Usage:Imitrex is a headache medicine. It is believed to work by causing vasoconstriction (narrowing) of arteries and veins that supply blood to your head. Imitrex tablets and injections are used to treat vascular headaches such as migraine and cluster headaches. Imitrex will not prevent migraines or cluster headaches or reduce the number of attacks. It will only treat a migraine or cluster headache that is already occurring.
Directions: Take Imitrex tablets exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Take one tablet as soon as you notice symptoms of a migraine, or at any time during an attack. If your symptoms go away, but then return, you can take additional doses as needed every 2 hours, up to a maximum of 300 mg in 24 hours, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Never take more than this amount. If your symptoms do not improve at all, call your doctor before taking any more doses of Imitrex. More medication will not further treat symptoms.
Side Effects: If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Imitrex and seek emergency medical attention: an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); or severe or prolonged chest pain or an irregular heartbeat. Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Imitrex and talk to your doctor if you experience nausea; drowsiness or dizziness; or tingling, flushing, warmth, redness, or heaviness in a body part. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Precautions:Do not take Imitrex if the headache you are experiencing is not like other migraines that you have had.
Drug Interactions:Do not take Imitrex if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) within the last 14 days. The combination could cause seizures, nausea, vomiting, sweating, flushing, and dizziness. Do not take Imitrex if you have taken any of the following medicines within the previous 24 hours: an ergot-based medication within the last 24 hours. Ergot-based medicines include methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergostat), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E., Migranal Nasal Spray), and ergotamine combination products (Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine, Cafatine, Cafatine-PB, Cafetrate). another migraine medicine such as almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), or zolmitriptan (Zomig, Zomig-ZMT) in the past 24 hours. Taking Imitrex within 24 hours of any of the medicines listed above may be dangerous. Before taking Imitrex, tell your doctor if you are taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft). You may not be able to take Imitrex, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed. Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Imitrex. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.
If You Take Too Much:Seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of a Imitrex overdose might include tremor, redness, or a warm feeling in your arms and legs, irregular breathing, large pupils; an uncoordinated feeling; and chest pain.
Missed DoseSince Imitrex is taken to treat migraines or cluster headaches as they occur and not to prevent them, missing a dose is not a problem. Take only the doses you need, according to your doctor's instructions.
Storage: Store Imitrex at room temperature away from moisture, heat, light, and the reach of children. Throw away any unused medicine on the expiration date.
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