Sumatriptan

Sumatriptan: essential info

What is Sumatriptan?

Sumatriptan is a form of migraine relief tablet. It works by reducing swollen blood vessels around the brain, which is what causes migraines. Sumatriptan is the main ingredient used in common branded migraine relief tablets such as Imitrex. You’ll take Sumatriptan when you first spot the signs of a migraine — like vision problems with aura, or the start of your headache.

One of the things that sets this medication apart is how much cheaper it is compared to other treatments. Sumatriptan is a generic medicine made by several companies and not just one. Just as with other things like clothes and food, pharmaceutical products that are name brands tend to be more expensive.

How does Sumatriptan work?

Migraines happen when blood vessels around the brain enlarge and swell. This is why it can feel like our head is expanding and throbbing when we suffer from headaches.

We don’t know exactly why they happen, but common migraine triggers can include:

• Mental health difficulties like anxiety, depression, and stress
• Disordered sleep and tiredness
• Disordered eating
• Having too much caffeine
• Lack of exercise
• Changes in hormones (like menstruation or menopause)
• Sensory triggers
• Dehydration

The active ingredient in Sumatriptan mimics a chemical in your brain called serotonin. This causes the inflamed vessels in your brain to narrow, which eases the feeling of pain.

But there are other complications that can come with migraines, too. Some people also get something called aura when they have migraines. Aura is best defined as a kind of warning sign that usually comes before a headache kicks in. Symptoms of this can include patchy dark spots or zig-zag lines interfering with your vision, dizziness and a feeling of pins and needles.

You can take Sumatriptan for migraines with or without aura, as it’s shown to be effective for both types.^[1]

What doses of Sumatriptan are there?

Sumatriptan comes in three doses: 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. It’s normal to start on the lower dose and increase it if your symptoms don’t improve. Most medications can cause side effects, migraine tablets included. This is more likely if you take a higher dose, which is why you’ll normally start on the lower dose first to see if it works.

There are lower doses of Sumatriptan available but they’re administered differently. The nasal sprays, for example, range from 5mg to 20mg in dosage. But even though it’s a lower dose, because it’s used ‘locally’ (close to the brain), the effects of the dose are faster than a tablet in the same dose would be.

How to take Sumatriptan

Follow these instructions when you take this medicine. This will help it to work at its best. If there’s anything you aren’t sure about, ask our physician.

• Take as advised by our prescriber.
• In most cases, this will be one tablet as and when required, when symptoms of a migraine attack begin to appear.
• You should only need one tablet per attack.
• If your symptoms return, you can take another tablet, as long as it’s been at least two hours since your original dose.
• You may be prescribed an increased dose if the tablets you’ve been prescribed aren’t effective for you.
• Swallow your tablet whole with water.
• Don’t take more than 300mg in any one 24-hour period or exceed the amount prescribed for you.

There are some medications and conditions that can interfere with how sumatriptan works, too. You shouldn’t use sumatriptan if:

• You have a heart condition (like narrowing of the arteries or chest pains), or you’ve had a heart attack in the past.
• You have circulatory problems in your legs.
• You’ve had any kind of stroke in the past.
• You have serious liver disease.
• You’re taking other migraine medicines containing ergotamine or triptan/5-HT receptor agonists.
• You’re taking a type of antidepressant known as MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors).

Speak to a doctor if you have high blood pressure and want to use sumatriptan. Normally, you shouldn’t use sumatriptan alongside high blood pressure – but if your blood pressure is mild and being treated, you may be able to use it.

How long does it take Sumatriptan to work?

You should feel the effects of your migraine easing within 30-60 minutes of taking one sumatriptan tablet.

In a 2012 review of people using Sumatriptan, three in 10 people using the 100mg dose reported a decrease from ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’ pain to no pain by two hours. And six in 10 people reported that after two hours of taking 100mg, their pain reduced from ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’ to no worse than ‘mild’.^[1]

In a 2020 study looking at the effectiveness of Sumatriptan, it was described as the first line treatment, with most people experiencing ‘significant’ pain relief within two hours.^[2]

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Sumatriptan?

Let a doctor know or go to your nearest hospital if you take more Sumatriptan than you should. It’s important that you never exceed the amount laid out in the package insert. With Sumatriptan the maximum dosage in any one 24-hour period is 300mg. So, the number of tablets you can take will depend on the dosage you have been prescribed. If you have exceeded this limit then you need to speak with your doctor for urgent advice.