Imitrex (Sumatriptan) for Migraine

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Imitrex (sumatriptan) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat migraine attacks with or without aura in adults.

What Members Say

MHT logo These insights are based on 1,647 comments about Imitrex from MyMigraineTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of individuals and are not meant to be medical advice.

Benefits:

Imitrex often eases migraine pain when taken as a rescue treatment.
Tablets can help within a few hours for some attacks.
A second dose can be taken at least two hours later if needed.

Considerations:

Overuse can worsen headaches when Imitrex is taken 10 or more days monthly.
Use is limited in heart disease, stroke, hemiplegic migraine, and uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Nausea, fatigue, dizziness, tingling, and chest, throat, or jaw pressure can occur.

How Imitrex Works and How It’s Taken

Imitrex is a type of medication called a triptan. It works by acting on serotonin receptors in blood vessels and pain-related nerves in the head. This can narrow blood vessels and reduce the release of chemicals linked to migraine pain and inflammation.

These effects may help relieve migraine symptoms. Doctors prescribe Imitrex for adults who have a clearly diagnosed migraine attack, with or without aura, and need treatment during the attack.

Imitrex is given as a tablet by mouth. If the migraine does not go away or comes back after getting better for a short time, a second dose may be taken at least two hours after the first dose.

Imitrex is also available as an injection. Generic sumatriptan may also be available as a nasal spray.

Typical Dosing for Migraine

The recommended dose of Imitrex for migraine is 25 milligrams, 50 milligrams, or 100 milligrams taken by mouth.

If the migraine has not gone away two hours after the first dose, or comes back after temporary improvement, a second dose may be taken at least two hours after the first dose.

For people with mild to moderate liver problems, the maximum single dose should not be more than 50 milligrams. The maximum total dose is 200 milligrams in 24 hours.

This information is based on the prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Top Advice From Members on Imitrex

These insights are based on 1,647 comments about Imitrex from MyMigraineTeam members.

Members who use Imitrex often say timing, side effects, and practical planning make a big difference in how manageable treatment feels. Many also describe talking with their doctor when Imitrex stops working well, causes reactions, or runs into insurance or refill limits.

1

Take Imitrex as early as possible in an attack.
“I’ve learned that Imitrex works much better for me when I take it right at the start of a migraine. If I wait too long hoping it will pass, the pain usually becomes much harder to control.”
2

Keep track of side effects and reactions.
“I’m allergic to Imitrex. The only time I took it, my throat got so swollen that I ended up in the hospital until I could breathe again.”
3

Talk to your doctor if you need it often.
“You could be having rebound migraines if you’re taking Imitrex daily.”

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Imitrex Side Effects

In clinical studies of Imitrex tablets for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults, the most common side effects occurred in about 2 percent to 8 percent of people. These include:

Paresthesia (tingling or “pins-and-needles” feelings)
Warm or cold sensations
Pain, pressure, tightness, or heaviness sensations, including in areas other than the chest
Chest pain, tightness, pressure, and/or heaviness
Pain, tightness, or pressure in the neck, throat, and/or jaw
Vertigo (a spinning sensation)
Malaise (feeling unwell) or fatigue (unusually tired)

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Imitrex can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, and Prinzmetal’s angina — Heart problems, including heart attack and coronary artery spasm, can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of a heart attack.
Arrhythmias — Serious heart rhythm problems can cause a fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden collapse.
Chest, throat, neck, and/or jaw pain, tightness, pressure, or heaviness — These symptoms can occur after taking Imitrex and may need medical evaluation.
Cerebrovascular events — Stroke or other blood flow problems in the brain can cause weakness, trouble speaking, or severe sudden headache.
Vasospasm — Blood vessel spasms in other parts of the body can reduce blood flow to the arms, legs, stomach, intestines, or other organs.
Medication overuse headache — Headaches can get worse from using acute migraine medicines too often.
Serotonin syndrome — This dangerous reaction can cause agitation, confusion, sweating, fast heartbeat, fever, muscle stiffness, or shaking, especially with certain antidepressants.
Increased blood pressure — Blood pressure may rise sharply in rare cases.
Severe allergic reactions — Anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reactions can cause swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, or hives.
Seizures — Convulsions can occur.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

What To Know Before Taking Imitrex

Before starting Imitrex, your doctor may check your heart if you are new to triptan medicines and have several risk factors for heart disease. These can include older age, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, or a strong family history of coronary artery disease. Older adults with these risk factors may also need a heart evaluation before taking Imitrex.

Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to sumatriptan or any ingredients in Imitrex.

Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take antidepressants, which can cause serious side effects.

Before you take Imitrex, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

Have high blood pressure
Have high cholesterol
Have diabetes
Smoke
Are overweight
Have heart problems or a family history of heart problems or stroke
Have kidney problems
Have liver problems
Have had epilepsy or seizures
Are not using effective birth control

Do not take Imitrex if you have:

Ischemic heart disease or coronary artery spasm, including Prinzmetal’s angina
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or certain abnormal heart rhythm disorders
A history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Hemiplegic or basilar migraine
Peripheral vascular disease
Ischemic bowel disease
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Severe liver problems
Taken an ergot medicine or another triptan within the last 24 hours
Taken a monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitor within the last two weeks

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Imitrex, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits. To reduce infant exposure, avoid breastfeeding for 12 hours after taking Imitrex.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Imitrex?

In three clinical studies of adults treating a migraine attack, 50 percent to 62 percent of people taking Imitrex tablets had their headache improve from moderate or severe pain to mild or no pain within two hours. In comparison, 17 percent to 27 percent of people taking placebo (an inactive treatment) had the same level of relief.

By four hours, 68 percent to 79 percent of people taking 50-milligram or 100-milligram tablets had headache relief, compared with 19 percent to 38 percent of people taking placebo. Clinical studies also showed that 100-milligram doses may not work better than 50-milligram doses.

How long does Imitrex take to work for migraine?

In clinical studies, migraine relief was measured for up to four hours after taking Imitrex. More people taking Imitrex had headache relief at two hours and four hours compared with people taking placebo.

If your migraine has not gone away two hours after taking a tablet, or if it comes back after getting better for a short time, a second dose may be taken at least two hours after the first dose.

Can Imitrex be used with other medicines for migraine?

Some medicines should not be used with Imitrex. Do not take Imitrex within 24 hours of another triptan medicine or an ergot-containing medicine. Imitrex also should not be used with an MAO-A inhibitor or within two weeks after stopping one.

Serotonin syndrome has also been reported when triptans are used with certain antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).