¿What is Imitrex?

Imitrex is a headache medicine. It is believed to work by narrowing the blood vessels around the brain. Imitrex also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms. Imitrex tablets and nasal spray are used to treat migraine headaches. Imitrex will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks. Imitrex may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

¿What is the most important information I should know about Imitrex?

Imitrex can cause serious side effects on the heart, including heart attack or stroke. Although these side effects are rare, do not use this medication if you have a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, ischemic bowel disease, severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure, or history of a heart attack or stroke. Before using Imitrex, tell your doctor if you have a seizure disorder, coronary artery disease, or risk factors for coronary artery disease (such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy). Do not use Imitrex if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the past 14 days. Do not use Imitrex within 24 hours after taking almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), rizatriptan (Maxalt), naratriptan (Amerge), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or ergot medicine such as methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), methylergonovine (Methergine). Before taking Imitrex, tell your doctor if you are also taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor). Imitrex will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks. After taking a Imitrex tablet, you must wait two (2) hours before taking a second tablet. Do not take more than 200 mg of Imitrex tablets in 24 hours. After using Imitrex nasal spray, you must wait two (2) hours before using a second spray. Do not use more than 40 mg of Imitrex

¿What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using Imitrex?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to Imitrex, or if you have:

• a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, or history of a heart attack or stroke;
• ischemic bowel disease; or
• severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
  

Do not use Imitrex if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the past 14 days. Do not use Imitrex within 24 hours after taking any of the following medicines:

• almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or
• ergot medicine such as methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), methylergonovine (Methergine).
  

Before using Imitrex, tell your doctor if you have:

• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
• high blood pressure;
• liver disease;
• kidney disease; or
• coronary artery disease (or risk factors that include diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).
  

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Imitrex, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment. FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Your name may need to be listed on a Imitrex pregnancy registry when you start using this medication. Imitrex can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. This medicine should not be given to anyone under 18 or over 65 years of age.