Imitrex Prescription Drug Information
Generic Name: Sumatriptan
Imitrex is a serotonin receptor agonist prescribed for headaches and acute migraines. It contains sumatriptan succinate, a triptan analogue, as an active ingredient in its formulations. Imitrex is highly recommended by physicians for acute migraines.
Indication/Usage: Imitrex is mainly indicated for treatment of acute migraine attacks, with or without aura, and acute cluster headaches. Unlabeled indications for Imitrex include post-dural puncture headache and migraine in children and adolescent patients. Imitrex should not be prescribed for hemiplegic or basilar migraine.
It is also reported that Imitrex reduces various symptoms of migraine like nausea, vomiting, and light and sound sensitivities.
Dose, Administration and Dosage Forms: Imitrex is usually initially prescribed with a single dose of 50mg once a day by mouth, but the dose may be titrated based upon the response of the individual patient. The maximum safe oral dose of Imitrex should not exceed 200mg/day. Imitrex is available in various strengths and formulations as follows: tablets come in 50mg and 100mg strength, solutions for injections in 4mg/0.5ml, 6mg/0.5ml strengths, and nasal sprays in 5mg and 20mg strengths.
Mechanism of Action: The active ingredient of Imitrex, sumatriptan succinate, is a highly selective vascular 5-HT1 (more probably 5-HT-1D) receptor agonist without significant affinity towards other serotonergic, adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors. These 5-HT-1 receptors are present in the human basilar artery. Sumatriptan binds these receptors and activates the vasoconstriction process. Once vasoconstriction starts, it reduces pressure on the blood vessels and ultimately results in relief from migraine headaches.
Relief from migraine headaches may be achieved in about 10 to 15 minutes with injection, about 15 minutes with nasal spray, and about 30 minutes with oral tablets.
Side-effects and Safety Profile: Imitrex is proven to be significantly safe with easily-tolerated side-effects in most cases. Common but easily-curable side-effects associated with Imitrex include tingling, burning sensations, strange feelings, feelings of heavy head, flushing, tightness in chest, throat pain, injection site reaction or itchiness, weakness, neck pain and stiffness, muscle pain, dizziness, sedation, excessive sweating, etc. Rare but serious side-effects associated with Imitrex are cardiac issues such as coronary artery vasospasm, high blood pressure, myocardial infarction (MI), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and ventricular fibrillation (VF) with extremely rare fatal outcomes. These cardiac side-effects are more prone in patients who already have a history of cardio-arterial disease.
Warnings and Contraindications:
- Patients with a history of any cardiac disorder (specifically coronary artery disease patients) have a higher risk of myocardial ischemia or infarction (MI) and high blood pressure, so they should not be prescribed Imitrex.
- Imitrex should not be prescribed with drugs containing ergotamine.
- Imitrex in injection formulation should not be prescribed to patients with hemiplegic or basilar migraine and severe hepatic impairment.
- Imitrex is contraindicated in males over 40 years of age and females who are pregnant or nursing, or who have had surgical and/or physiological menopause.
- If you are allergic to sumatriptan, then you should not take Imitrex.
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Imitrex (Sumatriptan) - also known as Imigran
