Zolmitriptan (zohl-mi-TRIP-tan) is used to treat severe migraine headaches. Many people find that their headaches go away completely after they take zolmitriptan. Other people find that their headaches are much less painful, and that they are able to go back to their normal activities even though their headaches are not completely gone. Zolmitriptan often relieves symptoms that occur together with a migraine headache, such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound.

Zolmitriptan is not an ordinary pain reliever. It should not be used to relieve any kind of pain other than migraine headaches.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For zolmitriptan, the following should be considered:

Allergies- Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to zolmitriptan. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy- Zolmitriptan has not been studied in pregnant women. However, in some animal studies, zolmitriptan caused harmful effects to the fetus. These unwanted effects usually occurred when zolmitriptan was given in amounts that were large enough to cause harmful effects in the mother.

Breast-feeding- Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children- There is no specific information comparing use of zolmitriptan in children or teenagers with use in other age groups.

Older adults- There is no specific information comparing use of zolmitriptan in patients older than 65 years of age with use in younger adults.

Other medicines- Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine, especially other prescription medicine for migraine headaches, or if you smoke tobacco.

When you are taking zolmitriptan, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking the following:

-Monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])—Taking zolmitriptan while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking MAO inhibitors may cause sudden high body temperature, extremely high blood pressure, and severe convulsions; at least 14 days should be allowed between stopping treatment with one medicine and starting treatment with the other.

Other medical problems- The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of zolmitriptan. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

-Angina (chest pain) or

-Fast or irregular heartbeat or

-Heart or blood vessel disease or

-High blood pressure or

-Kidney disease or

-Liver disease or

-Stroke (history of) the chance of side effects may be increased. Heart or blood vessel disease and high blood pressure sometimes do not cause any symptoms, so some people do not know that they have these problems. Before deciding whether you should use zolmitriptan, your doctor may need to do some tests to make sure that you do not have any of these conditions.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

-Chest pain (severe);  heaviness, tightness, or pressure in chest and/or neck;  sensation of burning, warmth, heat, numbness, tightness, or tingling 

-Abdominal pain (severe);  changes in facial skin color;  cough or hoarseness;  diarrhea;  fast or irregular heartbeat ;  fever or chills;  loss of appetite;  lower back or side pain;  nausea;  painful or difficult urination ;  puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, or lips;  shortness of breath, troubled breathing, tightness in chest, and/or wheezing;  skin rash, hives, and/or itching;  weakness 

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. Some of the following effects, such as nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, and general feeling of illness or tiredness, often occur during or after a migraine, even when zolmitriptan has not been used. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

-Dizziness;  nausea;  sleepiness;  unusual tiredness or muscle weakness  

-Agitation;  anxiety;  depression;  discomfort in jaw, mouth, or throat;  difficulty in swallowing;  dry mouth ;  fainting;  heartburn;  itching of the skin;  large nonelevated blue or purplish patches in the skin;  muscle aches ;  pounding heartbeat;  sudden large increase in frequency and quantity of urine;  sweating;  swelling of face, fingers, feet and/or lower legs 

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

-Keep out of the reach of children since overdose is especially dangerous in children.

-Store away from heat and direct light.

-Do not store tablets in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.

Disclaimer:

Information on this page is provided for general information purposes. You should not make a clinical treatment decision based on information contained in this page without consulting other references including the package insert of the drug, textbooks and where relevant, expert opinion. We cannot be held responsible for any errors you make in administering drugs mentioned on this page, nor for use of any erroneous information contained on this page.