Taken at the first sign of pain, Sumatriptan tablets work quickly to treat the symptoms of a migraine in patients who don’t respond to conventional drugs, like paracetamol.
It’s thought that migraines are caused by the temporary widening of blood vessels in the brain. Sumatriptan is part of a group of medicines known as ‘triptans’ that work by constricting these vessels to minimise swelling and relieve pain.
You might also see them referred to as serotonin receptor (5-HT1) agonists. Other types of migraine tablets are available from this group of medicines, including Rizatriptan (sometimes sold under the brand name Maxalt) and Zolmitriptan (Zomig).
How to take Sumatriptan
The usual dose of Sumatriptan is one 50mg tablet, but some people are prescribed a stronger dose (100mg tablet). It is most effective when it is taken at the first sign of pain, but it can be used at any point during a migraine attack.
Most people start to notice a difference within 30 to 60 minutes of taking the tablet. If the first dose has no effect on your migraine, then do not take a second tablet for the same attack.
If you respond well to the first dose but your symptoms return within 24 hours, then you may take a second dose. You must leave at least two hours between these doses, and you should never take more than 300mg of Sumatriptan in a 24-hour period.
If your symptoms are long-lasting and/or severe, you should seek medical advice.
Sumatriptan 50mg cannot be used to prevent a migraine, so it is most effective when the pain starts and not at the early warning stage when you experience an aura.
An aura is a warning sign that you are about to get a migraine – usually flashes of light or another visual disturbance, but not everyone has this symptom. Sumatriptan is suitable to treat migraines both with and without an aura.
We recommend that you read the patient information leaflet before you start treatment.
More information on Sumatriptan 50mg tablets
An affordable and fast-acting generic medication, sumatriptan offers effective relief for migraine sufferers. It is medically equivalent to Imigran – a branded medication with the same active ingredient, sumatriptan succinate.
The important difference between this form of Triptan medication (known technically as a 5-HT receptor agonist) and standard pain-killing medication often prescribed for headaches or migraines, is that Triptans actively work to reverse the issues in the brain that scientists believe induce a debilitating migraine attack. Triptan migraine pills also alleviate the symptoms of migraines.
Sumatriptan succinate is designed to reverse the temporary widening of blood vessels in the brain during a migraine. The pressure created by these dilating blood vessels is thought to contribute to the onset of migraine attacks.
Sumatriptan tablets serve to stimulate the brain’s serotonin receptors, treating the cause of a migraine and reducing symptoms such as headaches, nausea and sensory sensitivity.
Sumatriptan 50mg tablets or Sumatriptan 100mg
Sumatriptan is suitable for anybody over the age of 18 who is suffering with migraines and has been prescribed the medication by a doctor or qualified pharmacist. It is most usually recommended that patients begin with the lower dose of 50mg. Should this prove ineffective, a clinician may increase this to the 100mg tablets.
The maximum daily dosage of sumatriptan is 300 milligrams, which is typically taken through either six 50mg tablets a day or three 100mg capsules a day. It is important not to exceed more than 300mg of sumatriptan within a 24 hour window, as this can lead to unwanted side effects and is considered dangerous.
Neither 50mg or 100mg sumatriptan migraine tablets are dependent on food, so you can take it with or without meals.
Never mix sumatriptan with another triptan medication such as Imigran or rizatriptan.
When should you take Sumatriptan?
In the event of a migraine, the general advice is to take sumatriptan as soon as symptoms begin to flare up. This is not a preventative medication and so it is not advisable to take these migraine pills before any symptoms have occurred.
If symptoms persist, a second dose can be taken a minimum of two hours following on from your first. If the first tablet has no effect on your symptoms, do not take another dose.
Sumatriptan side effects
As with most prescription medication there are risks of side effects when taking sumatriptan. Around one in ten people may experience adverse effects such as tiredness and drowsiness, nausea, vomiting or dizziness. In rare cases, people also report sensations of heaviness and short term increases in blood pressure (transient).
Other rare side effects include flushing, muscle aches or chest pain. If chest tightness is severe and does not ease quickly, seek urgent medical assistance.
All migraine medication should be taken with care in order to avoid the risk of an overuse headache. If you suffer from migraines which require treatment with sumatriptan more than four times a month, you should consult your GP for advice first.
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Sumatriptan can cause side effects in some people. The most common include:
- Drowsiness, dizziness, and sensory disturbances
- Muscle pain
- Temporary rise in blood pressure straight after taking it and/or flushing
- Feeling weak or tired
- Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
You may feel a sudden and intense pain or tightness in your chest after taking Sumatriptan. It should pass quickly, but if it becomes severe or long-lasting, then you should stop taking the tablets and seek medical attention.
In rare cases, Sumatriptan can cause an allergic reaction. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek urgent medical help:
- Skin rash, such as red spots or hives
- Tightness in the chest or throat
- Trouble breathing or talking
- Wheezing
- Swollen face, lips, tongue, or throat
Sumatriptan should not be taken by anyone under 18 years of age or over 65. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Some medicines should not be taken alongside Sumatriptan, in particular:
- MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitor)
- Drugs containing ergotamine
- SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) anti-depressants
- Other triptan medication
- St John’s Wort
Not everyone is suitable to take Sumatriptan. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- Have had an allergic reaction to a medicine in the past
- Have any symptoms of a heart problem, chest pain, or pressure in the chest
- Have reduced liver or kidney function
- Have a history of fits (seizures)
- Have high blood pressure
In rare cases, Sumatriptan can increase your risk of heart disease. If you are a heavy smoker or use nicotine replacement therapy, especially if you are a man aged over 40, or a woman who has been through the menopause, your doctor may need to check your heart function before you start taking Sumatriptan.
For a full list of side effects and cautions, download the patient information leaflet.
Will Sumatriptan affect my contraception?
Sumatriptan will not affect your contraception. However, the combined pill is not recommended in people who suffer from migraines. Talk to your doctor for further advice on taking hormonal contraception with migraines.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Sumatriptan?
Alcohol does not affect Sumatriptan directly, however it is not recommended to drink whilst taking this medication. In some people, alcohol can be a trigger for migraines and cluster headaches.
Is it safe to drive after taking Sumatriptan?
Sumatriptan and migraines can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and visual disturbances.
You should take this into consideration before you decide to drive, operate machinery, or do anything else which involves concentration. We advise that you wait until the symptoms have passed before you do any of these things.
How effective is Sumatriptan?
The effectiveness of Sumatriptan has been confirmed by medical researchers.
They found that four hours after taking Sumatriptan, 65 to 78% of migraine sufferers achieved relief from their headache, compared with 19% of placebo participants¹.
Is it safe to take for a long time?
Using migraine relief tablets frequently can cause something known as ‘medication overuse headaches’ that could make your attacks worse. If you find yourself needing to use Sumatriptan regularly, then call your doctor to discuss other treatment options.
They may be able to prescribe you with something to prevent your migraines.
Are there any other treatment options?
Sumatriptan also comes as a nasal spray and an injection, which can be used to treat migraines and cluster headaches. If these alternatives are ineffective, then there are other 5-HT1 receptor agonists available:
These drugs work in the same way as Sumatriptan by reducing the swelling of blood vessels in the brain and alleviating the pain of a migraine headache.
You may also be able to take anti-sickness tablets (anti-emetics) to manage your migraine symptoms.
We recommend keeping a diary of your migraine attacks, so you can look for common patterns that might indicate what triggers your attack. With some lifestyle changes you may be able to limit the number of migraines you get.
How do I buy Sumatriptan online?
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Before we dispatch your order, one of our pharmacists will review your completed consultation form to ensure that you are eligible to take Sumatriptan. We only prescribe medication where we believe it is safe to do so.
If you place your order before 4pm on a weekday or 11am on a Saturday, we will dispatch it the same working day. Anything after this will be processed the following working day. Your order will arrive by first class post in unbranded, generic packaging to protect your privacy.
Is it safe to buy medicine online?
Online pharmacies, like Post My Meds, are subject to all the same rules and laws as high-street pharmacies. We are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council and everything we sell is approved by the medicines regulator in the UK (MHRA).
We have over six thousand reviews on Trust Pilot, and we are rated as excellent by our customers. If you have any concerns about buying Sumatriptan online, speak to our pharmacy team who will be able to talk you through the process.
Reference:
- Sargent J, Kirchner JR, Davis R, Kirkhart B, National Library of Medicine [online] Oral sumatriptan is effective and well tolerated for the acute treatment of migraine: results of a multicentre study [updated August 1995; cited 22 September 2021] Available from: https://bit.ly/2XRs2Wu
