Sumatriptan 50 mg

What is Sumatriptan 50 mg?

Sumatriptan 50 mg is used to treat the signs and symptoms of migraine headaches (intense, excruciating headaches that can come with nausea or sensitivity to light and sound). The drug belongs to a group of drugs known as selective serotonin receptor agonists. 

It functions by constricting blood vessels in the head, inhibiting the release of some naturally occurring compounds that trigger pain, nausea, and other migraine symptoms, and preventing pain signals from being delivered to the brain. it does not lessen the frequency of headaches or stop migraine attacks.

How does Sumatriptan 50 mg help in the treatment of migraines?

How to take Sumatriptan 50 mg?

• Sumatriptan 50 mg is available as a tablet to be swallowed. 

• It is typically given as soon as a migraine headache appears. 

• Take a second tablet if necessary if your symptoms subside after taking it but return in two hours or more. 

• However, do not take the second pill of Suminat without first calling your doctor if your symptoms do not get better after taking the first one. 

• The maximum number of pills you can take in a day will be specified by your doctor.

• Consult your physician to explain any instructions on your medication label that you do not understand, and carefully follow them. 

• Follow the medication's directions precisely. 

• Never take it in larger or smaller amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Preventive Measures:

Drug interactions:

Incorporate these or any of the following: 

• acetaminophen (Tylenol); 

• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil); 

• aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); 

• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, in Symbyax), fluvoxamine, paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft); and 

• selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta), sibutramine (Meridia), and venlafaxine (Effexor).

What side effects can this medication, Sumatriptan 50 mg, cause?

• Flushing
• Tingling feeling
• Feeling warm or cold
• Drowsiness
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Upset stomach
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Muscle cramps

• Pain, tightness, pressure, or heaviness in the chest, throat, neck, and/or jaw
• Slow or difficult speech
• Faintness
• Breaking out in a cold sweat
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
• Sudden or severe stomach pain
• Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• Bloody diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Sudden or severe stomach pain
• Sudden weight loss
• Paleness or blue colour of the fingers and toes
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Redness, swelling, or itching of the eyes, face, lips, or throat
• Rash
• Hives
• Change in vision
• Seizures.

How to manage the side effects of Sumatriptan 50 mg?

1. Nausea or vomiting:

• These adverse effects may be brought on by the migraine itself. 
• If you feel like eating, opt for basic meals rather than fatty or spicy fare. 
• To prevent dehydration while ill, try drinking tiny, regular sips of water. 
• Dehydration symptoms include having black, pungent urine or urinating less frequently than normal.

2. Feeling lightheaded, unstable on your feet, or tired:

• If you start to feel lightheaded, lie down to prevent fainting before sitting down until you feel better. 
• If you feel a little woozy or wobbly, don't drive or use any machinery.

03. Your face turns red when you're hot or cold; if this bothers you or persists, consult a doctor.

04. If you have throat or nasal burning or irritation, it usually passes quickly.

05. Nosebleeds: 

• These often stop after a short period of time. 
• If the bleeding does not stop within 10 to 15 minutes, get immediate medical attention, especially if you are using a blood-thinning medication like warfarin or rivaroxaban, and have haemophilia.
• Or you have any other condition that prevents your blood from clotting normally.

06. If you have a foul aftertaste, consider chewing sugar-free gum.

07. Where you gave yourself the injection, you may experience slight bruising or swelling that will subside in 1 to 3 days. If it worsens, becomes painful or inflamed, or persists for more than a few days, consult a doctor.

08. It may bleed where you administered the injection to yourself, but this should not persist for long. If the bleeding does not stop within 10 to 15 minutes, get immediate medical attention, especially if you are using a blood-thinning medication like warfarin or rivaroxaban, have haemophilia, or have any other condition that prevents your blood from clotting normally.

Reference:https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-7741/sumatriptan-oral/details

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/sumatriptan-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20074356

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470206/

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sumatriptan/how-and-when-to-take-or-use-sumatriptan/