Sumatriptan

What is Sumatriptan?

Sumatriptan is a medicine used to treat migraines. Sumatriptan helps relieve symptoms such as headache, pain, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light. Sumatriptan tablets are prescribed when painkillers fail to relieve migraine symptoms.

How does Sumatriptan work?

Sumatriptan is a type of medicine known as a triptan or serotonin receptor agonist. When you have a migraine, your blood vessels become wider. By using sumatriptan to stimulate the release of serotonin, this narrows your blood vessels to help relieve your migraine. Sumatriptan also reduces pain signals in the brain. However, sumatriptan cannot be taken to prevent migraines.

How long do the effects of Sumatriptan last?

Sumatriptan normally works within 30 minutes after you take your first tablet. If you don’t feel better after two hours, then you can take a second tablet. The effects of sumatriptan can last around 24 hours so do not take more than two doses in 24 hours. If sumatriptan is not working after two doses, you should contact your doctor for further advice.

How effective is Sumatriptan?

Sumatriptan is effective for upto 24 hours. If you do not feel your migraine is getting better after two doses of sumatriptan in 24 hours, then speak to your doctor for advice.

Active ingredients

The active ingredient in Sumatriptan is sumatriptan.

Inactive ingredients

The inactive ingredients in Sumatriptan are lactose monohydrate, hypromellose, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, and titanium dioxide (E171). The 50 mg film-coated tablets also include triacetin and red iron oxide (E172).

Please Note: Different manufacturers of generic Sumatriptan could use different inactive ingredients in their drugs than those listed above. Please check the patient information leaflet provided for full details.

Sumatriptan dosage

Your dose of sumatriptan will be decided by a doctor depending on how bad your migraines are and how well you have responded to treatments in the past. For adults aged 18 to 65 years old, you take one 50 mg sumatriptan tablet as soon as you feel a migraine starting. You may need to take a higher dose if your migraines do not improve. Sumatriptan isn’t normally recommended for adults over 65 years old.

How to use Sumatriptan

Always use sumatriptan as your doctor or pharmacist tells you to. Swallow one sumatriptan tablet whole with a glass of water as soon as you feel a migraine starting. Do not crush or chew sumatriptan tablets. If your first dose does not relieve your migraine symptoms completely, then you can take a second dose two hours later. You should not take more than two doses in 24 hours. If you don’t feel better after two doses, contact your doctor for advice.

Sumatriptan side effects

Sumatriptan can cause side effects in some patients. If you have an allergic reaction to sumatriptan, stop taking it immediately and seek emergency medical help. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: a skin rash such as red spots or hives, swelling of the eyelids, face or lips, sudden wheezing, tightness of the chest or difficulty breathing.

Common side effects, affecting up to 1 in 10 people, include:

• Drowsiness or dizziness
• Sensory disturbance
• Difficulty breathing
• Muscle pain
• Temporary increase in blood pressure
• Flushing
• Weakness or tiredness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain
• Sensation of heat or cold, pressure, tightness or heaviness 

These symptoms are generally temporary and can occur in any part of the body.

The following side effects can happen, but it is unknown how common they are:

• Seizures, involuntary movement, tremor, nystagmus
• Visual disorders such as flickering, reduced vision, or loss of vision (this may be the result of the migraine itself)
• Changes in heartbeat, chest pain or heart attack
• Low blood pressure, Raynaud’s phenomenon
• Inflammation of the colon, with pain in the lower left side of the abdomen or bloody diarrhoea
• Neck stiffness
• Minor disturbances in liver function tests
• Diarrhoea
• Anxiety
• Excessive sweating
• Joint pain

Contraindications

You should NOT take sumatriptan if:

• You are allergic to sumatriptan or any of the other ingredients listed in this medicine
• You have a heart problem such as a narrowing of the arteries (ischaemic heart disease), chest pain (angina), or have had a heart attack in the past
• You have had a stroke or a mini-stroke (transient ischaemic attack)
• You have blood circulation problems in the legs causing cramp-like pain when you walk (peripheral vascular disease)
• You have high blood pressure or your blood pressure remains high even after taking medicines to control it
• You have severely reduced liver function

Before using sumatriptan, tell your doctor if:

• You have symptoms indicating cardiac disease, including chest pain or feeling of pressure in the chest area which may be radiating to your neck
• You have an intolerance to some sugars
• You have reduced liver or kidney function
• You have a history of fits (seizures), or if you have other conditions which might make it more likely that you’ll have a fit, including head injury and alcoholism
• You are allergic to sulfonamide
• You are a heavy smoker or are using nicotine replacement therapy, in particular if you are a man over the age of 40 or a woman who has been through menopause

Drug interactions

Before taking sumatriptan, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including those purchased over the counter at a pharmacy without a prescription. You need to be aware of these drug interactions:

• Ergotamine or its derivatives, used to treat migraines. If you have taken a product containing ergotamine, wait at least 24 hours before taking sumatriptan. After taking sumatriptan, wait at least 6 hours before taking a product containing ergotamine.
• Do not take sumatriptan if you have taken MAO inhibitor in the past 2 weeks. This includes moclobemide for depression or selegiline for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
• Using sumatriptan with SSRIs and SNRIs for depression can cause serotonin syndrome, with symptoms such as restlessness, confusion, sweating, hallucinations, increased reflexes, muscle spasms, shivering, increased heartbeat, and shaking.
• Taking sumatriptan with herbal remedies containing St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) may make side effects more likely.

Driving whilst taking Sumatriptan

Migraines may cause changes in vision, dizziness and sleepiness. When you take sumatriptan to relieve a migraine, you may also feel drowsy or sleepy. If you experience these symptoms or side effects, do not drive or operate heavy machinery.

Sumatriptan and pregnancy

If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, speak to a doctor before using sumatriptan.

Sumatriptan and alcohol

You should not drink alcohol when you take sumatriptan, as this can increase the likelihood of side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness and flushing. Alcohol can also make your migraine feel worse.

Using Sumatriptan with other migraine treatments

You can take other migraine treatments with sumatriptan. This includes painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin - but make sure to check on their suitability with your doctor or pharmacist first. However, you should not take sumatriptan within 24 hours of ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, methysergide, or any other triptan-containing migraine treatment, including zolmitriptan, almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, rizatriptan, or naratriptan.

Can I take Sumatriptan with over the counter painkillers and headache treatments?

You can take sumatriptan with over the counter painkillers or headache treatments such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve the symptoms of your migraine. Check with a pharmacist first to make sure the treatments are suitable for you.

Imigran Nasal Spray vs Sumatriptan

Imigran nasal spray and sumatriptan tablets contain the same active ingredient, sumatriptan, and work in the same way to help relieve the symptoms of your migraine. You can take either medicine as soon as you feel the symptoms of a migraine starting. They both get to work within 30 minutes and they have similar effectiveness. Imigran nasal spray is a good alternative for people who struggle to swallow tablets and you may experience fewer side effects.

Alternatives to Sumatriptan

An alternative to sumatriptan tablets is a nasal spray under the brand name Imigran. Other triptans are also an option, including frovatriptan and naratriptan. If you experience nausea with your migraines, you can get an antiemetic prescribed. Combination medicines, which contain a painkiller and an antiemetic, can be purchased over the counter with a pharmacist’s advice. Painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, can be used in combination with triptans to relieve the headache of migraines.

Does Sumatriptan work for ocular migraines and migraines without headaches?

The symptoms of ocular migraines, also known as retinal migraines, include visual blind spots, bright or flashing lights, temporary vision loss and light sensitivity. If you get a headache in addition to these symptoms, sumatriptan can help provide relief. Sumatriptan can also help relieve symptoms of a migraine without headaches.

Is Sumatriptan prevention or a cure for migraines?

Sumatriptan is used to treat and relieve the symptoms of migraines as they occur. Sumatriptan cannot prevent migraines from happening and it is not a cure for migraines.

Is Sumatriptan a painkiller?

Sumatriptan is not a painkiller, but it does help relieve pain. Therefore, you can take painkillers with sumatriptan if you have severe pain. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice on which painkiller is best for you.

Is Sumatriptan ok for long term use?

You should only use sumatriptan when you have a migraine. You can use sumatriptan long term if advised by your doctor. However, you should not use sumatriptan to prevent migraines from happening.