Imitrex is a prescription-availed drug used to treat migraine headaches with or without aura (eg, flashing lights, wavy lines, dark spots). It is also used to treat cluster headaches.

It is a serotonin 5-HT 1 receptor agonist ("triptan"). It works by narrowing blood vessels in the brain, which helps to reduce migraine and cluster headaches. This drug is available in tablet forms, nasal solution and in injection forms. Tablets are offered in 25, 50, and 100 mg of Sumatriptan.

The patients should consider the benefits and the risks with his doctor prior to use this drug. The following are some points that need consideration:

• Imitrex Sumatriptan should not be administered if the patient has some medical problems. Otherwise it may create harsh problem later. Therefore patients are warned to give knowledge of these problems to their health care provider. These are high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, angina (chest pain), fast or irregular heartbeat, heart or blood vessel disease or stroke (history of). The risk of side effects is high with the above health problems. Heart or blood vessel disease and high blood pressure sometimes do not show any symptoms. Therefore some people are ignorant that they have these problems. Before deciding whether you should use Imitrex, perform some tests to make sure that you do not have any of these conditions.
• Any unusual or allergic reaction to Sumatriptan can create adverse reaction. For that reason notify your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
• Somemedicines should not be used together at all, but in urgent cases two different medicines may be used together. In these cases, your doctor may advise some dose change or other precautions. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine, particularly other medicine for migraine headaches, or if you smoke tobacco. While taking this medicine let your health care professional know if you are taking the following: Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate]). If you take Imitrex while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking MAO inhibitors, it may lead to high body temperature, high blood pressure and severe convulsions. The patient can take another drug at least 14 days after stopping treatment with one medicine.
• Imitrex Sumatriptan has not proved safe in pregnant women. Some tests were made on animal, which showed harmful effects to the fetus. Before using this medicine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you may happen to be pregnant.
• Sumatriptan is likely to excrete in human breast milk. So mothers should not breastfeed their child while using this medicine.
• Use of these tablets use is not recommended in children younger than 18 years of age.
• Imitrex sumatriptan should not be administered in elderly patients above age of 65 years.