Sumatriptan (Cont.)

When and How to Take Sumatriptan

Some general considerations for when and how to take sumatriptan include:
 
  • Sumatriptan comes in tablets, a nasal spray, and an injection.
     
  • Sumatriptan should be taken as soon as possible once a migraine starts.
     
  • Swallow sumatriptan tablets whole with a drink of water or other fluids.
     
  • Sumatriptan nasal spray and sumatriptan injection both come with pamphlets that describe exactly how to use them.
     
  • If your headache comes back or does not go away, you can take a second dose of sumatriptan after waiting at least two hours from the time you took your first dose of sumatriptan tablets or nasal spray (or one hour after the first dose of sumatriptan injection). Let your healthcare provider know if sumatriptan does not work completely after one dose.
     
  • For sumatriptan to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Sumatriptan will not work if you stop taking it.
     

Dosing With Sumatriptan

The dose of sumatriptan your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • How you respond to sumatriptan
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be currently taking.
     
As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Sumatriptan Dosing for more information about dosing for sumatriptan.)
 
(Sumatriptan Continued: Page 3)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;