Sumatriptan

Description

Sumatriptan is used to reduce the symptoms of a migraine and cluster headaches. It inhibits the substances that cause headaches and sensitivity to sound and light. It does not help in the prevention and reduction of frequent attacks of headaches.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Sumatriptan

  • Chest pain
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Feeling of warmth or heat
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Itching
  • Numbness
  • Dry mouth
  • Nausea and Vomiting
  • Unusual tiredness and weakness

Uses of Sumatriptan

What is it prescribed for?

  • Migraine Headache
  • Cluster headache
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The amount of time required for this medicine to show its action is about 10 minutes after a subcutaneous administration and 30 minutes after an oral administration.
  • Duration of effect
    The time until which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit forming tendency has been reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. Discuss all the risks and benefits with your doctor before taking this medicine.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. Discuss all the risks and benefits with your doctor before taking this medicine.

Allergy

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to sumatriptan.

Cardiovascular Disease

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known history of cardiovascular diseases due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.

Uncontrolled hypertension

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a history of uncontrolled hypertension due to the increased risk of very high blood pressure and hypertensive crisis.

Peripheral vascular diseases

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known history of peripheral vascular diseases due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI)

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) due to the increased risk of a life-threatening condition called Serotonin Syndrome. A time gap of at least 14 days should be maintained between stopping therapy with MAOIs and starting therapy with this medicine.

Severe liver impairment

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver disease due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. Discuss all the risks and benefits with your doctor before taking this medicine.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. Discuss all the risks and benefits with your doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings

High cholesterol

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a known history of high cholesterol levels due to the increased risk of cardiovascular side effects.

Liver diseases

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a known history of liver diseases. Appropriate dose adjustments should be made based on the clinical condition of the patient to avoid serious side effects.

Seizure disorder

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a known history of seizure disorder due to the increased risk of worsening of the seizures.

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or arrhythmias due to the increased risk of life-threatening disturbances of the cardiac rhythm.

Missed Dose

If a dose of Sumatriptan is missed, take the dose as soon as you remember it. If it is almost the time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Fluvoxamine

Ondansetron

Almotriptan

Nefazodone

Disease interactions

Coronary Artery Disease

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known history of coronary heart diseases due to the increased risk of serious and life-threatening reactions.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Sumatriptan exactly as instructed by the doctor. Do not take larger amounts than prescribed. Seek emergency medical treatment in case of any severe side effects. Ensure that the course of treatment is completed. Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
Sumatriptan works by constricting the dilated blood vessels in the brain. It also helps in stopping the pain signals from being sent to the brain and blocking the release of natural substances which cause pain.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Antimigraine agents

Schedule

Schedule H

[Internet]. 2017 [cited 1 August 2017]. Available from:

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/12510

DailyMed - SUMATRIPTAN- sumatriptan succinate injection [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 1 August 2017]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=efdeaab6-e8a0-4858-8bc4-4f4a6b55730d

Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 1 August 2017]. Available from:

http://www.tga.gov.au/prescribing-medicines-pregnancy-database

Sumatriptan - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 1 August 2017]. Available from:

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00669

Sumatriptan: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 1 August 2017]. Available from:

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601116.html

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Information on this page was last updated on 30 May 2020

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.