Precautions and Warnings With Sumatriptan

A few precautions and warnings with sumatriptan include potential drug interactions, the risk of an increase in blood pressure or a heart attack in some people taking sumatriptan, and the safety of taking the drug while pregnant or nursing. Also, there are some conditions that you should let your healthcare provider know about before taking sumatriptan, such as diabetes, depression, and high cholesterol. Among the people who should not take sumatriptan are those with untreated high blood pressure or severe liver problems.

Sumatriptan (Imitrex)

Sumatriptan: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

Prior to taking sumatriptan succinate (Imitrex^®), you should tell your healthcare provider if you have:

Heart problems of any kind, especially a history of heart disease, angina, an irregular heart rhythm, or a heart attack
A history of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA or "mini-stroke"), or other bleeding in the brain (such as a subarachnoid hemorrhage)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Certain blood vessel conditions, such as peripheral vascular disease, ischemic bowel disease, or Raynaud's phenomenon
Kidney problems, including kidney failure (renal failure)
Liver problems, including liver failure or cirrhosis
A history of seizures
Epilepsy
Depression
Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.

Also let your healthcare provider know if you:

Are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
Are breastfeeding
Smoke
Have a family history of heart disease
Have gone through menopause.

Also, tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

(Precautions and Warnings With Sumatriptan Continued: Page 2)