Always follow your doctor's instructions when taking or using this medicine.
Dosage and strength
Sumatriptan comes as:
- 50mg and 100mg tablets
- 3mg and 6mg pre-filled syringes
- a 10mg and 20mg nasal spray
The usual dose for migraine is one 50mg tablet. Some people may need more (100mg tablet) for severe migraine relief.
How to take or use it
Take your first dose as soon as the pain starts. Do not take it at the warning stage, before your migraine starts. This is when some people get symptoms of aura.
Tablets (for migraine only)
Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water. Do not chew or crush it.
If you find tablets difficult to swallow, some sumatriptan tablets have a score line to help you break them in half. Check the information leaflet inside the medicine packet to see if you can do this with your medicine.
Tablets usually begin to work in 30 to 60 minutes. If your first sumatriptan tablet does not help, do not have another one for the same attack.
If your migraine improves but then comes back, you can take the same dose again after 2 hours. Do not take more than 300mg in 24 hours.
Injections (for migraine or cluster headache)
Check the instructions that come with your medicine to find out how to use the pre-filled syringe (auto-injector) or pen and how to get rid of it safely afterwards.
Use the pre-filled syringe to inject 1 dose. You'll usually inject it into your thigh.
The medicine generally works in 10 to 15 minutes.
If your headache improves but then comes back, you can inject another dose after 1 hour.
If the first sumatriptan injection does not help, do not have another one for the same attack.
Nasal spray (for migraine or cluster headache)
- Blow your nose if it feels blocked or if you have a cold.
- Place your finger over 1 nostril.
- Spray the medicine into the other nostril and breathe in gently at the same time.
The nasal spray usually works within 15 minutes.
Each spray contains 1 dose (10mg or 20mg of sumatriptan). If your headache improves but then comes back, you can have another dose after 2 hours.
If the first dose of sumatriptan does not help, do not take another dose for the same attack.
Follow the instructions that come with your medicine to find out how to use the single-use nasal spray.
Important
Do not have more than 2 injections, or 2 doses of nasal spray, or more than 300mg of tablets in 24 hours.
If you take too much
Do not take more than your prescribed amount in any 24-hour period. The maximum amount is 300mg of tablets, 12mg as injections or 40mg as a nasal spray.
Taking too much sumatriptan may make you very ill. An overdose can cause fainting, slowed heart rate, vomiting, loss of bladder and bowel control, and sleepiness.
It can narrow your blood vessels, leading to heart problems such as chest pains, abnormal heart rhythm or a heart attack. It can also reduce the blood supply to other organs such as part of your large intestine. This can give you a severe stomach ache.
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
- you take more than your prescribed dose of sumatriptan
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111
If you need to go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.
Take the sumatriptan packet or leaflet inside it plus any remaining medicine with you.