Detailed Drug Information:

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Sumatriptan is an antimigrainemedicine. Migraine headaches are believed to result from dilatation of theblood vessels in the head. Sumatriptan causes constriction of the bloodvessels, thus relieving migraine headache. While it is very effective inrelieving migraine, it does not prevent or reduce the number of attacks ofmigraine.

PREPARATIONS: The medication can be administered orally or byinjection. Tablets: (25mg, 50mg). Injection: (6mg).

STORAGE: Should be stored at room temperature, away from heat andlight. Keep your medicine away from the reach of children.

PRESCRIBED FOR: Sumatriptan is used to relieve migraine and itsassociated nausea and light sensitivity. It does not prevent or reduce thenumber of attacks of migraine. It should not be used to treat other typesof headaches.

DOSING: May be taken with or without food.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Sumatriptan is metabolized mainly by theliver and dosages may need to be reduced in patients with liverdysfunction. Sumatriptan can cause elevation of blood pressure and spasmof the coronary arteries of the heart. Sumatriptan should be avoided bypatients with coronary artery disease (patients with angina pectoris and ahistory of heart attacks), and by patients with poorly controlled highblood pressure. It is administered with caution to patients with riskfactors for coronary artery disease ( high blood pressure, diabetes,elevated blood cholesterol, obesity, cigarette smoking, and strong familyhistory of heart attacks). In some patients, the first dose of sumatriptancan be given in the physician's office to monitor any adverse heartevents.

Sumatriptan should not be administered along with ergot type migrainemedications, or with MAO inhibitors. Sumatriptan and ergotamine togethercan cause prolonged spasm of the blood vessels. Therefore, the use ofthese two medications should be separated by at least 24 hours. Safe usein children has not been established.Rarely, seizures after sumatriptan administration have been reported inpatients with epilepsy.

PREGNANCY: Safe usein pregnancy has not been established.

NURSING MOTHERS: Safe usein nursing mothers has not been established.

SIDE EFFECTS: For many migraine sufferers sumatriptan,appropriately used, has been a valuable and effective treatment inaborting attacks. Side effects are generally transient. Some common sideeffects include pain or tightness in the chest or throat, tingling,flushing, weakness, dizziness, abdominal discomfort, and sweating. Rarely,allergic reactions (even anaphylaxis) have been reported, usually inindividuals who are highly allergic to multiple allergens.