Sumatriptan (By injection)
soo-ma-TRIP-tan
Treats migraine and cluster headaches.
Drug classes
Antimigraine (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Sumatriptan injection is used to treat acute migraine attacks and cluster headaches in adults. 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 use 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 any kind of pain other than 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 do.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Injectable
Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin. It is usually given in the stomach, thigh, or upper arm.
This medicine is available in 3 forms. You may use a single dose vial, prefilled syringe, or a prefilled autoinjector.
A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.
You may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
If your headache comes back or you do not get complete relief, wait at least 1 hour before you use another dose. If you feel you need to use the medicine more than 2 times in a day, call your doctor.
You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas.
Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.
Do not use the medicine if it is discolored or cloudy.
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.
If you store this medicine at home, keep it at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.
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 it if you had an allergic reaction to sumatriptan. Tell your doctor if you have severe liver disease, or if you had a heart attack or stroke.
Warnings
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, 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.
This medicine may cause the following problems:
Higher risk for abnormal heart rhythm, heart attack, or stroke 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 headache medicine for 10 or more days per month. Keep a journal and write down how often your headaches occur and how often you use this medicine.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.
This medicine may make you dizzy, weak, or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
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
Numbness or tingling in your hands, arms, legs, or feet, color changes in your fingers or toes
Numbness or weakness on one side of your body, sudden or severe headache, problems with speech
Seizures
Severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
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 these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Feeling weak, drowsy, or tired
Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the shot is given
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
Alsuma, Imitrex, Imitrex STATdose, Imitrex Stat Dose Refill, Imitrex Statdose Refill, Imitrex Statdose System, Sumavel DosePro
There may be other brand names for this medicine.