Imigran

Drug name: Imigran


Other names used:

• Imitrex®

Active Ingredients: Sumatriptan

Therapeutic actions: Sumatriptan acts like serotonin, the brain chemical involved in migraine, helping to return blood vessels to normal and calming the sensory nerves. The result is that Imigran Recovery can stop all the main migraine symptoms in their tracks: headache pain, nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.

Indications: Relieving migraine attacks

Contraindications and cautions:

• This medicine should not be used to prevent migraines.
• This medicine should only be used by people with a clear diagnosis of migraine from their doctor.
• If the first dose of this medicine doesn't relieve your migraine headache then you should NOT take another dose for the same attack, as trials have shown that this is not effective. (You can still take Imigran for your next attack.) If your first dose does initially relieve your migraine, but the headache then comes back, you can take a second dose. However, if you need a second dose because your migraine has returned, you should NOT take it within two hours of your first dose. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Do not take more than 300mg in any 24 hour period.
• This medicine can cause feelings of warmth, heaviness, pressure, tightness or pain in certain parts of the body, including the chest or throat. Although sometimes very strong, these feelings usually only last a few minutes. If they continue or are particularly severe (especially chest pain), you should tell your doctor immediately, as there have been extremely rare reports of such problems being caused by a heart attack. Do NOT take any more tablets; your doctor will decide if you should stop using them.
• This medicine may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.

Use with caution in

• Allergy to medicines from the sulphonamide group, eg the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole
• Controlled high blood pressure (hypertension)
• People with risk factors for ischaemic heart disease, such as smoking, high Cholesterol levels, diabetes, obesity, or a family history of heart disease
• Men over 40 years
• Postmenopausal women
• Decreased kidney function
• Decreased liver function
• History of seizures eg epilepsy

Not to be used in

• People who have had a heart attack
• Heart disease caused by inadequate blood flow to the heart (ischaemic heart disease), eg angina
• A severe form of angina pectoris, not caused by exertion (Prinzmetal's angina)
• Narrowing of blood vessels in the extremities, eg legs (peripheral vascular disease)
• History of stroke
• History of small temporary temporary strokes (transient ischaemic attacks)
• Uncontrolled or moderate to severe high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Severely decreased liver function
• People who have taken a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor Antidepressant (MAOI) in the last 14 days
• A form of migraine associated with paralysis of the eye muscles (ophthalmoplegic migraine)
• A form of migraine associated with temporary paralysis of one side of the body (hemiplegic migraine)
• A type of migraine where there is a disturbance in brain function which initially presents with total blindness followed by dizziness, speach disturbances, ringing in the ears and double vision (basilar migraine)
• Imigran tablets and Imigran Radis tablets are not recommended for children or adolescents aged under 18 years, or adults aged over 65 years, as the safety and efficacy of the tablets have not been established in these age groups. Adolescents aged 12-17 years can be treated with Imigran nasal spray, but only on the recommendation of a specialist or doctor with particular experience in migraine. See the factsheet on Imigran nasal spray (linked at end of factsheet) for more information.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Adverse effects: Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Sensation of tightness, pressure, tingling, heaviness, heat or pain in any part of the body, including the chest and throat (see warning above)
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Flushing
• Increase in blood pressure
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting (though these may also be due to the migraine)
• Visual disturbances (though these may also be due to the migraine)
• Increased or decreased heart rate (tachycardia or bradycardia)
• Awareness of your heart beat (palpitations)
• Alteration in results of liver function tests
• Tremor
• Seizures
• Narrowing of the blood vessels in the hands leading to periods of white, painful hands (Raynaud's phenomenom)
• Stiff neck

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Interactions: It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.
This medicine must not be taken at the same time as, or within two weeks of, taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), for example, the Antidepressants phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid and moclobemide, and the antibiotic linezolid. This is because these medicines could increase the blood level of sumatriptan and therefore increase the risk of side effects.
This medicine must not taken within 24 hours of taking ergotamine or its derivatives, eg dihydroergotamine or methysergide. These medicines should not be taken within six hours of taking sumatriptan.
If your first dose of sumatriptan does not work to relieve your migraine, it is fine to take a painkiller containing aspirin, paracetamol, or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen. However, as noted above, you should not take ergotamine, dihydroergotamine or methysergide for at least six hours after taking sumatriptan.
There may be an increased risk of side effects if this medicine is taken by people taking any of the following medicines:

• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs), such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine or sertraline
• the herbal remedy St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).

Additional Information: DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS PRODUCT, as well as syringes and needles, if needed during treatment, out of the reach of children. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials.