Topic summary
Sumatriptan
Sumatriptan, sold under the brand name Imitrex among others, is a medication used to treat migraine headaches and cluster headaches. It is taken orally, intranasally, or by subcutaneousinjection. Therapeutic effects generally occur within three hours. Sumatriptan is a serotonin (5-HT1B/1D) receptor agonist (triptan).
The drug acts as a serotonin5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, and 5-HT1F receptoragonist and its common side effects include chest pressure, fatigue, vomiting, tingling, and vertigo. Serious side effects may include serotonin syndrome, heart attack, stroke, and seizures. With excessive use, medication overuse headaches may occur. It is unclear if use during pregnancy or breastfeeding is safe. The mechanism of action is not entirely clear. It is in the triptan class of medications.
Sumatriptan was patented in 1982 and approved for medical use in 1992. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is available as a generic medication. In 2023, it was the 107th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 6million prescriptions. It is also available as the combination product sumatriptan/naproxen.