Sumatriptan (commonly known as Imitrex) is used to treat migraine headaches, and is among the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. Here is what you need to know for your patients taking Sumatriptan:
Generic Name: Sumatriptan
Brand Name(s): Imitrex, Alsuma, Zembrace SymTouch
Pronunciation: SOO ma TRIP tan
About this drug:
Sumatriptan is a selective serotonin 5-HT receptor agonist used to treat migraine and cluster headaches.
This medication will not prevent migraines or decrease the number of attacks.
Dentistry-related tidbits:
Sumatriptan may cause xerostomia.
Sumatriptan is not safe to take when another migraine medication has been used in the last 24 hours.
Treatment with Sumatriptan tablets can cause sensations of tightness, pain, pressure, and heaviness in the precordium, throat, neck, and jaw and are usually non-cardiac in origin.
Sumatriptan may cause hypertension, including a hypertensive crisis.
Epinephrine in local anesthetics can cause hypertension and hypertensive crisis when combined with Sumatriptan.
NSAIDs and steroids can cause hypertension when combined with Sumatriptan, whereas Propofol, narcotics, benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, and muscle relaxants can cause CNS and respiratory depression and diminish psychomotor function. Make sure to check for potential interactions before prescribing using a tool like Rx Check.
Patients cannot take Linezolid (and other MAO inhibitors) with Sumatriptan (must separate by at least 2 weeks) due to risk of severe and serious side effects.
Fun facts:
Sumatriptan was the first specific migraine medication developed. It belongs to a class of drugs known as triptans, which are specifically designed to target the blood vessels in the brain that dilate during a migraine.
Injecting Sumatriptan is the most effective way of administering it.
The active ingredient in Sumatriptan is sumatriptan succinate, which causes the blood vessels in the brain to contract — helping to tackle the symptoms of migraines. Sumatriptan works by stimulating serotonin receptors in the brain, which causes the muscles surrounding the blood vessels in the brain to contract. Sumatriptan also stabilizes some of the chemical changes in the brain during a migraine attack, which alleviates migraine symptoms.
Sumatriptan was listed on the WHO list of essential medications in 2021.
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