Sumatriptan Oral and Nasal

Sumatriptan is used to treat the symptoms of migraine headaches (severe, throbbing headaches that sometimes is accompanied by nausea or sensitivity to sound and light). Sumatriptan is in a class of medications called selective serotonin receptor agonists. It works by narrowing blood vessels in the head and stopping pain signals from being sent to the brain. Sumatriptan does not prevent migraine attacks.

Sumatriptan comes as a tablet to take by mouth and a nasal spray. It should be used at the first sign of a migraine headache. If you are at risk for heart disease and you have never taken sumatriptan before, you may need to take the first dose in your doctor's office. Usually only one dose is needed. If pain is not relieved with the first dose, your doctor may prescribe a second dose to be taken after at least 2 hours. Do not take more than 200 mg of the tablets or 40 mg of the nasal spray in any 24-hour period. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take sumatriptan exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Take the tablet with plenty of water or other fluids. To use the nasal spray, follow the package directions or ask or your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Sumatriptan may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

<ul>
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flushing</li>
<li>
tingling feeling</li>
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feeling of warmth or heaviness</li>
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drowsiness</li>
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dizziness</li>
<li>
upset stomach</li>
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diarrhea</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
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irritation of the nose</li>
<li>
muscle cramps</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
<li>
pain or tightness in chest or throat</li>
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sudden or severe stomach pain</li>
<li>
fast heartbeat</li>
<li>
difficulty breathing</li>
<li>
wheezing</li>
<li>
redness, swelling, or itching of the eyelids, face, or lips</li>
<li>
skin rash, lumps, or hives</li>
<li>
change in vision</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking sumatriptan, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to sumatriptan or any other drugs. do not take sumatriptan if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Emsam, Eldepryl), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) during the past 2 weeks or if you have taken another medication for migraine headaches such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), methysergide (Sansert), almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), or zolmitriptan (Zomig) during the past 24 hours. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, in Symbyax), fluvoxamine, paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft); and selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), sibutramine (Meridia), and venlafaxine (Effexor). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you more carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you smoke, if you have a strong family history of heart disease, if you are postmenopausal, or if you are a man over 40. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had high blood pressure; angina (recurring chest pain); a heart attack; diabetes; high cholesterol; obesity; stroke; transient ischemic attack (ministroke); ischemic bowel disease; coronary artery disease; seizures; or blood vessel, kidney, or liver disease. you should know that this medication may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.