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February 9, 2012
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Medications and Drugs

Brand Names: Imitrex, Imitrex Statdose, Imitrex Statdose Refill

Generic Name: sumatriptan (injection) (Pronunciation: soo ma TRIP tan)

What is sumatriptan injection (Imitrex, Imitrex Statdose, Imitrex Statdose Refill)?

Sumatriptan is a headache medicine. It is believed to work by narrowing the blood vessels around the brain. Sumatriptan also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.

Sumatriptan injection is used to treat migraine headaches and cluster headaches.

Sumatriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

Sumatriptan may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Imitrex 6 mg Inj

What are the possible side effects of sumatriptan injection (Imitrex, Imitrex Statdose, Imitrex Statdose Refill)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using sumatriptan and call your doctor if you have a serious side effect such as:

  • chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
  • sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
  • sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
  • fast heart rate, agitation, muscle stiffness, hallucinations, lack of coordination, with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
  • sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea;
  • seizure (convulsions); or
  • numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes.

Less serious side effects may include:

  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
  • muscle pain;
  • warmth or redness under your skin;
  • pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body;
  • sneezing, runny nose, congestion, cough;
  • pain or redness where you injected the medicine;
  • feeling dizzy or sleepy; or
  • drooling or sweating.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about sumatriptan injection (Imitrex, Imitrex Statdose, Imitrex Statdose Refill)?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to sumatriptan, or if you have ischemic bowel disease, severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe liver disease, or a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, heart attack, or stroke.

Sumatriptan can cause serious side effects on the heart, including heart attack or stroke. Although these side effects are rare, do not use this medication if you have a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, ischemic bowel disease, severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure, or history of a heart attack or stroke.

Before using sumatriptan, tell your doctor if you have a seizure disorder, high blood pressure, kidney or liver disease, coronary artery disease, or risk factors for coronary artery disease (such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).

Do not use sumatriptan within 24 hours before or after using almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or ergot medicine such as methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

Do not use sumatriptan if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the past 14 days.

Before using sumatriptan, tell your doctor if you are also taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor).

Sumatriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

After using a sumatriptan injection, you must wait one (1) hour before using a second injection. Do not use more than two injections in 24 hours.


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Brand Names:
Imitrex, Imitrex Statdose, Imitrex Statdose Refill, Sumavel DosePro
[+]

Generic Name:
sumatriptan (injection)
[+]

What Are Migraine and Cluster Headaches?

Migraines are headaches that most likely stem from problems with blood vessels in the head. Migraine headaches typically last from 4-72 hours. They may happen as often as several times a week to only once a year. Migraine headaches cause moderate-to-severe pain. The pain may be located on one or both sides of the head, in the back of the neck, or around the face or eyes. Symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, stuffy nose, and/or watery eyes may occur. Some people have tunnel vision or see spots or halos. People who have migraines are called migraineurs.

Cluster headaches are vascular headaches that occur almost daily in episodes, or “clusters,” over weeks to months. The pain is severe and comes on very suddenly. Pain usually affects one side of the face and is accompanied by nasal congestion, runny nose, and watery eyes. In contrast to migraine headaches, cluster headaches occur more frequently in male...

Read the Migraine and Cluster Headache Medications article »


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