Description

Imitrex is a trading name of the active ingredient Sumatriptan. This ingredient has been synthesized on the basis of the organic compounds of the natural origin (alkaloids) for the treatment of headache.

For example, Imitrex is used for the treatment of migraine. Medical signs of migraine are prodrome, severe headache, numbness of half of face and/or head. Imitrex may stop a development of migraine, reduce or completely prevent headache.

This medicine does not influence on gag reflex or nausea. But using Imitrex, these symptoms become less intensive, and an outbreak passes faster.

The mechanism of the action of Imitrex consists in removing an edema of the vessels in the brain. A vessel constriction and their edema in the sections of the brain are the main cause of migraine. As soon as a human feels an onset of the migraine, take a tablet of Imitrex, and an episode will drop in 30 minutes.

An efficiency of Imitrex is low in the prevention of migraine. It does not influence on the processes causing edema of the vessels and cannot prevent them. It just defeats the symptoms of migraine at the moment of the outbreak. In spite of this, there are no alternatives to this drug on the pharmaceutical market, therefore Imitrex is considered as “the gold standard” in the treatment of the migraine symptoms.

In what dose is Imitrex used?

Imitrex is produced in tablets for the oral application, in the dose of 25 mg and 50 mg. There is also a nasal spray but it is prescribed patients whose migraine is accompanied by severe vomiting and a tablet is not absorbed from the intestine.

In case of the first signs of migraine, it is necessary to take a tablet of Imitrex 50 mg (or 2 tablets of Imitrex 25 mg). a tablet may be taken with water. Do not take it with soda, grapefruit juice or milk.

The action of the drug will be started in 15-20 minutes, but the maximal effect occurs during the peak of the outbreak – in an hour after the appearance of the first symptoms. Do not take 2 and more tablets of Imitrex during one outbreak. It may lead to the side effects.

Another tablet of Imitrex may be used only if another outbreak started in several hours. The interval between the uses of Imitrex should be at least 6 hours (even if there are often outbreaks). Not more than 300 mg of Imitrex may be used within 24 hours.

Precautions

• Patients at growing age (under 16 years old) and also aged patients (over 65 years old) are not allowed taking Imitrex
• If you had a heart attack or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, the use of Imitrex is contraindicated
• If you have a heart failure or ischemic heart disease, consult a cardiologist before using Imitrex
• Patients with organic impairments of the brain, epilepsy and bad conductivity of the vessels in the brain are not recommended to take Imitrex for the migraine treatment

Side effects

Fatigue, dyspepsia, and skin rash are the most common side effects according to the patients’ reviews. The use of Imitrex is often well tolerated (if the allowed dose is not exceeded). The side effects may grow, if a severe form of migraine goes with it. Some symptoms of migraine may be taken for the side effects of Imitrex.