Drug Name

Imigran (Sumatriptan)

Drug Uses

Imigran tablets are used to treat migraine headaches.
Imigran will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.
Imigran may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

How to use

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Overuse of migraine headache medicine can actually make your headaches worse. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

Use Imigran as soon as you notice headache symptoms, or after an attack has already begun.

Your doctor may want to give your first dose of this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting to see if you have any serious side effects. Take one Imigran tablet whole with a full glass of water. Do not split the tablet.

After taking a tablet: If your headache does not completely go away, or goes away and comes back, take a second tablet two (2) hours after the first. Do not take more than 200 mg of Imigran oral tablets in 24 hours. If your symptoms have not improved, contact your doctor before taking any more tablets.

Contact your doctor if you have more than four headaches in one month (30 days).

Drug Class and Mechanism

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

Missed Dose

Since Imigran is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. Call your doctor promptly if your symptoms do not improve after using Imigran.
After taking a Imigran tablet, you must wait two (2) hours before taking a second tablet. Do not take more than 200 mg of Imigran tablets in 24 hours.

Storage

Store Imigran at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Warnings/Precautions

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to sumatriptan, or if you have:

• a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, or history of a heart attack or stroke;
• ischemic bowel disease;
• severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure; or
• severe liver disease.

Do not use Imigran 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.
Imigran can cause rare but serious side effects on the heart, including heart attack or stroke. If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before using Imigran, tell your doctor if you have:

• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
• high blood pressure;
• liver disease;
• kidney disease; or
• coronary artery disease (or risk factors that include 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).

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby. Before using sumatriptan, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Your name may need to be listed on a sumatriptan pregnancy registry when you start using this medication.

Imigran can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. This medicine should not be given to anyone under 18 or over 65 years of age.

Possible Side Effects

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 using sumatriptan and call your doctor if you have a serious side effect such as:

• 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 heart rate, agitation, muscle stiffness, hallucinations, lack of coordination, with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
• sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea;
• seizure (convulsions); or
• numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes.

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• muscle pain;
• warmth or redness under your skin;
• pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body;
• sneezing, runny nose, congestion, cough;
• dizziness, sleepiness; or
• drooling or sweating.

More Information

Your pharmacist can provide more information about sumatriptan.