What is the most important information I should know about Imitrex?
Your doctor may want to give your first dose of this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting in case you have serious side effects.
Imitrex is used to treat migraine headaches and cluster headaches. Imitrex will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.
Do not use Imitrex if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the past 14 days.
Before using Imitrex, tell your doctor if you have a seizure disorder, coronary artery disease, or risk factors for coronary artery disease (such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol).
Do not use Imitrex within 24 hours after using any other migraine headache medicines.
After using a Imitrex, you must wait one hour before using a second injection. Do not use more than two injections in 24 hours.
Imitrex can cause serious side effects on the heart, including heart attack or stroke. Tell your doctor if you have any history of heart or circulation problems. You may not be able to use Imitrex.
Imitrex can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
What is Imitrex?
Imitrex is a headache medicine. It is believed to work by narrowing the blood vessels around the brain. Imitrex also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.
Imitrex is used to treat migraine headaches and cluster headaches.
Imitrex will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.
Imitrex may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before using Imitrex?
Imitrex can cause serious side effects on the heart, including heart attack or stroke. Tell your doctor if you have any history of heart or circulation problems. You may not be able to use Imitrex.
You should not use Imitrex if you have:
heart disease;
angina (chest pain);
liver disease;
blood circulation problems;
ischemic bowel disease;
history of a heart attack or stroke;
high blood pressure; or
a headache that is not like other headache you have had.
Do not use Imitrex if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the past 14 days.
Do not use Imitrex within 24 hours after using any of the following medicines:
ergot medicine such as methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergostat, Medihaler, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E., Migranal Nasal Spray); or
Before using Imitrex, tell your doctor if you have:
epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or
coronary artery disease (or risk factors that include diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).
You may not be able to use Imitrex, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Your name may need to be listed on a Imitrex pregnancy registry when you start using this medication.
Imitrex can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
This medicine should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I use Imitrex?
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor.
Use Imitrex as soon as you notice headache symptoms, or after an attack has already begun.
Your doctor may want to give your first dose of this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting to see if you have any serious side effects.
Imitrex comes in a prefilled cartridge to be loaded into an autoinjector syringe. Each cartridge contains only one dose that you will injected into your skin. This medicine comes with patient instructions for injecting it. Do not give yourself an injection if you do not understand these instructions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.
After using an injection: If your headache does not completely go away after the injection, call your doctor before using a second Imitrex. If your headache goes away and then comes back, you may use a second injection if it has been at least one hour since your first injection. Do not use more than two injections in 24 hours. If your symptoms do not improve, contact your doctor before using any more injections.
Contact your doctor if you have more than four headaches in one month (30 days).
Store this medicine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since Imitrex is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. After using a Imitrex, you must wait one hour before using a second injection. Do not use more than two injections in 24 hours.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine, or if anyone else has accidentally injected it.
Symptoms of a Imitrex overdose may include seizure (convulsions), tremors or shaking, skin redness, breathing problems, blue-colored lips or fingernails, vision problems, watery eyes or mouth, and weakness or lack of coordination.
What should I avoid while using Imitrex?
Imitrex can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
What are the possible side effects of Imitrex?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using Imitrex and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
severe or ongoing chest pain, pounding or uneven heart rate;
pain or tightness in your chest, jaw, or neck;
sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea;
seizure (convulsions); or
numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes.
Continue using Imitrex and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
muscle pain;
redness or warmth in your face, neck, or chest;
burning, numbness, or heavy feeling in any part of your body;
sneezing, runny nose, congestion, cough;
pain or redness where you injected the medicine;
feeling dizzy or sleepy; or
drooling or sweating.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Imitrex?
Before using Imitrex, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft);
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Imitrex, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Imitrex. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
