• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info

What is this medicine?
SUMATRIPTAN (soo ma TRIP tan) is used to treat migraines with or without aura. An aura is a strange feeling or visual disturbance that warns you of an attack. It is not used to prevent migraines.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

Back to Top

What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. This pricing information was updated 09/2009. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit www.drugstore.com. Actual costs to patients will vary depending on the use of specific retail or mail-order locations and health insurance copays.

Back to Top

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• breathing problems
• changes in vision
• chest or throat pain, tightness
• fast, slow, or irregular heart beat
• hallucinations
• increased or decreased blood pressure
• problems with balance, talking, walking
• seizures
• tingling, pain, or numbness in the face, hands or feet

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• diarrhea
• feeling warm, flushing, or redness of the face
• muscle cramps, pain
• nausea, vomiting
• pain at site where injected
• stomach upset
• unusually weak or tired

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Back to Top

How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is for injection under the skin. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Only use this medicine at the first symptoms of a migraine. It is not for everyday use. If you are using an autoinjector, read the instruction leaflet carefully. A single injection is given just under the skin. Before you make an injection, clean and examine your skin. Do not inject at a place where the skin is damaged or infected. If your symptoms return you can use a second injection. If there is no improvement at all in your symptoms after the first injection, call your doctor or health care professional. Wait at least 1 hour between doses and do not use more than 6 mg as a single dose. Do not use more than 12 mg total in any 24 hour period. Do not use your medicine more often than directed.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

Back to Top

What if I miss a dose?
This does not apply; this medicine is not for regular use.

Back to Top

What may interact with this medicine?
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medicines:

• amphetamine or cocaine
• dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergoloid mesylates, methysergide, or ergot-type medication - do not take within 24 hours of taking sumatriptan.
• feverfew
• MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate - do not take sumatriptan within 2 weeks of stopping MAOI therapy.
• other migraine medicines like almotriptan, eletriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan - do not take within 24 hours of taking sumatriptan.
• tryptophan

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• lithium
• medicines for mental depression, anxiety or mood problems
• medicines for weight loss such as dexfenfluramine, dextroamphetamine, fenfluramine, or sibutramine
• St. John's wort

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

Back to Top

Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known or suspected ischemic heart disease (e.g., angina pectoris, MI, silent ischemia).
• Coronary artery vasospasm (e.g., Prinzmetal variant angina).
• Other serious underlying cardiovascular disease (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension).
• Cerebrovascular syndromes (e.g., stroke syndrome, TIAs).
• Peripheral vascular ischemia (e.g., ischemic bowel disease).
• Hemiplegic or basilar migraine.
• Treatment within previous 24 hours with another 5-HT₁ receptor agonist or an ergot alkaloid. (See Specific Drugs under Interactions.)
• Concurrent or recent (within 2 weeks) treatment with an MAO-A inhibitor (oral and nasal sumatriptan formulations).
• Severe hepatic impairment.
• Known hypersensitivity to sumatriptan or any ingredient in the formulation.

Back to Top

What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Only use this medicine for a migraine headache. Use it if you get warning symptoms or at the start of a migraine attack. This medicine is not for regular use to prevent migraine headaches.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. To reduce dizzy or fainting spells, do not sit or stand up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. Alcohol can increase drowsiness, dizziness and flushing. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

Smoking cigarettes may increase the risk of heart-related side effects from using sumatriptan.

Back to Top

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• bowel disease or colitis
• diabetes
• family history of heart disease
• fast or irregular heart beat
• heart or blood vessel disease, angina (chest pain), or previous heart attack
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• history of stroke, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs or mini-strokes), or intracranial bleeding
• kidney or liver disease
• overweight
• poor circulation
• postmenopausal or surgical removal of uterus and ovaries
• Raynaud's disease
• seizure disorder
• an unusual or allergic reaction to sumatriptan, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

Back to Top

Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you are taking an analgesic for pain and you are no longer experiencing the pain you may stop using the medication. In general, pain medications are to be used on an ?as needed? basis.

Back to Top

I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

Back to Top

Where can I get more information?
More Information

Back to Top