Sumatriptan (Subcutaneous Route)

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Precautions

Check with your doctor if you have used this medicine and have not had good relief. Also, check with your doctor if your migraine or cluster headaches are worse, or if they are occurring more often, than before you started receiving this medicine.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant. Your doctor may want you to join a pregnancy registry for patients using this medicine.

This medicine may increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. This is more likely to occur if you already have a heart disease, if you smoke, if you are over 40, or if you have gone through menopause. People who use this medicine for a long time might also have a higher risk.

You should not receive this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxacid (Marplan®), phenelzine (Nardil®), selegiline (Eldepryl®), or tranylcypromine (Parnate®) within the past two weeks. Do not use this medicine if you have taken other migraine medicines (e.g., almotriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, Axert™, Frova®, Amerge®, Maxalt®, or Zomig®) or an ergotamine medicine (e.g., methysergide, D.H.E. 45®, or Migranal®) within the past 24 hours.

Make sure your doctor knows about all the other medicines you are using. Sumatriptan may cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome when used with some medicines. This especially includes medicines used to treat depression, such as citalopram, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, olanzapine, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, Celexa®, Cymbalta®, Effexor®, Lexapro®, Luvox®, Paxil®, Prozac®, Sarafem®, Symbyax®, or Zoloft®. Check with your doctor first before taking any other medicines.

This medicine may cause a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis requires immediate medical attention. The most serious signs of this reaction are very fast or irregular breathing, gasping for breath, wheezing, or fainting. Other signs may include changes in color of the skin of the face; very fast but irregular heartbeat or pulse; hive-like swellings on the skin; and puffiness or swellings of the eyelids or around the eyes. If these effects occur, get emergency help at once.

Check with your doctor immediately if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after your treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Check with your doctor right away if you have chest discomfort, jaw or neck tightness after receiving this medicine. Also, tell your doctor if you have sudden or severe abdominal or stomach pain after using this medicine.

Drinking alcoholic beverages can make headaches worse or cause new headaches to occur. People who suffer from severe headaches should probably avoid alcoholic beverages, especially during a headache.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. If any of these side effects occur, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert while you are using this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

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