Imigran tablets

What is Imigran?

Imigran is a trusted branded medication for the treatment of migraines, including symptoms of aura such as flashing lights and nausea.

It contains the active ingredient sumatriptan. Although the exact mechanism is not known, some of the effects include its actions on the blood vessels in the brain and release of certain chemicals which are responsible for migraines.

Effects are usually seen within 2 hours of taking a tablet.

For adults over 18 years only.

A single tablet should be taken at the onset of migraine. If symptoms return after 2 hours then further dose can be taken.

Further doses should not be taken if there is no improvement after the first dose.
No more than 3 x 100mg or 6 x 50mg tablets can be taken in 24 hours.

Don’t use Imigran:

• If you’re allergic to sumatriptan, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• If you have any heart problem , circulation problems, liver or kidney problem
• If you have had a stroke or a mini-stroke
• If you have high blood pressure.
• If you have had any head injuries

Take special care and talk to your doctor before taking if you are a heavy smoker, or using nicotine replacement therapy, and especially, if you are a man aged over 40, or if you are a woman who has been through the menopause.

Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

This medication can make you drowsy. If affected, do not drive or operate machinery.

Contains lactose and sodium

Common side effects (affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• Pain, heaviness, pressure or tightness in the chest, throat or other parts of the body, or unusual sensations, including numbness, tingling and warmth or cold.

These effects may be intense but generally pass quickly. If these effects continue or become severe (especially the chest pain):  Get medical help urgently.

Other common side effects include:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Tiredness or drowsiness
• Dizziness, feeling weak, or getting hot flushes
• Temporary increase in blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Aching muscles

Refer to the information leaflet for further information

Imigran can interact with the following medication:

• ergotamine also used to treat migraine,
• other triptans/5-HT1 receptor agonists (such as naratriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan)
• MAOIs used to treat depression
• SSRIs and SNRIs used to treat depression
• St John’s Wort

The active substance is sumatriptan (50 mg or 100 mg)

The other ingredients in the tablets are lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, methylhydroxypropylcellulose (E464) and titanium dioxide (E171). The 50 mg tablet also contains lactose, triacetin and iron oxide (E172).

Alternatives to Imigran include

• Other triptans such as rizatriptan or zolmitriptan
• Pain killers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or codeine
• Prochlorperazine (Buccastem) or metoclopramide for sickness
• Migraleve tablets available from a local pharmacy