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 injection is used to treat migraine headaches and cluster headaches. Imitrex will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

Use Imitrex as soon as you notice headache symptoms, or after an attack has already begun.

Your doctor may want to give your first dose of this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting to see if you have any serious side effects.

Imitrex injection comes in a prefilled cartridge to be loaded into an autoinjector syringe. Each cartridge contains only one dose that you will inject into your skin. This medicine comes with patient instructions for injecting it. Do not give yourself an injection if you do not understand these instructions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.

Contact your doctor if you have more than four headaches in one month (30 days). Store this medicine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

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

• History of heart disease, angina (chest pain)
• blood circulation problems, or history of a heart attack or stroke
• Ischemic bowel disease
• Severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Severe liver disease

Do not use Imitrex within 24 hours after taking any of the following medicines:

• almotriptan (Axert®)
• eletriptan (Relpax®)
• frovatriptan (Frova®)
• rizatriptan (Maxalt®)
• naratriptan (Amergev)
• zolmitriptan (Zomig®)
• methysergide (Sansert®)
• ergotamine (Ergomar®, Ergostat®, Cafergot®, Ercaf®, Wigraine®)
• dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal Nasal Spray®)
• ergonovine (Ergotrate®)
• methylergonovine (Methergine®)

Do not use Imitrex if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as:

• isocarboxazid (Marplan®)
• tranylcypromine (Parnate®)
• rasagiline (Azilect®)
• selegiline (Eldepryl®, Emsam®)
• phenelzine (Nardil®)

in the past 14 days.

Before using Imitrex, tell your doctor if you have:

• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• High blood pressure
• Liver or kidney disease
• Coronary artery disease
• Diabetes
• Menopause
• Smoke
• Overweight
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• A family history of coronary artery disease
• Older than 40 and a man
• 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.

This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. 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.

Since Imitrex is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. After using a Imitrex injection, you must wait one hour before using a second injection. Do not use more than two injections in 24 hours.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have taken too much of this medication. Symptoms of a Imitrex overdose may include:

• Seizures
• Tremors or shaking
• Skin redness
• Breathing problems
• Blue-colored lips or fingernails
• Vision problems
• Watery eyes or mouth
• Weakness or lack of coordination

Imitrex can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction:

• Hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat

Stop using Imitrex and call your doctor at once if you have any of these SERIOUS side effects:

• Chest pain or heavy feeling
• pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling
• Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden headache
• Confusion
• Problems with vision, speech, or balance
• Fast heart rate
• Agitation
• Muscle stiffness
• Hallucinations
• Lack of coordination, with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea
• Seizure (convulsions)
• Numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes

Continue using Imitrex and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Muscle pain
• Warmth or redness under your skin
• Pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body
• Sneezing, runny nose, congestion, cough
• Pain or redness where you injected the medicine
• Feeling dizzy or sleepy
• Drooling or sweating

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Before using Imitrex, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• Citalopram (Celexa®)
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta®)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro®)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac®, Sarafem®)
• Fluvoxamine (Luvox®)
• Paroxetine (Paxil®)
• Sertraline (Zoloft®)
• Venlafaxine (Effexor®)
• Almotriptan (Axert®)
• Eletriptan (Relpax®)
• Frovatriptan (Frova®)
• Naratriptan (Amerge®)
• Rizatriptan (Maxalt®)
• Zolmitriptan (Zomig®)

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Imitrex, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Imitrex. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.