Health Centres - Imigran recovery (sumatriptan)
How does it work?
Imigran recovery tablets contain the active ingredient sumatriptan, which is a type of medicine called a serotonin (or 5HT) agonist. This type of medicine is also commonly known as a 'triptan'. It is a painkiller specifically used to relieve migraine attacks.
Although the cause of migraine attacks is not fully understood, it is thought that widening of blood vessels in the brain causes the throbbing pain of migraine headaches. Sumatriptan relieves this pain by causing the blood vessels in the brain to narrow.
Sumatriptan works by stimulating receptors called serotonin (or 5HT) receptors that are found in the brain. A natural substance called serotonin normally acts on these receptors, causing blood vessels in the brain to narrow. Sumatriptan mimics this action of serotonin by directly stimulating the serotonin receptors in the brain. This narrows the blood vessels and so relieves the pain of migraine headaches.
The dose of sumatriptan should be taken as early as possible after the migraine headache has started, though it will also be effective if taken at a later stage during the migraine attack.
If the first dose of this medicine doesn't relieve your migraine headache then you should NOT take another dose for the same attack, as trials have shown that this is not effective. (You should consult your doctor if this medicine doesn't work for you with the first dose, as the diagnosis of migraine may be wrong.) If your first dose does initially relieve your migraine, but the headache then comes back, you can take a second dose of Imigran recovery. However, if you need a second dose because your migraine has returned, you should NOT take it within two hours of your first dose. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Do not take more than two doses of Imigran recovery (100mg) in any 24 hour period.
What is it used for?
- Relieving migraine attacks.
Warning!
- This medicine should only be used by people with a clear diagnosis of migraine from their doctor or pharmacist. If you had your first ever migraine attack in the last twelve months, you have had fewer than five migraines in the past, you are aged 50 years and over and are experiencing migraine attacks for the first time, or you are aged under 18 or over 65 years, you will need to consult your doctor for treatment.
- If the pattern of your migraines has changed, or if your attacks have become more frequent, more persistent, or more severe, or you do not recover completely between attacks, you should seek medical advice from your doctor. You should also consult your doctor if you have four or more migraine attacks per month, if your migraine headaches last for longer than 24 hours, or if you have a headache of any kind on 10 or more days per month.
- If you are taking a combined oral contraceptive you should seek advice from their doctor if your migraine attacks started recently (within the last three months), if your migraine symptoms have worsened, or if you get migraines with aura (warning signs, eg flashes of light, numbness or speech disturbances).
- If the first dose of this medicine doesn't relieve your migraine headache then you should NOT take another dose for the same attack, as trials have shown that this is not effective. (You should consult your doctor if this medicine doesn't work for you with the first dose, as the diagnosis of migraine may be wrong.) If your first dose does initially relieve your migraine, but the headache then comes back, you can take a second dose. However, if you need a second dose because your migraine has returned, you should NOT take it within two hours of your first dose. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Do not take more than two doses (100mg) of Imigran recovery in any 24 hour period.
- This medicine should not be used to prevent migraines.
- This medicine can cause feelings of warmth, heaviness, pressure, tightness or pain in certain parts of the body, including the chest or throat. Although sometimes very strong, these feelings usually only last a few minutes. If they continue or are particularly severe (especially chest pain), you should tell your doctor immediately, as there have been extremely rare reports of such problems being caused by a heart attack. Do NOT take any more tablets; your doctor will decide if you should stop using them.
- This medicine may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.
Use with caution in
- People with risk factors for ischaemic heart disease, such as smoking, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, obesity, or a family history of heart disease.
- Men aged over 40 years.
- Women who have passed the menopause.
Not to be used in
- Children or adolescents aged under 18 years.
- Adults aged over 65 years.
- Decreased liver function.
- Decreased kidney function.
-
Allergy to medicines from the sulphonamide group, eg the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole.
- People who have ever had a heart attack.
- Heart disease caused by inadequate blood flow to the heart (ischaemic heart disease), eg angina.
- A severe form of angina pectoris, not caused by exertion (Prinzmetal's angina).
- Abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias).
- Poor blood circulation in the blood vessels of the arms or legs (peripheral vascular disease).
- History of stroke.
- History of small temporary temporary strokes (transient ischaemic attacks).
-
High blood pressure .
- History of seizures, eg epilepsy.
- People who have taken a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor antidepressant (MAOI) in the last 14 days.
- A form of migraine associated with paralysis of the eye muscles (ophthalmoplegic migraine).
- A form of migraine associated with temporary paralysis of one side of the body (hemiplegic migraine).
- A type of migraine where there is a disturbance in brain function which initially presents with total blindness followed by dizziness, speach disturbances, ringing in the ears and double vision (basilar migraine).
- Rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption (Imigran recovery tablets contain lactose).
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- The safety of this medicine during pregnancy has not been established. It should only be used by pregnant women if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the foetus. If you are pregnant you will not be able to buy this medicine without a prescription and you should seek medical advice from your doctor.
- This medicine passes into breast milk. If you are breastfeeding you will not be able to buy this medicine without a prescription and you should seek medical advice from your doctor.
Label warnings
- Follow the printed instructions you have been given with this medication.
- This medication may cause drowsiness. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.
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