Health Library

Sumatriptan (By mouth)

Sumatriptan (soo-ma-TRIP-tan)

Treats migraine headaches.

Brand Name(s):

Imitrex

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

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.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• 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 pressure
• Your 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 While Using This Medicine:

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
• Seizure
• 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

Last Updated: 9/6/2024