Sumatriptan (By mouth)
soo-ma-TRIP-tan
Drug classes
Antimigraine (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Sumatriptan is used to treat acute migraine headaches in adults. It is not used to prevent migraine headaches and is not used for cluster headaches. Sumatriptan works in the brain to relieve the pain from migraine headaches. It belongs to the group of medicines called triptans.
Many people find that their headaches go away completely after they take sumatriptan. Other people find that their headaches are much less painful, and that they are able to go back to their normal activities even though their headaches are not completely gone. Sumatriptan often relieves other symptoms that occur together with a migraine headache, such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound.
Sumatriptan is not an ordinary pain reliever. It will not relieve pain other than from migraine headaches. This medicine is usually used for people whose headaches are not relieved by acetaminophen, aspirin, or other pain relievers.
Sumatriptan has caused serious side effects in some people, especially people who have heart or blood vessel disease. Be sure that you discuss with your doctor the risks of using this medicine as well as the benefits that it can have.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.
Swallow the tablet whole with water or other liquids. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
If this medicine does not help your headache at all, do not take more medicine. Call your doctor.
If your headache comes back or you do not get complete relief, wait at least 2 hours before you use another dose. If you feel you need to use the medicine more than 2 times in a day, call your doctor.
Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Use sumatriptan only when you have a migraine. This medicine is not used on a regular schedule.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Do not use this medicine if you have taken another migraine headache medicine in the past 24 hours, such as another triptan or an ergot medicine. These medicines include almotriptan, dihydroergotamine, eletriptan, ergotamine, frovatriptan, methysergide, rizatriptan, or zolmitriptan.
Do not use this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days.
Tell your doctor if you are using medicine to treat depression.
When Not To Use
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use if you had an allergic reaction to sumatriptan. Tell your doctor if you have heart or blood vessel problems, such as a history of heart attack, stroke, or heart rhythm problems.
Warnings
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a history of seizures. Tell your doctor if you have a family history of heart disease, a history of blood circulation problems (such as peripheral vascular disease), or if you smoke.
Do not breastfeed for at least 12 hours after you take this medicine.
This medicine should be used only for classic or common migraine headaches. It will not work for any other kind of headache or pain.
This medicine may cause the following problems:
Higher risk for abnormal heart rhythm, heart attack, or stroke Tightness or discomfort in your chest, neck, or jaw Spasms in the blood vessels, including Raynaud syndrome Serotonin syndrome (more likely if used with medicine to treat depression) High blood pressureYour headaches may become worse if you use this medicine for 10 or more days per month. Keep a journal and write down how often your headaches occur and how often you take this medicine.
This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Anxiety, restlessness, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, diarrhea, seeing or hearing things that are not there
Chest pain, especially if it spreads to your arms, jaw, back, or neck, trouble breathing, unusual sweating, faintness
Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat, dizziness
Numbness, tingling, cramps, unexplained pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet, color changes in your fingers or toes
Severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
Sudden severe headache (other than the one being treated)
Tightness or discomfort in your chest, neck, or jaw
Vision loss or vision changes that are not part of a usual migraine
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Imitrex
There may be other brand names for this medicine.