Triptans for migraine

To relieve your migraine as soon as possible, use this medicine as soon as the headache pain begins. Even if you get warning signals of a coming migraine (an aura), you should wait until the headache pain starts before using sumatriptan. Ask your doctor ahead of time about any other medicine you might take if sumatriptan does not work. After you use the other medicine, check with your doctor as soon as possible. Headaches that are not relieved by sumatriptan are sometimes caused by conditions that need other treatment. If you feel much better after a dose of sumatriptan, but your headache comes back or gets worse after a while, wait at least 2 hours before taking another dose. However, use this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, and do not use it more often, than directed. Using too much sumatriptan may increase the chance of side effects. Do not take more than 200 mg in 24 hours. Swallow the tablet whole with water or other liquids. Do not crush, break, or chew it. You may take the tablet with or without food. This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. Dosing The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The...

Triptans: Quick Look Use Treat moderate-to-severe migraines when they start (acute treatment); typically a first-line treatment. Effectiveness Large, high-quality clinical trials prove they work. Migraine-specific? Yes Prescription? Yes Side effects Occasional: Dizziness, chest discomfort, fatigue, sleepiness, and nausea. 1 Triptans may not be suitable for some patients with risk factors for heart disease. 2 Taken how? Triptans come in many forms: oral tablet, dissolving tablet, nasal spray, nasal powder, injection. Drugs in this class Brand Name(s) Generic Name Alsuma, Imitrex, Onzetra, Zembrace, Treximet* sumatriptan Amerge naratriptan Axert almotriptan Frova frovatriptan Maxalt rizatriptan Relpax eletriptan Zomig zolmitriptan Triptans were developed specifically to treat migraine. They have been used since the 1990s. 3 Currently, there are seven approved triptans. 1 “Triptan” is a general term for the whole class of medications. The names of all the generic drugs in this class end in “triptan.” Given the long history of use, triptans are well-studied. Health care providers are familiar with their use and side effects. Most triptans are available in generic form. Generics are less expensive than brand-name drugs. 1 Nevertheless, triptans can be costly. Triptans are available as tablets, capsules, quick dissolving tablets, injections, and nasal sprays. This variety gives you options. You and your health care provider can choose treatment based on your migraine pattern, sy...

Learn about how triptans work and who they can help, as well as dosing, side effects, and contraindications. For many patients with migraine, medication can provide relief from acute symptoms or even prevent a full-blown migraine attack. A common medication family for acute treatment of migraine is a triptan. There are many options for triptans, depending on individual symptoms, how the triptan is used and whether there are any contraindications. What are triptans? How do they work? Triptans are a family of drugs used for the Alternatively, your doctor may prescribe one of the triptans marketed as nasal sprays: sumatriptan nasal spray (Tosymra) or zolmitriptan nasal spray (Zomig). Initially, these oral and intranasal triptans were studied in the treatment of migraine of moderate to severe intensity and were superior to placebo in those pivotal trials. But they appear to be more consistently effective when used to treat migraine earlier in the attack when symptoms are still mild to moderate. Who is a good candidate for triptans? Anyone with migraine—and without contraindications—is a good candidate for triptans. Sometimes they are less effective when patients have daily headache. Triptans are not effective for all patients with migraine and will not stop every headache, even in those patients who do benefit from the drugs. If the triptan you have been prescribed is not providing relief, it may make sense to move on and try another. It can also be helpful to combine a tripta...

If you're one of the 37 million Americans who get In some cases, over-the-counter pain relievers may help. But if they don't, your doctor may suggest you try a triptan drug. This kind of medicine can't keep migraine headaches from happening. But it can treat your headache once it starts. Triptans can help with: • Headache pain • • Sensitivity to light and sound Your doctor may give you triptan tablets you'll take by mouth. You also could get it as a nasal spray or shot. Most people feel better within 2 hours of taking it. How Do They Work? Triptan drugs work like a brain chemical called serotonin. This helps quiet down overactive pain nerves. In other words, triptans reverse the changes in your brain that caused your There are seven different triptan medicines plus a combination drug that has a triptan and For example, you can get All triptans work best when they're taken soon after your headache starts and your pain is still mild. Side Effects Most people do well on triptans. But side effects can include: • • • Feeling heavy in your face, arms, legs, and chest • Feeling sleepy • Flushing • Muscle weakness • Nausea • Skin reaction (if you take the triptan as a shot) • Tightness in your throat • Tingling sensations Most of the time, these side effects are mild and go away on their own. In very rare cases, triptans have been linked to Who Shouldn't Take Triptans? These drugs aren't right for people who have certain health conditions. Because they can narrow your arteries, yo...