If you’re looking at treatment options for migraine, you may want to learn more about sumatriptan (Imitrex, Onzetra, Tosymra, Zembrace).

Sumatriptan is a generic prescription drug used to treat migraine and cluster headaches in adults. It’s available in three forms:

Sumatriptan is also available as the brand-name drugs Imitrex, Onzetra, Tosymra, and Zembrace.

Keep reading for details on sumatriptan, its cost, and how to save money on prescriptions.

Note: For more details on sumatriptan tablets, see this in-depth article.

The price you pay for sumatriptan can vary. Your cost may depend on your treatment plan, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy you use.

If you use the injection form of sumatriptan, you may also need to buy needles and syringes.

To find out how much you’ll pay for sumatriptan, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Note: If you have insurance, you may need to get prior authorization before your insurance provider will cover sumatriptan. This means your insurer and your doctor will discuss sumatriptan in regard to your treatment. Then the insurance company will determine whether the drug is covered. If sumatriptan requires prior authorization and you don’t receive it before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug.

Be sure to ask your insurance company whether sumatriptan requires prior authorization.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about sumatriptan and cost.

How do the costs of sumatriptan’s three forms (injection, tablet, and nasal spray) compare?

It depends. The price you pay for sumatriptan depends on several factors, such as your insurance coverage (if you have it), the pharmacy you use, and your treatment plan. But if you don’t have insurance, the tablets are likely to be the least expensive form of the drug.

If you inject your dose of sumatriptan, you may also need injection supplies such as syringes and needles. This could add to your cost to use that form of the drug.

If you have questions about what you’ll pay for sumatriptan depending on the form you’re prescribed, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Does the cost of sumatriptan tablets vary based on strength (25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg)?

Possibly, but the cost difference is likely not significant. Your cost of sumatriptan tablets depends on your insurance coverage (if you have it), the pharmacy you use, and your treatment plan.

Your pharmacist can review your insurance information and treatment plan to find your specific cost of sumatriptan tablets. They can tell you if there’s a difference in cost based on strength.

What’s the cost of sumatriptan without insurance?

Prescription medications usually cost less with insurance coverage. If you don’t have health insurance, your price for the drug can vary depending on the pharmacy you use and your treatment plan.


The price of sumatriptan can vary at different pharmacies. Also, sumatriptan is available in multiple forms that may have different costs.

If you don’t have insurance coverage, talk with your pharmacist about your treatment plan and what your cost of sumatriptan will be.

Sumatriptan is a generic drug. This means it’s an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic is considered just as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics generally cost less than brand-name drugs.

Sumatriptan is available as the brand-name drugs Imitrex, Onzetra, Tosymra, and Zembrace. To find out how the costs of the brand-named versions and sumatriptan compare, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

If you’ve been prescribed sumatriptan and you’re interested in using a branded version of sumatriptan, talk with your doctor. They may prefer that you take one version instead of the other. In addition, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider. This is because it may only cover one drug or the other.

Why is there such a cost difference between brand-name drugs and generics?

Years of research and testing are needed to ensure that brand-name drugs are safe and effective. This testing can make the drugs expensive. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell the drug for up to 20 years. After that, other drugmakers can create generic versions. This competition in the market can lead to lower costs for generics. And because generics have the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t need to be studied again. This can also lead to lower generic costs.

If you need help covering the cost of sumatriptan or understanding your insurance, check out these resources:

On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you still have questions about the cost of sumatriptan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for sumatriptan.

Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:

  • Does the cost of sumatriptan depend on the dosage I’m prescribed?
  • Would all forms of sumatriptan work for me? If so, could I take a lower-cost form of the drug?
  • Are there other lower-cost drugs that could treat my condition?

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.