Imigran Tablets 50MG (6)

Migraine Doctor Service

Each Imigran capsule-shaped tablet contains a single dose of sumatriptan. Sumatriptan is a medication used to treat migraine symptoms. It does not prevent these conditions.

This formula belongs to a group of medicines called triptans, or serotonin (5-HT1) agonists. It is not a painkiller but you can use this medicine if painkillers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have not worked. 

How Imigran Works

This medication works to reverse the changes in the brain which induce migraines. It is thought to work by causing a narrowing of the blood vessels on the brain, which can swell during a migraine.  Imigran is believed to reduce the widening of these blood vessels. This in turn helps to take away the headache and relieve other symptoms of a migraine attack, such as feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
and sensitivity to light and sound.

• You take Imigran once a migraine has started. Take your first dose as soon as the pain starts.
• Do not take it at the warning stage, before your migraine starts. This is when some people get symptoms of "aura".
• If used quickly, it can help alleviate the symptoms before they come on and many people find it much more effective than painkillers.
• The tablets usually work within 30 to 60 minutes.
• Use of Sumatriptan tablets is not recommended for children under 18 years old
• Use of Sumatriptan tablets is not recommended for people aged over 65

You can order Imigran online from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. To see if you are suitable for this treatment, complete the online assessment and checkout. Our UK registered doctors will review the order and after approval pass the prescription to the Pharmacy team. We will then dispense and dispatch your order to your chosen address.

Migraine

A migraine is usually a moderate or severe headache felt as a throbbing pain on 1 side of the head. Many people also have symptoms such as feeling sick, being sick and increased sensitivity to light or sound. 

Migraine is a common health condition, affecting around 1 in every 5 women and around 1 in every 15 men. They usually begin in early adulthood. There are several types of migraine, including:

• Migraine with "aura" – where there are specific warning signs just before the migraine begins, such as seeing flashing lights.
• Migraine without aura – the most common type, where the migraine happens without the specific warning signs.
• Migraine aura without headache, also known as silent migraine – where an aura or other migraine symptoms are experienced, but a headache does not develop.

Some people have migraines frequently, up to several times a week. Other people only have a migraine occasionally. It's possible for years to pass between migraine attacks.

A good self care guide and information for migraine is available on the NHS website.

NHS - Migraine

What is Imigran?
Imigran is a prescription medication used in the treatment of diagnosed migraines. It helps relieve many of the symptoms associated with migraine attacks.

How Does Imigran Work?
Imigran works by reducing the widening of the blood vessels in the brain in turn which takes away the migraine and any associated symptoms.

What Is The Ingredient In Imigran?
The active ingredient in Imigran is Sumatriptan.

When Should I Take Imigran?
Imigran is taken as soon as you feel a migraine coming on or are having a migraine it is NOT taken as a preventative measure. If one tablet is taken and is not found to be effective you can take another as long as you leave a 2 hour gap between tablets.

Does Imigran Have To Be Taken With Food?
No, Imigran does not have to be taken with food.

Can lifestyle changes help?

There are steps you can take to help prevent severe headaches. This includes working out what things trigger an attack so you can avoid them. Keeping a migraine diary can help.

If you smoke, it's a good idea to quit. People who smoke seem to have a higher risk of getting cluster headaches. Eating a healthy, balanced diet and avoiding trigger foods or drinks can also help.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, but not everybody gets them.
Some symptoms may be caused by the migraine itself.

Allergic reaction: get doctor’s help straight away The following side effects have occurred but their exact frequency is not known.

The signs of allergy include rash, hives (itchy rash); wheezing; swollen eyelids, face or lips; complete collapse.
If you get any of these symptoms soon after using Imigran:

• Don’t use it any more. Contact a doctor straight away.

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. In a very small number of people these symptoms can be caused by a heart attack.

Other common side effects include:

• Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting), although this may be due to the migraine itself
• Tiredness or drowsiness
• Dizziness, feeling weak, or getting hot flushes
• Temporary increase in blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Aching muscles.

For a full list of side effects, please read the Patient Information Leaflet.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, our Rightdose pharmacists or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can help to make medicines safer by reporting any side-effects to the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org.uk, or by contacting us. 

Patient Information Leaflet Imigran 50mg Tablets / Imigran 100mg Tablets

Other medicines and Imigran
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes any herbal products or medicines you’ve bought without a prescription.

Some medicines must not be taken with Imigran and others may cause adverse effects if they’re taken with Imigran. You must tell your doctor if you are taking:

• Ergotamine is also used to treat migraine, or similar medicines such as methysergide. Don’t use Imigran at the same time as these medicines. Stop taking these medicines at least 24 hours before using Imigran. Don’t take any medicines which contain ergotamine or compounds similar to ergotamine again for at least 6 hours after using Imigran.
• Other triptans/5-HT1 receptor agonists (such as naratriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan), also used to treat migraines. Don’t use Imigran at the same time as these medicines. Stop taking these medicines at least 24 hours before using Imigran. Don’t take another triptan/5-HT1 receptor agonist again for at least 24 hours after using Imigran.
• MAOIs is used to treat depression. Don’t use Imigran if you have taken these in the last 2 weeks.
• SSRIs and SNRIs used to treat depression. Using Imigran with these medicines can cause serotonin syndrome (a collection of symptoms which can include restlessness, confusion, sweating, hallucinations, increased reflexes, muscle spasms, shivering, increased heartbeat and shaking). Tell your doctor immediately if you are affected in this way.
• St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). Taking herbal remedies that contain St John’s Wort together with Imigran may make side effects more likely.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. There is only limited information about the safety of Imigran for pregnant women, though up till now there is no evidence of any increased risk of birth defects. Your doctor will discuss with you whether or not you should use Imigran while you are pregnant.

Don’t breast-feed your baby for 12 hours after using Imigran. If you express any breast milk during this time, discard the milk and don’t give it to your baby.

Driving and using machines
Either the symptoms of migraine or your medicine may make you drowsy. If you are affected, don’t drive or operate machinery.

Imigran contains

• Lactose: If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
• Sodium: This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

How to store Imigran

• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date shown on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last
  day of that month.
• Store below 30°C.
• Don’t throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

When to take Imigran

It’s best to take Imigran as soon as you feel a migraine coming on, although - you can take it at any time during an attack. Don’t use Imigran to try to prevent an attack - only use it after your migraine symptoms start.

Directions:

Swallow the tablet whole with water. Preferably take it as soon as possible after starting a migraine attack. Do not chew or crush the tablets. If you experience that the effect of Sumatriptan tablets is too strong or weak, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Adults (aged 18 to 65 years):

The usual dose for adults aged 18 to 65 is one Imigran 50 mg tablet, swallowed whole with water. Some patients may need a 100 mg dose - you should follow your doctor’s advice.

Children (under 18 years):

• Imigran is not recommended for children under 18 years old.

Elderly (aged over 65):

• Imigran is not recommended for people aged over 65.

If your symptoms start to come back

You can take a second Imigran tablet if at least 2 hours have passed since the first tablet. Don’t take more than 300 mg in total in 24 hours.

If the first tablet has no effect

• Don’t take a second dose or any other Imigran preparation for the same attack.
• Imigran can still be used for your next attack.
• If Imigran doesn’t give you any relief, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

If you take more Imigran than you should

• Don’t take more than six 50 mg tablets or three 100 mg tablets (300 mg in total) in any 24 hours. Taking too much Imigran could make you ill. If you have taken more than 300 mg in 24 hours: Contact your doctor for advice.

If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not use Imigran:

• If you’re allergic to sumatriptan, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine 
• If you have a heart problem such as narrowing of the arteries (Ischaemic heart disease) or chest pains (angina), or have already had a heart attack
• If you have circulation problems in your legs that cause cramp-like pains when you walk (peripheral vascular disease)
• If you have had a stroke or a mini-stroke (also called a transient ischaemic attack or TIA)
• If you have high blood pressure. You may be able to use Imigran if your high blood pressure is mild and is being treated
• If you have serious liver disease
• With other migraine medicines, including those which contain ergotamine, or similar medicines such as methysergide maleate; or any triptan or 5HT1 agonist (such as naratriptan or zolmitriptan)
• With any of the following antidepressants:
  • MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) or if you have taken an MAOI in the last 2 weeks

Imigran is not recommended for children under 18 years old.

If any of these apply to you, tell your doctor, and don’t use Imigran tablets. If you have any extra risk factors:

• If you are a heavy smoker, or using nicotine replacement therapy, and especially.
• If you are a man aged over 40.
• If you are a woman who has been through the menopause.

In very rare cases, people have developed serious heart conditions after using Imigran, even though they had no signs of heart disease before. If any of the points above applies to you it could mean you have a greater risk of developing heart disease - so:

• Tell your doctor so that your heart function can be checked before Imigran is prescribed for you. If you have a history of fits (seizures).
• Tell your doctor if you have other conditions which might make it more likely that you’ll have a fit - for example, a head injury or alcoholism.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist before using Imigran:

• If you have had high blood pressure Imigran may not be suitable for you.
  If you have liver or kidney disease.
• If you have an intolerance to some sugars
• If you are allergic to antibiotics called sulphonamides. If so, you may also be allergic to Imigran.
• If you are taking antidepressants called SSRIs.
• If you use Imigran frequently.

What Imigran contains

The active substance is sumatriptan

The other ingredients in the tablets are lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, methylhydroxypropylcellulose (E464) and titanium dioxide (E171).

The tablet also contains lactose, triacetin and iron oxide (E172).

What Imigran looks like and contents of the pack

Imigran 50 mg tablets are pink and capsule-shaped. Imigran 100 mg tablets are white and capsule-shaped.

They are available in a blister pack containing 6 tablets.