Zomig (zolmitriptan) for Migraines: Side Effects, Dosage, Generic (original) (raw)

• What is zolmitriptan, and how does it work (mechanism of action)?
• What are the uses of zolmitriptan?
• What are the side effects of zolmitriptan?
• What is the dosage for zolmitriptan?
• Which drugs or supplements interact with zolmitriptan?
• Is zolmitriptan safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
• What else should I know about zolmitriptan?

What is zolmitriptan, and how does it work (mechanism of action)?

Zolmitriptan is a drug for treating migraine headaches. Migraine headaches are believed to result from dilation of the blood vessels in the brain. Zolmitriptan causes constriction of the blood vessels and thereby relieves the pain of a migraine headache. While zolmitriptan is very effective in relieving migraine headaches, it does not prevent or reduce the number of headaches if taken prophylactically. Its mechanism of action and effectiveness are similar to those of sumatriptan (Imitrex). Zolmitriptan was approved by the FDA in November of 1997.

What brand names are available for zolmitriptan?

Zomig, Zomig-ZMT

Is zolmitriptan available as a generic drug?

GENERIC AVAILABLE: No

Do I need a prescription for zolmitriptan?

Yes

What are the uses of zolmitriptan?

Zolmitriptan is used for the treatment of migraines.

What are the side effects of zolmitriptan?

Side effects are generally transient. Some common side effects include:

• pain or tightness in the chest or throat,
• tingling sensations,
• flushing,
• weakness,
• dizziness,
• abdominal discomfort, and
• sweating.

Rarely, allergic reactions (even shock) have been reported though usually in individuals who are highly allergic to many substances.

What is the dosage for zolmitriptan?

Dosing: The initial dose is 2.5 mg or less. The dose can be repeated after 2 hours if symptoms persist. The maximum dose is 10 mg per day. Doses less than 2.5 mg can be achieved by splitting the 2.5 mg tablet. Zolmitriptan may be taken with or without food.

QUESTION Who suffers more frequently from migraine headaches? See Answer

Which drugs or supplements interact with zolmitriptan?

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, for example, isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and procarbazine (Matulane)) may exaggerate the effects of zolmitriptan.

Zolmitriptan directly stimulates serotonin receptors on nerves. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that are used for treating depression, for example, fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft), enhance the effects of serotonin by preventing its uptake by nerves. Therefore, the combination of zolmitriptan and an SSRI may lead to exaggerated effects of serotonin, and has been reported to cause weakness, increased reflexes, and loss of coordination.

Ergots, like dihydroergotamine (DHE) and ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot) that often are used to treat migraine headaches, can cause blood vessels to go into spasm. It is possible that the combination of ergots and zolmitriptan will result in exaggerated spasm of the vessels. Therefore, it is not recommended that zolmitriptan and ergots be used within 24 hours of each other.

Cimetidine (Tagamet) may double the concentration of zolmitriptan in the blood by interfering with its elimination. Potentially, this may lead to zolmitriptan toxicity.

Is zolmitriptan safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?

Safe use in pregnancy has not been established.

Safe use in nursing mothers has not been established.

What else should I know about zolmitriptan?

What preparations of zolmitriptan are available?

Tablet: 2.5 and 5 mg. Tablet (orally disintegrating): 2.5 and 5 mg.

How should I keep zolmitriptan stored?

Zolmitriptan should be stored at room temperature, away from heat and light. It should be kept out of the reach of children.

Health News

Summary

Zolmitriptan (Zomig, Zomig-ZMT) is a drug prescribed for the treatment of migraine headaches. Review side effects, drug interactions, pregnancy information, dosage, and patient information prior to taking any medication.

Related Disease Conditions

• Migraine Headache Migraine headache is a type of headache associated with a sensitivity to light, smells, or sounds, eye pain, severe pounding on one side of the head, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. The exact cause of migraine headaches is not known. Triggers for migraine headaches include certain foods, stress, hormonal changes, strong stimuli (loud noises), and oversleeping. Treatment guidelines for migraines include medicine, pain management, diet changes, avoiding foods that trigger migraines, staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, and exercising regularly. Prevention of migraine triggers include getting regular exercise, drinking water daily, reducing stress, and avoiding trigger foods.
• Headache Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.
• Pain Management The goal of pain management for each patient is to minimize suffering and improve quality of life. This goal may be different depending on the patient’s circumstances and disease or injury.
• Cluster Headaches Cluster headaches are a type of headache that recurs over a period. Episodes can last one to three times a day during this time, which may last from 2 weeks to 3 months. The three main types of treatments for cluster headaches are, 1) Abortive medications that work to stop the process in the brain that causes migraines and stops the symptoms too. 2) Preventive prescription medications or 3) surgery that involves blocking the trigeminal nerve.

Treatment & Diagnosis

Medications & Supplements

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

References

FDA Prescribing Information