Zolmitriptan Tablets

Migraine Doctor Service

Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets are used to treat migraine headaches.

Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets contain zolmitriptan and belong to a group of medicines called triptans. It is not a painkiller but you can use this medicine if painkillers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have not worked. 

How Zolmitriptan Works

This medication works to reverse the changes in the brain which induce migraines. It is thought to work by narrowing blood vessels around the brain, stopping pain signals from being sent to the brain, and blocking the release of certain natural substances that cause pain, nausea, and other symptoms of migraine.

• Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets work only when a migraine attack 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.
• Use of Zolmitriptan tablets is not recommended for children under 18 years old
• Use of Zolmitriptan tablets is not recommended for people aged over 65

You can order Zolmitriptan Tablets for migraine 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 Zolmitriptan?

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

How Does Zolmitriptan Work?

Zolmitriptan 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 Zolmitriptan?

The active substance is zolmitriptan

Can I Drink Alcohol With It?

Alcohol does not affect how zolmitriptan works. However, it's best not to drink alcohol during a headache attack. Migraines and cluster headaches can sometimes be triggered by alcohol.

Does Zolmitriptan Have To Be Taken With Food?

No, Zolmitriptan does not have to be taken with food. Zolmitriptan can take longer to work if it is taken after food. Although it is better to take it on an empty stomach, you can still take it if you have eaten.

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, although not everybody gets them. Some of the symptoms below could be part of the migraine attack itself.

Stop taking Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets and contact your doctor straight away if you notice any of the following:

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

• Allergic reactions including itchy rash (urticaria) and swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue and throat.

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

• Angina (pain in the chest, often brought on by exercise), heart attack or spasm of the blood vessels of the
  heart. The signs include chest pain and shortness of breath.
• Spasm of the blood vessels of the gut, which can cause damage to your gut. The signs include stomach pain or bloody diarrhoea
• Bleeding in the brain (cerebral bleeding) or stroke

Other possible side effects:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
These side effects are usually mild and go away after a short time.

• Abnormal sensations such as tingling in your fingers and toes or skin that is sensitive to touch
• Feeling sleepy, dizzy or warm
• Headache
• Uneven heart beat
• Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
• Stomach pain
• Dry mouth
• Muscle weakness or muscle pain
• Feeling weak
• Heaviness, tightness, pain or pressure in the throat, neck, arms and legs, or chest
• Problems swallowing.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Very fast heart beat
• Slightly higher blood pressure
• Increase in the amount of water you pass (urine) or in how often you need to pass water.

Very rare (may affect 1 in 10,000 people)

• Sudden urgent need to pass water (urine)

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 Zolmitriptan 2.5mg / 5mg Tablets

Other medicines and Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines,
including those medicines obtained without a prescription or if you use any herbal medicines.

In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

Medicines used for migraine

• If you take another type of triptan (such as sumatriptan or naratriptan) which is different from this medicine, leave 24 hours before taking Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets.
• After taking Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets, leave 24 hours before taking another type of triptan.
• If you take medicines that contain ergotamine or ergot-type medicines (such as dihydroergotamine or methysergide), leave 24 hours before taking Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets.
• After taking Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets, leave 6 hours before taking ergotamine or ergot-type medicines.

Medicines used for depression

• Mono-amine Oxidase Inhibitors, (also known as MAOIs) such as moclobemide.
• Medicines called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, fluvoxamine or sertraline
• Medicines called SNRIs (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) such as venlafaxine, duloxetine

Other medicines

• Cimetidine (for indigestion or stomach ulcers)
• A quinolone antibiotic (such as ciprofloxacin)

If you are using herbal remedies containing St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) at the same time as this medicine, potential side effects of Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets may occur. Stop taking this medicine and let your doctor know.

Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets with food and drink

You can take Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets with or without food. It does not affect the way that Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets work.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Pregnancy
It is not known if taking zolmitriptan tablets during pregnancy is harmful. Before taking zolmitriptan tablets,
tell your doctor if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
Breastfeeding
The active substance in your medicine may pass into your breast milk. To minimise the risk of exposing your
baby to your medicine you should not breastfeed for 24 hours after taking zolmitriptan.

Driving and using machines

• During a migraine attack your reactions may be slower than usual. Take precaution when driving or using
  any tools or machines that require
• concentration.
• Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets are unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use tools or machines. However, it may make you feel sleepy. Wait to see how Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets affect you before you perform these activities.

Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets contains Lactose

Zolmitriptan 2.5 mg/5 mg Film-coated Tablets contain lactose which is a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you cannot tolerate or digest some sugars (have an intolerance to some sugars), talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.

How to store Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets

• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP: The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
• Do not 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 to protect the environment.

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

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

You can take Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets as soon as a migraine headache starts. You can also take it once an attack is underway.

Adults (aged 18 to 65 years):

• The recommended dose is one tablet, 2.5 mg or 5 mg.
• You can take a second tablet if the migraine is still present after two hours or if it returns within 24 hours.
• If the tablet did not relieve your migraine, tell your doctor. Your doctor may change your treatment.

Do not use more than the dose prescribed for you.

• Do not use more than two doses in one day unless prescribed to you by your doctor.
• The maximum daily dose is 10 mg.

Elderly (over 65 years):
Zolmitriptan is not recommended for older adults over the age of 65 years.

Children (below 18 years):
Zolmitriptan is not recommended for use in children and adolescents aged under 18 years.

Directions:

• Oral use only.
• 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 Zolmitriptan tablets is too strong or weak, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets than you should

• If you have taken more Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets than prescribed by your doctor, tell your doctor or go to the nearest hospital straight away. Take the Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets medicine with you.

If you forget to take Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets

• Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.

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

Do not take Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets

• If you are allergic to zolmitriptan or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
• If you have high blood pressure.
• If you have, or previously had heart problems, including a heart attack, angina (chest pain caused by exercise or effort), Prinzmetal's angina (a chest pain which occurs at rest) or have experienced heart related symptoms such as shortness of breath or pressure in the chest.
• If you have or previously had a stroke or short-lasting symptoms similar to a stroke (transient ischaemic attack or TIA).
• If you are at the same time taking some other medicines for your migraine (e.g. ergotamine or ergot-type medicines like dihydroergotamine and methysergide) or other triptan medicines for migraine. 

Do not take Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets if any of the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to
your doctor or pharmacist before taking Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets.

Let your doctor know if:

• you are at risk of getting ischaemic heart disease (poor blood flow in the arteries of the heart).Your risk is greater if you smoke, have high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol, diabetes or if anyone in your family has ischaemic heart disease.
• you have been told that you have Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (a type of abnormal heart beat).
• you have or previously had liver problems.
• you have headaches which are not like your usual migraine headache.
• you are taking other medicines for the treatment of depression.
• you are at the same time taking herbal medicines which contain St John's Wort (this is used for treating depression).
• you go into hospital, please ensure you tell the medical staff that you are taking Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets.

As with other migraine treatments, taking too much Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets can cause daily headaches or can make your migraine headaches worse.

Let your doctor know if you think this applies to you, as you may need to stop taking Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets to correct the problem.

What Zolmitriptan Tablets contains

The active substance is zolmitriptan.

The other ingredients are:

Tablet core: Lactose anhydrous, Cellulose microcrystalline, Sodium Starch Glycolate type A, Magnesium Stearate.
Tablet coat: Hypromellose, Titanium dioxide (E 171), Macrogol 400, Macrogol 8000, Iron Oxide Yellow (E 172).

What Zolmitriptan Film-coated Tablets looks like and contents of the pack

Zolmitriptan 2.5 mg Film-coated Tablets are yellow coloured, round, biconvex Film-coated tablets debossed with 497 on one side and deep break line on other side (diameter approximately: 7 mm). The tablet can be divided into equal halves.

Zolmitriptan 2.5 mg Film-coated Tablets are available in blisters of 3, 6,12 tablets.

Zolmitriptan 5 mg Film-coated Tablets are pink coloured, round, biconvex Film-coated tablets debossed with 498 on one side and plain on other side (diameter approximately: 8.5 mm).

Zolmitriptan 5 mg Film-coated Tablets are available in blisters of 3, 6,12 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.