Product Details

Product Information of Sumatriptan

What you need to know before you take Sumatriptan

Do not take Sumatriptan – if you are allergic to sumatriptan or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). – if you have a heart problem such as narrowing of the arteries (Ischaemic heart disease) or chest pains (angina), or have already had a heart attack. – if you have circulation problems in your legs that cause cramp-like pains when you walk (peripheral vascular disease). – if you have had a stroke or a mini-stroke (also called a transient ischaemic attack or TIA). – if you have high blood pressure. You may be able to use Sumatriptan – if your high blood pressure is mild and is being treated. – if you have serious liver disease. – With other migraine medicines, which contain ergotamine, or similar medicines such as methysergide or any triptan/5-HT1 receptor agonist (medicines which are also used for treating migraine). – With anti-depressants called MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), or if you have taken these medicines in the last 2 weeks. If any of these apply to you: ® Tell your doctor, and don’t take Sumatriptan. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Sumatriptan If you have any extra risk factors • If you are a heavy smoker, or are using nicotine replacement therapy and especially • If you are a man aged over 40, or • If you are a woman who has been through the menopause. In very rare cases, people have developed serious heart conditions after using sumatriptan, even though they had no signs of heart disease before. If any of the points above applies to you it could mean you have a greater risk of developing heart disease – so: ® Tell your doctor so that your heart function can be checked before Sumatriptan is prescribed for you. If you have a history of fits (seizures) Or if you have other conditions which might make it more likely that you’ll have a fit – for example, a head injury or alcoholism. If you have liver or kidney disease ® Tell your doctor so that you can be supervised more closely. If you are allergic to antibiotics called sulphonamides If so, you may also be allergic to Sumatriptan. If you know you are allergic to an antibiotic but you are not sure whether it is a sulphonamide: ® Tell your doctor or pharmacist before using Sumatriptan. If you are taking anti-depressants called SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors) or SNRIs (Serotonin Noradrenaline Reuptake inhibitors) ® Tell your doctor or pharmacist before you use Sumatriptan. Also see “Other medicines and Sumatriptan” below. If you use Sumatriptan frequently Using sumatriptan too often may make your headaches worse. ® Tell your doctor if this applies to you. He or she may recommend you stop using Sumatriptan. If you feel pain or tightness in your chest after you use Sumatriptan These effects may be intense but they usually pass quickly. If they don’t pass quickly, or they become severe: ® Get medical help immediately. Section 4 of this leaflet has more information about these possible side effects. Other medicines and Sumatriptan Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Some medicines must not be taken with Sumatriptan and others may cause adverse effects if they’re taken with Sumatriptan. You must tell your doctor if you are taking: • ergotamine also used to treat migraine, or similar medicines such as methysergide (see section 2). Don’t use Sumatriptan at the same time as these medicines. Stop taking these medicines at least 24 hours before using Sumatriptan. Don’t take any medicines which contain ergotamine or compounds similar to ergotamine again for at least 6 hours after using Sumatriptan. • other triptans/5-HT receptor agonists (such as naratriptan, 1 rizatriptan, zolmitriptan) also used to treat migraine, (see section 2). Don’t use Sumatriptan at the same time as these medicines. Stop taking these medicines at least 24 hours before using Sumatriptan. Don’t take another triptan/5-HT1 receptor agonist again for at least 24 hours after using Sumatriptan • SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors) or SNRIs (Serotonin Noradrenaline Reuptake inhibitors) used to treat depression. Using Sumatriptan with these medicines can cause serotonin syndrome (a collection of symptoms which can include restlessness, confusion, sweating, hallucinations, increased reflexes, muscle spasms, shivering, increased heartbeat and shaking). Tell your doctor immediately if you are affected in this way. • MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) used to treat depression. Don’t use Sumatriptan if you have taken these in the last 2 weeks. • St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). Taking herbal remedies that contain St John’s Wort while you are using Sumatriptan may make side effects more likely. Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility • If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. There is only limited information about the safety of sumatriptan for pregnant women, though up till now there is no evidence of any increased risk of birth defects. Your doctor will discuss with you whether or not you should use Sumatriptan while you are pregnant. • Don’t breast-feed your baby for 12 hours after using Sumatriptan. If you express any breast milk during this time, discard the milk and don’t give it to your baby. Driving and using machines Either the symptoms of migraine or your medicine may make you drowsy. If you are affected, don’t drive or operate machinery. Using sumatriptan can cause symptoms such as dizziness and weakness, which may adversely affect your speed of reaction. Wait until you have found out how you react to sumatriptan before you drive or use machines. Sumatriptan contain sodium: This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per each tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’