Imitrex is not intended to treat common headaches such as those caused from tension. Also, you should not take this medication to treat headaches that are different than the usual migraines that you experience or that cause you to lose movement on either side of the body. You should only take this medication if your doctor has diagnosed you as having migraine headaches.
Imitrex - an overview
Imitrex - also called sumatriptan succinate - is a medicine that your doctor may prescribe for the treatment of your migraine headaches. Imitrex is not helpful in preventing migraines, but it does help to ease the pain of those that you already have. The injection of this medication has also been approved to treat acute cluster headaches.
The Imitrex Manufacturer
GlaxoSmithKline is the maker of Imitrex.
What it does
Imitrex belongs to the family of migraine drugs known as 5-HT agonists. When you have a migraine, some of your blood vessels in your head become larger than they usually. Imitrex helps these blood vessels to narrow and get back to their normal size as a way to ease the symptoms of your migraines.
Performance
One study found that 52 to 62% of those that had migraines experienced only mild or no pain within a period of two hours of being treated with Imitrex tablets, as compared to 27% that were not treated with the medication. In four hours, up to 79% of those that had taken the drug notice relief of their migraine symptoms, as compared to only 38% of those who were not treated with it. Studies of Imitrex injection and Imitrex nasal spray showed similar results.
Imitrex Side Issues
When you take any medications, there is always the potential to experience secondary issues. Not all that are treated with Imitrex will notice them, though because it is generally handled well. If you do notice any issues, they are most often mild and will likely not need to be treated at all.
Most of the commonly reported issues with this medication may include:
- Dizziness
- Cold or warm feelings
- Feelings of tightness, heaviness or pressure
- Tingling
- Discomfort in the chest
- Flushing
Imitrex injections may also include the side effects of swelling, redness or pain at the site of injection. Imitrex nasal spray includes the potential for bad flavor in the mouth and nasal discomfort.