Sumatriptan

Sumatriptan is used to relieve pain and other symptoms associated with migraines and cluster headaches. Migraines are a severe headache experienced as a throbbing pain at the front or side of the head resulting from dilation of blood vessels in the brain. Migraine headaches are often accompanied by other symptoms such as eyesight changes (visual aura, dark or coloured spots, flickering lights), eye pain, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, nausea or vomiting.

What makes Sumatriptan different to an ordinary painkiller?

Sumatriptan will only relieve pain resulting from migraine headaches. It is a type of triptan which works to reverse the changes in the blood vessels in the brain which cause a migraine in addition to alleviating the symptoms.

Can Sumatriptan be used to prevent migraines?

No, Sumatriptan must not be used to prevent an attack and should only be used at the onset of migraine symptoms or during a migraine attack.

Cautions

Sumatriptan should not be used to prevent a migraine attack; it should only be taken at the onset of symptoms or during an attack. Consult a doctor before taking Sumatriptan if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Sumatriptan passes into breast milk and a child should not be fed with milk expressed within 12 hours of taking Sumatriptan. There have not been any studies carried out on the influence of Sumatriptan on the ability to drive or operate machinery, however drowsiness may occur and therefore patients are advised against driving or operating machinery while taking this medicine.