MedlinePlus Drug Information: Sumatriptan Injection

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Sumatriptan Injection

(soo ma trip' tan)

Brand name(s): Imitrex Injection

Contents of this page:
Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? What special precautions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose?	What side effects can this medication cause? What storage conditions are needed for this medicine? In case of emergency/overdose What other information should I know?

Why is this medication prescribed?

Sumatriptan is used to relieve migraine headache symptoms. However, it will not prevent migraine headaches or reduce the number of attacks you have.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How should this medicine be used?

Sumatriptan is taken by injection, just under your skin, as soon as your migraine symptoms appear. You should feel relief of your symptoms within 1 hour (maybe within 10 minutes). If your symptoms then return after the first injection, you may take a second injection after 1 hour. But do not use more than two injections in a 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.

Sumatriptan comes in an autoinjection device so that you can self-inject this medication into your thigh or deltoid area (shoulder joint). Your doctor or pharmacist should show you how to load the injector and administer the medication. Also read the instruction pamphlet and be sure that you understand the correct injection technique before you use the autoinjector.

Try the autoinjector for the first time in your doctor's office so that he/she can be sure that you are using it correctly and can monitor any side effects.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking sumatriptan,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to sumatriptan or any other drugs.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and vitamins. If you have taken an MAO inhibitor [phenelzine (Nardil) or tranylcypromine (Parnate)] during the past 2 weeks, do not take sumatriptan. If you have taken another medication for migraine headaches such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), methysergide (Sansert), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), or zolmitriptan (Zomig) during the past 24 hours, do not take sumatriptan.
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 (mini-stroke); ischemic bowel disease; coronary artery disease; seizures; or blood vessel, kidney, or liver disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking sumatriptan, call your doctor.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Sumatriptan is not for routine use. Use it only to relieve your migraine headache as soon as symptoms of the migraine appear.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Although side effects from sumatriptan are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

pain or redness at the site of injection
flushing
tingling feeling
feeling of warmth or heaviness
drowsiness
upset stomach
vomiting
muscle cramps

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

pain or tightness in chest or throat
fast heartbeat
difficulty breathing
wheezing
redness, swelling, or itching of the eyelids, face, or lips
skin rash, lumps, or hives
changes in vision

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature, away from light, excess heat, and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of needles, syringes, and the medication.

In case of emergency/overdose

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.

What other information should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Never inject this medication any place except under the skin of your thigh or shoulder.

Call your doctor if you continue to have symptoms.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Last Revised - 01/01/2003

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Disclaimer