clear any mucous. Insert the tip about 1 cm (one-half inch) into the nostril, pointing it straight up into the nasal canal. Block your other nostril and keep your head upright. Pump and sniff gently at the same time. Try not to sneeze or blow your nose just after using the spray. If your headache is relieved, but then returns, you can use a second dose 2 hours after the first dose. Do not use more than 2 doses in 24 hours.
• If your symptoms do not improve, contact your doctor before taking any more doses of sumatriptan.
• Never take more of this medication than is prescribed by your doctor. If your symptoms are not being treated, contact your doctor.
• Store sumatriptan at room temperature away from moisture, heat, light, and the reach of children. Throw away any unused medicine on the expiration date.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Since sumatriptan is used to treat migraines or cluster headaches as they occur and not to prevent them, missing a dose is not a problem. Use only the doses you need, according to your doctor's instructions.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
• Symptoms of a sumatriptan overdose might include tremor, redness, or a warm feeling in your arms and legs, irregular breathing, large pupils; an uncoordinated feeling; and chest pain.

What should I avoid while using sumatriptan?

• Sumatriptan may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities until you can evaluate the effects of the medication.