Imitrex Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Imitrex Tablet (sumatriptan) is a prescription antimigraine agent, part of the triptan drug class, that narrows blood vessels around the brain. It is used to treat migraine headaches that have already started in adults. Imitrex does not prevent migraines or reduce how many attacks a person has.

What is Imitrex Tablet

Imitrex is a prescription headache medicine that narrows blood vessels around the brain. It is used to treat migraine headaches that have already started in adults. It does not prevent migraines or reduce how many attacks you have.

Imitrex Tablet uses

• Treats acute migraine headaches with or without aura in adults
• Not for common tension headaches or headaches that cause weakness on one side of the body
• Only for use once a doctor has confirmed a migraine diagnosis
• Not approved to prevent migraines or reduce the number of attacks

Benefits of Imitrex Tablet

• Can relieve migraine headache pain within a few hours
• May reduce migraine-related nausea, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound

How Imitrex Tablet works

Imitrex works by attaching to serotonin receptors on blood vessels in the brain, causing them to narrow. It may also block activity in the trigeminal nerve, which carries pain sensations in the head and face. This helps relieve the migraine headache and related symptoms like nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.

Imitrex Tablet dosage

Use Imitrex as soon as you notice migraine symptoms starting, but it can be taken at any point during the headache. Take the tablet whole with a full glass of water or other liquid; do not split, crush, or chew it. It can be taken with or without food.

If your headache does not go away or comes back, a second tablet can be taken if enough time has passed since the first dose. Do not take a second tablet if the first one gave no relief at all, without talking to your doctor first.

You may receive your first dose in a hospital or clinic setting so any serious side effects can be treated quickly. Keep a record of when you get headaches and when you use Imitrex to discuss with your doctor. Imitrex is not meant to be used every day; only use it when a migraine or cluster headache occurs. Talk to your doctor if you find you need to treat more than about four headaches in a month.

Available forms and strengths

• Oral tablet (25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg)

Side effects of Imitrex Tablet

Common

• Dizziness
• Fatigue or feeling weak
• Feeling unusually warm or cold
• Tingling or numbness in fingers or toes
• Pain, pressure, or tightness in chest, throat, neck, or jaw
• Drowsiness or sleepiness
• Unusual taste in the mouth (with nasal spray)

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Heart attack symptoms: chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating, shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeats
• Signs of a stroke: sudden numbness or weakness especially on one side of the body, sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance
• Severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea (reduced blood flow to intestines)
• Blood circulation problems in legs or feet: cramps, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, cold feeling, color changes
• Seizures (convulsions)
• Serotonin syndrome: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, vomiting, diarrhea
• Very high blood pressure
• Medication overuse (rebound) headache

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use Imitrex if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart problems, certain heart rhythm disorders, a history of heart attack or stroke, or circulation problems that reduce blood supply in the body.
• Do not use Imitrex if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, as this can cause a dangerous drug interaction.
• Do not use Imitrex within 24 hours before or after using another migraine medicine such as another triptan or an ergot-type drug, because this can be dangerous.
• Imitrex is not approved for people younger than 18 years old.
• Overuse of migraine medicine can make headaches worse (medication overuse headache).
• Imitrex may cause serious cardiovascular problems such as heart attack or stroke, sometimes without warning symptoms.
• Do not use Imitrex if you have hemiplegic or basilar migraine, since both the condition and the medicine raise stroke risk.
• It is not known if Imitrex is safe to use during pregnancy. Animal studies suggested it may harm an unborn baby, but human data have not shown a clear increased risk. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
• Sumatriptan can pass into breast milk and may cause temporary breast pain in the nursing parent. It is recommended to avoid breastfeeding for 12 hours after taking Imitrex.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease before using Imitrex.
• Imitrex should not be used if you have severe liver disease. If you have mild to moderate liver problems, your doctor may lower your dose since the drug is broken down mainly by the liver.
• There are no known direct interactions between Imitrex and alcohol, but alcohol can trigger or worsen headaches and may add to feelings of sleepiness.
• Imitrex can cause dizziness, weakness, or drowsiness. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.

Storage

• Store between 36°F and 86°F (2°C and 30°C)
• Keep in a tightly sealed container away from light
• Avoid storing in damp or wet areas such as bathrooms
• Do not store in a refrigerator
• Do not freeze
• Keep out of the reach of children
• Ask your pharmacist how to properly dispose of unused or expired medicine

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away for signs of a heart attack, such as chest discomfort lasting more than a few minutes, chest or jaw pain, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.
• Get emergency help for signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away for symptoms of serotonin syndrome, including agitation, hallucinations, fast heartbeat, high body temperature, tight muscles, or trouble walking.
• Seek emergency care for signs of a stroke, such as drooping on one side of the face, sudden weakness or numbness, slurred speech, or a sudden severe headache.
• Call your doctor if your migraine symptoms do not improve, or if you have more than four headaches in one month.
• If you think you have taken too much Imitrex, call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Alternatives

• Rizatriptan
• Eletriptan
• Naratriptan