You should not use Imitrex if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart problems, certain heart rhythm disorders, a history of heart attack or stroke, or circulation problems that cause a lack of blood supply within the body.
Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.
Also tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor).
Imitrex will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.
Do not use Imitrex within 24 hours before or after using any other migraine headache medicine.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Imitrex if you are allergic to sumatriptan, or if you have ever had:
heart problems, or a stroke (including "mini-stroke");
coronary artery disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart;
circulation problems affecting your legs, arms, stomach, intestines, or kidneys;
a heart disorder called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome;
uncontrolled high blood pressure;
severe liver disease; or
a headache that seems different from your usual migraine headaches.
Do not use Imitrex if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
Be sure your doctor knows if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. These medicines may interact with sumatriptan and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
To make sure Imitrex is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
liver or kidney disease;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder; 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, or being older than 40 and a man).
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Sumatriptan can pass into breast milk. Do not breast-feed within 12 hours after using Imitrex. If you use a breast pump during this time, throw out any milk you collect. Do not feed it to your baby.
Imitrex is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I use Imitrex?
Use Imitrex as soon as you notice headache symptoms. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
You may receive your first dose in a hospital or clinic setting to quickly treat any serious side effects.
Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.
Take a Imitrex tablet whole with a full glass of water. Do not split the tablet.
After using Imitrex: If your headache does not completely go away, or goes away and comes back, use a second dose if it has been at least 2 hours since your first dose.
Never use more than your recommended dose. Overuse of migraine headache medicine can make headaches worse. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your migraine attacks.
Do not take more than 200 milligrams of oral Imitrex within 24 hours.
Do not use more than 40 milligrams of Imitrex nasal spray within 24 hours.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if you have more than 4 headaches in one month (30 days).
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Do not store in a refrigerator. Do not freeze.
