Zolmitriptan

Uses

What is zolmitriptan used for?

Zolmitriptan is commonly used to treat migraine headaches.

How should I take zolmitriptan?

Use this medicine as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

Take with or without food.

You may break the tablet in half. Do not chew or crush.

Take with liquids as early as you can after the attack has started.

If your headache comes back after the first dose, 1 more dose may be taken 2 hours after the first one.

How do I store zolmitriptan?

Zolmitriptan is best stored at room temperature away from direct light and moisture. To prevent drug damage, you should not store zolmitriptan in the bathroom or the freezer. There may be different brands of zolmitriptan that may have different storage needs. It is important to always check the product package for instructions on storage, or ask your pharmacist. For safety, you should keep all medicines away from children and pets.

You should not flush zolmitriptan down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. It is important to properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Precautions & warnings

What should I know before using zolmitriptan?

Before using this drug, tell your doctor if:

• You are pregnant or breastfeeding. This is because, while you are expecting or feeding a baby, you should only take medicines on the recommendation of a doctor.
• You are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, such as herbal and complementary medicines.
• You have allergy with any of active or inactive ingredients of zolmitriptan or other medications.
• You have any other illnesses, disorders, or medical conditions.
• You have any of these health problems: High blood pressure or some types of migraine headaches like hemiplegic or basilar migraine.
• You have liver disease.
• You have ever had any of these health problems: Chest pain or pressure; diseased arteries going to the legs or arms; heart attack; heart disease; poor blood flow in the heart, brain, bowel, or kidney; stroke; or a heartbeat that is not normal like Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
• You have taken certain drugs used for low mood (depression) like isocarboxazid, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine or drugs used for Parkinson’s disease like selegiline or rasagiline in the last 14 days. Taking this medicine within 14 days of those drugs can cause very bad high blood pressure.
• You have taken almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, or sumatriptan in the last 24 hours.
• You have taken ergotamine, methysergide, dihydroergotamine, or any drug like them in the last 24 hours.

Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine (zolmitriptan tablets). This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.

This medicine is not meant to prevent or lower the number of migraine headaches you get. Talk with your doctor.

Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.

Use care if you have risks for heart disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, overweight, high blood sugar or diabetes, cigarette smoking, man older than 40 years of age, other family members with early heart disease, woman after change of life). Talk with your doctor.

Taking more of this medicine (zolmitriptan tablets) (a higher dose, more often) than your doctor told you to take may cause your headaches to become worse.

High blood pressure has happened with drugs like this one. Have your blood pressure checked as you have been told by your doctor.

If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with care. You could have more side effects.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using this medicine (zolmitriptan tablets) while you are pregnant.

Is it safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

There are no adequate studies in women for determining risk when using zolmitriptan during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Please always consult with your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before taking zolmitriptan. Zolmitriptan is pregnancy risk category C, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

FDA pregnancy risk category reference below:

• A=No risk
• B=No risk in some studies
• C=There may be some risk
• D=Positive evidence of risk
• X=Contraindicated
• N=Unknown

Side effects

What side effects can occur from zolmitriptan?

Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Very bad headache or if headache is not better after the first dose.
• Change in eyesight.
• Loss of eyesight. This can be long-lasting.
• Hard stools (constipation).
• Loose stools (diarrhea).
• Very upset stomach or throwing up.
• Very bad belly pain or bloody loose stools.
• Fever
• Weight loss.
• Leg cramps.
• Feeling of heaviness or tightness in the leg muscles.
• Feeling cold.
• Burning or aching pain in the feet or toes.
• Shortness of breath.
• Mood changes.
• A burning or tingling feeling that is not normal.
• A very bad and sometimes deadly health problem called serotonin syndrome may happen. The risk may be greater if you take this medicine (zolmitriptan tablets) with drugs for depression, migraines, or certain other drugs. Call your doctor right away if you have agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; very bad diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or very bad headache.
• Very bad and sometimes deadly heart problems like heart attack and a heartbeat that is not normal have rarely happened within a few hours of taking this medicine. Call your doctor right away if you have chest, throat, neck, or jaw tightness, pain, pressure, or heaviness; break out in a cold sweat; shortness of breath; a fast heartbeat; a heartbeat that does not feel normal; or very bad dizziness or passing out.
• Very bad and sometimes deadly brain blood vessel problems like stroke have rarely happened with this medicine (zolmitriptan tablets). Call your doctor right away if you have a change in strength on 1 side is greater than the other, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, or change in eyesight.

Not everyone experiences these side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have any concerns about a side-effect, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Interactions

What drugs may interact with zolmitriptan?

Zolmitriptan may interact with other drugs that you are currently taking, which can change how your drug works or increase your risk for serious side effects. To avoid any potential drug interactions, you should keep a list of all the drugs you are using (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. For your safety, do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any drugs without your doctor’s approval.

Does food or alcohol interact with zolmitriptan?

Zolmitriptan may interact with food or alcohol by altering the way the drug works or increase the risk for serious side effects. Please discuss with your doctor or pharmacist any potential food or alcohol interactions before using this drug.

What health conditions may interact with zolmitriptan?

Zolmitriptan may interact with your health condition. This interaction may worsen your health condition or alter the way the drug works. It is important to always let your doctor and pharmacist know all the health conditions you currently have.

Dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for any medical advice. You should ALWAYS consult with your doctor or pharmacist before using zolmitriptan.

What is the dose of zolmitriptan for an adult?

Usual Adult Dose for Migraine

Oral:

• Initial dose: 1.25 or 2.5 mg orally once (may break the scored 2.5 mg tablet in half to obtain 1.25 mg dose); may repeat in 2 hours if migraine has not resolved or returns after a transient improvement
• Maintenance Dose: Adjust dose based on individual response
• Maximum single dose: 5 mg
• Maximum daily dose: 10 mg in a 24-hour period

Orally Disintegrating Tablets:

• Initial dose: 2.5 mg orally once; may repeat in 2 hours if migraine has not resolved or returns after a transient improvement
• Maintenance Dose: Adjust dose based on individual response
• Maximum single dose: 5 mg
• Maximum daily dose: 10 mg in a 24-hour period

Nasal Spray:

• Initial dose: 2.5 mg intranasally once; may repeat in 2 hours if migraine has not resolved or returns after a transient improvement
• Maintenance Dose: Adjust dose based on individual response
• Maximum single dose: 5 mg
• Maximum daily dose: 10 mg in a 24-hour period

What is the dose of zolmitriptan for a child?

Usual Pediatric Dose for Migraine

Age 12 years and older:

Nasal Spray:

• Initial dose: 2.5 mg intranasally once; may repeat in 2 hours if migraine has not resolved or returns after a transient improvement
• Maintenance Dose: Adjust dose based on individual response
• Maximum single dose: 5 mg
• Maximum daily dose: 10 mg in a 24-hour period

How is zolmitriptan available?

Zolmitriptan is available in the following dosage forms and strengths:

• Tablet
• Nasal Spray

What should I do in case of an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or an overdose, call your local emergency services or go to your nearest emergency room.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose of zolmitriptan, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your regular dose as scheduled. Do not take a double dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.