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Imitrex (injection)

Generic name: sumatriptan (injection) [ SOO-ma-TRIP-tan ]
Brand names: Imitrex, Imitrex Statdose, Imitrex Statdose Refill, SUMAtriptan Succinate Syringe, Zembrace SymTouch
Drug class: Antimigraine agents

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Aug 14, 2023. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is sumatriptan injection?

Sumatriptan is a headache medicine that narrows 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 is used to treat migraines and cluster headaches in adults. Sumatriptan will only treat a headache. This medicine will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

Sumatriptan should not be used to treat a common tension headache, or a headache that causes loss of movement on one side of your body. Use this medicine only if your condition has been confirmed by a doctor as migraine headaches.

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

Sumatriptan injection side effects

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

Sumatriptan may cause serious side effects. Stop using sumatriptan and call your doctor at once if you have:

Common side effects of Imitrex may include:

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.

Warnings

You should not use sumatriptan if you have ever had heart disease, coronary artery disease, blood circulation problems, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe liver disease, a heart attack or stroke, or if your headache seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches.

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.

Do not use sumatriptan within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use sumatriptan if you are allergic to it, if you have a headache that seems different from your usual migraine headaches, or if you have ever had:

Do not use sumatriptan 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.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

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 sumatriptan. If you use a breast pump during this time, throw out any milk you collect. Do not feed it to your baby.

Sumatriptan injection is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I use sumatriptan injection?

Use sumatriptan 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.

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.

Sumatriptan is injected under the skin. A healthcare provider may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.

This medicine comes in a vial (bottle), a needle-free injector device, or a prefilled cartridge for an auto-injector syringe. Each type is for one use only.

Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Do not use sumatriptan if you don't understand all instructions for proper use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.

Prepare your injection only when you are ready to give it. Do not use a vial if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.

After an injection: If your headache does not completely go away, call your doctor before using a second injection. If your headache goes away and then comes back, use a second injection if it has been at least 1 hour since your first injection. Do not use more than 2 injections in 24 hours. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date on the label has passed.

Use a needle and syringe only once and then place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container. Follow state or local laws about how to dispose of this container. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since sumatriptan is used when needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after using this medicine.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include tremors, skin redness in your arms or legs, weakness, loss of coordination, breathing problems, blue-colored lips or fingernails, vision problems, or a seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while using sumatriptan injection?

Do not use sumatriptan within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including:

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

What other drugs will affect sumatriptan injection?

Using sumatriptan while you are using certain other medicines can cause high levels of serotonin to build up in your body, a condition called "serotonin syndrome," which can be fatal. Tell your doctor if you also use:

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect sumatriptan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Popular FAQ

Ubrelvy and Imitrex are both oral tablets used to treat migraine, but there are differences in the way they work. Ubrelvy prevents a protein called CGRP thought to play a role in migraine attacks from binding to its receptor and Imitrex is thought to bind to serotonin 5‑HT1B/1D receptors, and inhibit pro-inflammatory substances Although no head-to-head comparison trials compare Ubrelvy to Imitrex, indirect evidence suggests that overall, Ubrelvy is no more effective, and may be inferior to Imitrex at relieving migraine in adults who are able to tolerate triptans. For those adults with moderate-to-severe migraine attacks that cannot tolerate triptans or who have found them ineffective, Ubrelvy is beneficial for treating migraines compared to no treatment. Ubrelvy is associated with fewer side effects than Imitrex, but is more expensive, costing almost twice as much. Continue reading

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.