Description
Migraine symptoms are thought to be caused by the temporary widening (dilation) of blood vessels in the brain and changes in nerve activity. This can lead to:
- Throbbing head pain (often one-sided)
- Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
- Sensitivity to light and sound
Sumatriptan is a selective serotonin (5-HT₁B/1D) receptor agonist, commonly called a triptan. It works by:
- Narrowing the widened blood vessels in the brain back towards normal
- Reducing the release of inflammatory chemicals from nerves
- Helping to “switch off” migraine pain pathways
This can relieve:
- Headache pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound
Sumatriptan only works once a migraine attack has started. It doesn’t work for other types of headache and isn’t a preventative medicine.
Who it may be suitable for
Sumatriptan tablets may be suitable for:
- Adults aged 18 years and over
- People with a clear diagnosis of migraine (with or without aura) made by a healthcare professional
- Those whose migraines don’t respond well enough to standard painkillers (e.g. paracetamol or ibuprofen)
- People who have been advised that a triptan is appropriate for their migraines
24hr Pharmacy’s online prescribing service is for adults only – if you’re under 18, you should see your GP or a specialist.
When it may not be suitable
You must not take sumatriptan tablets if any of the following apply:
- You are allergic to sumatriptan or any of the tablet ingredients (including lactose)
- You have ever had a:
- Heart attack
- Ischaemic heart disease or angina
- Coronary vasospasm (Prinzmetal’s angina)
- Stroke or TIA (mini-stroke)
- Serious circulation problems in your legs/arms (peripheral vascular disease)
- You have severe liver impairment
- You have moderate or severe high blood pressure, or mild high blood pressure that isn’t well controlled
- You are taking:
-
- Ergotamine or ergot-type migraine medicines (including methysergide)
- Another triptan or 5-HT₁ agonist
- A monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) now, or have taken one in the last 2 weeks
Extra care and medical assessment are needed if you:
- Have risk factors for heart disease (smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, strong family history)
- Are a man over 40 or a post-menopausal woman
- Have mild liver or kidney problems
- Have a history of seizures or a condition that lowers the seizure threshold
- Take certain antidepressants (SSRIs or SNRIs) – small risk of serotonin syndrome
When you complete the online consultation, our prescribers will check your medical history and current medicines to decide if sumatriptan is safe and suitable for you.
Side Effects
Like all medicines, sumatriptan can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Many are short-lived and may relate partly to the migraine itself.
From your current website and the SmPC, common side effects include:
Common / very common:
- Feeling sick or being sick (nausea/vomiting)
- Tiredness or drowsiness
- Dizziness, feeling weak or “washed out”
- Hot flushes or feeling hot/cold
- Temporary increase in blood pressure
- Shortness of breath
- Aching muscles or muscle stiffness
- Heaviness, pressure, tightness or pain in the chest, throat, neck or other parts of the body
- Tingling, numbness or unusual sensations (warmth/cold)
These sensations can be intense but usually pass quickly. If they don’t settle or are severe (especially chest pain), get medical help urgently.
Less common / rare but serious:
- Heart problems, including heart attack or coronary artery spasm
- Serious circulation problems
- Stroke or TIA (mini-stroke)
- Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis (sudden swelling, difficulty breathing, widespread rash)
Call 999 / go to A&E straight away if you notice:
- Heavy, crushing or tightening chest pain
- Pain spreading to the jaw, neck, arm or back
- Sudden shortness of breath, collapse or feeling like you might pass out
Side effects can also be reported directly via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Patient Information Leaflet
Please see HERE for the Patient Information Leaflet
Additional Info
- Active ingredient: sumatriptan (as sumatriptan succinate) – 50mg or 100mg per tablet
- Indication: acute relief of migraine attacks with or without aura – including menstrual migraine – in adults. Not for prevention.
- Form: film-coated tablets, swallowed with water.
- Lactose: tablets contain lactose – not suitable for people with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption.
- Sodium: each tablet is essentially sodium-free.
- Driving and using machines: migraine itself and sumatriptan can cause drowsiness or dizziness. If you feel affected, don’t drive or operate machinery until you feel fully recovered.
- Pregnancy: available data (mainly first trimester) do not show a clear increase in birth defects, but experience later in pregnancy is limited. Sumatriptan should only be used if the expected benefit to the mother clearly outweighs any possible risk.
- Breastfeeding: small amounts pass into breast milk. To minimise exposure to your baby, you may be advised to avoid breastfeeding for 12 hours after a dose and discard any milk expressed in that period.
Sumatriptan is a prescription-only medicine supplied by 24hr Pharmacy after an online migraine consultation and approval by a prescriber. Always read the patient information leaflet before use and keep medicines out of the sight and reach of children.
Directions
Always take sumatriptan exactly as advised by your prescriber and the patient information leaflet in the pack. The guide below follows the current SmPC plus NHS advice.
When to take it
- Take a tablet as soon as the migraine headache phase starts (after any aura has finished).
- It is for acute attacks only – do not take it regularly to prevent migraines.
Usual adult dose
From the SmPC:
- The recommended starting dose is one 50mg tablet swallowed whole with water.
- Some people may need 100mg for better relief – your prescriber will advise.
If symptoms improve but the migraine returns within 24 hours:
- You may take one more tablet (50mg or 100mg – whichever you were prescribed), as long as:
- At least 2 hours have passed since the first dose, and
- You do not exceed 300mg in 24 hours (e.g. six 50mg tablets or three 100mg tablets maximum).
If the first dose doesn’t help at all:
- If there is no improvement whatsoever after the first tablet during a particular attack, do not take another sumatriptan tablet for that same attack.
- Use simple painkillers instead (if suitable) and speak to a clinician.
- You can still try sumatriptan again for future attacks, as some people respond on later occasions.
How to take it
- Swallow the tablet whole with water.
- You can take it with or without food – if taken after food it may work a little more slowly.
Children, teenagers & older adults
- Use in children and adolescents under 18 is not recommended.
- Use in people over 65 years is generally not recommended because of limited safety data.
Missed a dose?
Sumatriptan is taken when needed, so there isn’t a fixed schedule or a typical “missed dose”. However:
- If you delay taking it and your migraine headache is still present, you can still take your prescribed dose (as long as you haven’t already had the maximum for 24 hours).
- If you accidentally take more than the recommended amount, contact a doctor, pharmacist or NHS 111 immediately and take the pack with you. Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fainting or changes in heart rate.
Never take more than 300mg in 24 hours.
FAQs
What is sumatriptan used for?
Sumatriptan tablets are used for the acute treatment of migraine attacks (with or without aura) in adults. They treat the headache and associated symptoms (nausea, light/sound sensitivity) once a migraine has started. They do not prevent migraines.
How quickly does it work and how long does it last?
Many people notice improvement within around 30–60 minutes of taking a tablet, although this varies and can be a bit slower if taken after food. The effect can last several hours, but in some people the migraine may return – a second dose may be taken after at least 2 hours, as long as you don’t exceed the maximum daily dose.
What’s the difference between 50mg and 100mg tablets?
50mg is the usual starting dose recommended in the SmPC and NHS guidance. Some people need 100mg for better relief in more severe attacks.The maximum in 24 hours is 300mg (e.g. six 50mg or three 100mg tablets).
Can I take sumatriptan with other migraine medicines?
You can usually also use: simple painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen at other times (if suitable for you). You must not take sumatriptan at the same time as: another triptan, ergotamine or ergot-type migraine medicines (including methysergide) or, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or within 2 weeks of stopping one. Extra care is needed if you’re on certain antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs) due to the small risk of serotonin syndrome – always list all medicines in your consultation.
What if sumatriptan doesn’t work for me?
If you get no relief at all from your first dose during an attack, don’t take another sumatriptan tablet for that attack. Use other pain relief if appropriate and speak to a clinician – your diagnosis or treatment plan may need review. You may still respond to sumatriptan in future attacks, so one non-response doesn’t automatically mean it will never work.
Can I use sumatriptan if I have heart problems or high blood pressure?
Sumatriptan is not suitable for many people with: Heart disease, previous heart attack or angina, stroke/TIA or moderate or severe high blood pressure, or uncontrolled mild hypertension. Even if you only have risk factors (like smoking or diabetes), a cardiovascular assessment may be needed before a triptan is prescribed. Always give full, accurate details in your assessment.
Will sumatriptan make me sleepy? Can I drive?
Sumatriptan and migraine itself can cause drowsiness, dizziness or weakness. If you feel sleepy, light-headed or “not quite yourself”, don’t drive, cycle or use machinery until you feel fully back to normal.
What if I’m needing sumatriptan very often?
Using sumatriptan or other headache medicines too frequently can lead to medication-overuse headaches, where headaches become more frequent or chronic. If you find you’re using sumatriptan regularly, speak to a GP or specialist about preventative migraine treatments and lifestyle changes.
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