Mayo Clinic Health Manager
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Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Most side effects of sumatriptan are milder and occur less often with the tablets than with the injection. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Stop taking this medicine and get emergency help immediately if any of the following effects occur:
Rare- Chest pain (severe)
- Changes in skin color on face
- Convulsions (seizures)
- Fast or irregular breathing
- Puffiness or swelling of eyelids, area around the eyes, face, or lips
- Shortness of breath, troubled breathing, or wheezing
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common- Chest pain (mild)
- Heaviness, tightness, or pressure in chest and/or neck
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common- Difficulty in swallowing
- Pounding heartbeat
- Skin rash, hives, itching, or bumps on skin
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. Some of the following effects, such as nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, and general feeling of illness or tiredness, often occur during or after a migraine, even when sumatriptan has not been used. Most of the side effects caused by sumatriptan go away within a short time (less than 1 hour after an injection or 2 hours after a tablet). However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
More common- Burning, discharge, pain, and/or soreness in the nose
- Burning, pain, or redness at place of injection
- Change in sense of taste
- Discomfort in jaw, mouth, tongue, throat, nose, or sinuses
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Feeling of burning, warmth, heat, numbness, tightness, or tingling
- Feeling cold, “strange,” or weak
- Flushing
- Lightheadedness
- Muscle aches, cramps, or stiffness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Anxiety
- General feeling of illness or tiredness
- Vision changes
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.