Imitrex SubQ - Drug Information and Side Effects on Drug3k.com


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Overview

Photos

How To Use

Side Effects

Precautions

Missed Dose

Drug Interactions

Imitrex SubQ

Uses
Sumatriptan is used to treat migraines and cluster headaches. It helps to relieve pain and other symptoms of migraines/headaches including sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, and vomiting. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. It does not prevent future migraines/headaches or reduce how often you may get a headache.Sumatriptan belongs to a group of drugs called triptans. It affects a certain natural chemical (serotonin) that constricts blood vessels in the brain. It may also block other pain pathways in the brain.This drug may also be used for certain other types of headaches.
Notes

Do not share this medication with others.
Certain foods/beverages or food additives (e.g., red wine, cheese, chocolate, monosodium glutamate) as well as some lifestyle patterns (e.g., irregular eating/sleeping habits, stress) may bring about a migraine headache.
Avoiding these "triggers" may help decrease the frequency of migraine headaches.
Consult your doctor for more details.

Storage

Store at room temperature between 36 and 86 degrees F (2-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom.
Do not discard the auto-injector.
You may use it again with refills of the prefilled syringes.
Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

How To Use

Read the Patient Information Leaflet available from your pharmacist before you start using sumatriptan and each time you get a refill.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.Inject the medication just below the skin as soon as the symptoms of your migraine/headache appear.
Before injecting each dose, clean the injection site with rubbing alcohol.
This medication should never be injected directly into a vein (IV) or into a muscle (IM).This medication can be injected either by using a syringe and needle or with an auto-injector.
Learn all preparation and usage instructions in the product package.
If any of the information is unclear, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Make sure you understand the correct technique for injection and how to properly dispose of needles, syringes and unused medication.If there is no improvement in your symptoms, do not take any more doses of this medication before talking to your doctor.
If your symptoms are only partly relieved, or if your headache comes back, you may use a second injection after one hour or as directed by your doctor.
Do not use more than 2 injections (12 milligrams) in a 24-hour period.
Do not reuse the syringe.
If you are using an auto-injector device, it may be re-used.If your symptoms are only partly relieved, and 2 hours have passed since the injection, you may take a sumatriptan tablet by mouth instead of using a second injection.
Do not take more than 200 milligrams of this medication by mouth, or a maximum of 3 doses (2 by mouth and 1 injection), in a 24-hour period.If you have never taken this medication before and you have risk factors for heart disease (see Precautions), you may need to be monitored for rare but serious side effects (e.g., chest pain) when you take the first dose.
Your doctor may ask you to take the first dose in the office.Your dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy.
Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or worsens.

Side Effects

Pain, swelling or bruising at the injection site may occur.
Flushing, sensations of tingling/numbness/prickling/heat, weakness, drowsiness, or dizziness may occur.
If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Chest/jaw/neck tightness can commonly occur shortly after using sumatriptan.
Only rarely are these signs of a serious condition.
However, you may not be able to tell it apart from a serious reaction related to a lack of blood flow to the heart, brain or other parts of the body.
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these unlikely but very serious (rarely fatal) side effects occur: chest pain, jaw/left arm pain, fainting, fast/irregular/pounding heartbeat, vision changes, weakness on one side of the body, confusion, slurred speech, sudden or severe stomach/abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: blue fingers/toes/nails, cold sensation of hands/feet, hearing changes, mental/mood changes, seizures.This medication may rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
The risk increases when this medication is taken with certain other drugs such as other "triptans" used to treat migraine headaches (e.g., sumatriptan, zolmitriptan), certain antidepressants including SSRIs (e.g., citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine) and NSRIs (e.g., duloxetine, venlafaxine), or a certain drug to treat obesity (sibutramine).
Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you take any of these medications.
Serotonin syndrome may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of any of these medications.
Seek immediate medical attention if you develop some of the following symptoms: hallucinations, unusual restlessness, loss of coordination, fast heartbeat, severe dizziness, high fever, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, twitchy muscles.A serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs.
Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions

See also How to Use section.Before using sumatriptan, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other triptan drugs (e.g., zolmitriptan, rizatriptan); or to sulfa drugs; or if you have any other allergies.This medication should not be taken if you have certain medical conditions.
Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: heart disease (e.g., chest pain, heart attack), decreased blood flow in the brain (e.g., stroke, transient ischemic attack), blood circulation disease (e.g., ischemic bowel disease), uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension), certain types of headaches (hemiplegic or basilar migraine), liver disease.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: certain blood circulation disorders (e.g., Raynaud's disease), seizures.Tell your doctor if you have the following risk factors for heart disease: diabetes, family history of heart disease, high blood pressure (controlled), high cholesterol, overweight, smoker, female after menopause, male over age 40.If you are at high risk for heart disease, your doctor may want to check your heart before prescribing sumatriptan.This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery.The risk of heart disease, liver disease, and high blood pressure increases with age.
The manufacturer does not recommend the use of sumatriptan in the elderly since they may be more sensitive to the side effects, including an increase in blood pressure.This medication should be taken only when clearly needed during pregnancy.
Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.This drug passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Missed Dose

Take this medication only as needed when a migraine occurs, as directed by your doctor.
This medication should not be taken on a regular schedule.
Never increase your dose of this medication or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Drug Interactions

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it.
Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.This drug should not be taken with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: weight loss drugs (sibutramine).Do not take this medication if you are taking MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline, tranylcypromine) or have used MAO inhibitors in the past 2 weeks.
In some cases a serious, possibly fatal, drug interaction may occur.If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting sumatriptan.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: SSRI antidepressants (e.g., fluoxetine, paroxetine).If you also take any ergotamine medication (e.g., dihydroergotamine or methysergide) or any other "triptan" drugs (e.g., zolmitriptan, rizatriptan), you will need to separate your sumatriptan dose from your dose of these other medications in order to lessen the chance of serious side effects.
Ask you doctor how long you should wait between your doses of these drugs.Also report the use of drugs which might increase seizure risk (decrease seizure threshold) when combined with sumatriptan such as isoniazid (INH), phenothiazines (e.g., thioridazine), theophylline, or tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline) among others.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.