Is Imitrex Safe ?

USES: treatment of migraine headaches

Imitrex is used for the short term treatment of most types of migraine attacks in adults. Imitrex is not used to prevent migraines, or to decrease the number of migraine attacks. Imitrex has not been shown to treat cluster headaches.

Side Effects of Imitrex

Some signs of rare but serious side effects include:

• Possible life-threatening serotonin syndrome when used with SSRI or SNRI medicines.
• Pain, pressure or tightness in the chest or throat. If severe, or does not go away, call your healthcare professional right away. If this happens at all, discuss with your healthcare professional before taking any more Imitrex.
• Rarely, people have a serious allergic reaction to Imitrex. This could cause shortness of breath, wheeziness, heart throbbing, swelling of eyelids, face, or lips, or a skin rash, lumps or hives. If this happens, tell your healthcare professional right away.

Other side effects may include:

• dizziness
• tiredness
• tingling
• flushing (hot flashes)

Who Should Not Take Imitrex

You should not take Imitrex if you have (or have had) any of following conditions:

• uncontrolled high blood pressure
• heart disease or a history of heart disease
• hemiplegic or basilar migraine (if you are not sure about this, ask your healthcare professional)
• stroke
• have circulation (blood flow) problems to your arms, legs, and bowels
• have taken another migraine medicine in the same drug class as Imitrex or other migraine medicines that contain ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, or methylsergide in the last 24 hours (ask your healthcare professional for a list of these medicines if you are unsure)
• take a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor medicine or have taken a MAO inhibitor in the past 2 weeks
• severe liver disease

Interactions with Imitrex

Imitrex and certain other medicines can interact with each other. Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may affect how Imitrex works or Imitrex may affect how your other medicines work. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your healthcare professional.

Especially tell your healthcare professional if you:

• take a SSRI or SNRI medicine
• have taken another migraine medicine in the same drug class as Imitrex or other migraine medicines that contain ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, or methylsergide in the last 24 hours
• are taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor medicine or have taken a MAO inhibitor in the past 2 weeks