Zolmitriptan Prescription for Acute Migraine Treatment

Zolmitriptan is prescribed to treat the symptoms of migraine headaches. It is in a class of medications called selective serotonin receptor agonists. Zolmitriptan works by narrowing blood vessels around the brain, blocking pain signals from being sent to the brain, and the release of naturally occurring chemical transmitters that cause pain, nausea and other symptoms of migraine. Zolmitriptan is for acute treatment and does not prevent migraine attacks or reduce the number of headaches.

Zolmitriptan comes as a tablet and an orally disintegrating tablet (tablet that dissolves quickly in the mouth) to take by mouth. It is usually taken at the first sign of a migraine headache. If your symptoms improve after you take zolmitriptan but return after two hours or longer, you may take a second tablet. However, if your symptoms do not improve after you take zolmitriptan, do not take a second tablet without calling your doctor. Your doctor will tell you the maximum number of tablets or orally disintegrating tablets you may take in a 24-hour period. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take zolmitriptan exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it, or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

You may take your first dose of zolmitriptan in a doctor's office or other medical facility where you can be monitored for serious reactions.

Call your doctor if your headaches do not get better or occur more frequently after taking zolmitriptan.
If you take zolmitriptan more often or for longer than the recommended period of time, your headaches may get worse or may occur more frequently. You should not take zolmitriptan or any other headache medication for more than 10 days per month. Call your doctor if you need to take zolmitriptan to treat more than three headaches in a one-month period.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

Most people will respond to zolmitriptan within one hour after ingestion. For some people, it may take up to two hours.¹

Recommended frequency of zolmitriptan is one dose of up to 5 mg, once per day. If the migraine returns, another dose can be taken at least 2 hours past the first dose. Do not exceed 10 mg within one day.² Zolmitriptan should not be taken more than 10 days in a one-month period. The frequency of dosing is the same for both the traditional oral tablet and the dissolving tablet of zolmitriptan.³

The most common dosages prescribed for zolmitriptan oral tablet is a 2.5 mg or 5 mg tablet.⁴ Zolmitriptan ODT, the dissolving tablet, is most commonly is prescribed in doses of 1.25 mg or 2.5 mg, with a 5 mg max per day.⁵

Zolmitriptan is not available over the counter.⁶ You can get a prescription and buy zolmitriptan online from RedBox Rx.

You can get zolmitriptan, if prescribed, for as low as $2.64 per dose with RedBox Rx with the purchase of 36 tablets, or $25 for 6 tablets. No insurance required.

Before taking zolmitriptan:

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to zolmitriptan, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in zolmitriptan tablets or orally disintegrating tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.

• Do not take zolmitriptan if you have taken any of the following medications in the past 24 hours: other selective serotonin receptor agonists such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (RELPAX®), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt) or sumatriptan (Imitrex ; or ergot-type medications such as bromocriptine (Parlodel), cabergoline, dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergoloid mesylates (Hydergine), ergonovine (Ergotrate), ergotamine (Cafergot, Ergomar, Wigraine), methylergonovine (Methergine), methysergide (Sansert) or pergolide (Permax).

• Do not take zolmitriptan if you are taking a monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil) or tranylcypromine (Parnate),), or if you have taken one of these medications in the past two weeks.

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, or herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetaminophen (Tylenol); antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil) and trimipramine (Surmontil); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); cimetidine (Tagamet); oral contraceptives (birth control pills); propranolol (Inderal); selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, in Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil) or sertraline (Zoloft); or selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as desvenlafaxine (PRISTIQ), duloxetine (Cymbalta), sibutramine (Meridia) or venlafaxine (Effexor). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.

• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart disease; a heart attack; angina (chest pain); irregular heartbeats; stroke or mini-stroke; or circulation problems such as varicose veins, blood clots in the legs, Raynaud's disease (problems with blood flow to the fingers, toes, ears and nose) or ischemic bowel disease (bloody diarrhea and stomach pain caused by decreased blood flow to the intestines). Your doctor may tell you not to take zolmitriptan.

• Tell your doctor if you smoke or are overweight; if you have or have ever had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or liver or kidney disease; if you have gone through menopause (change of life); or if any family members have or have ever had heart disease or stroke.

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. If you plan to be sexually active while you are taking this medication, talk to your doctor about effective methods of birth control. If you become pregnant while taking zolmitriptan, call your doctor.

• You should know that this medication may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how zolmitriptan affects you.

• Talk to your doctor about your headache symptoms to make sure they are caused by a migraine. Zolmitriptan should not be used to treat certain types of migraine headaches (hemiplegic or basilar) or other types of headaches (such as cluster headaches).

• If you have phenylketonuria (PKU, an inherited condition in which a special diet must be followed to prevent damage to your brain that can cause severe intellectual disability), you should know that the orally disintegrating tablets contain aspartame that forms phenylalanine.
  

Unless your doctor recommends a dietary change, continue your normal diet.

Zolmitriptan is meant for acute treatment of migraines. There are no negative effects of stopping zolmitriptan.

Zolmitriptan may cause side effects, including:

• Feeling warm or cold.

• Drowsiness.

• Dry mouth.

• Nausea.

• Heartburn.

• Sweating.

• Dizziness or faintness.

Tell your medical provider if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away.

Keep this medication in its original container, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from light, excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Dispose of any orally disintegrating tablets that you removed from the blister pack but did not use immediately.

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

In case of overdose, call emergency services at 911 or call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help.

Keep all appointments with your doctor. Your blood pressure should be checked regularly.
You should keep a headache diary by writing down when you have headaches and when you take zolmitriptan.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all the prescription and nonprescription (over the counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Brand names for zolmitriptan are:

• Zomig®

• Zomig-ZMT®
  

1. Drugs.com

2. Mayo Clinic

3. Drugs.com

4. Mayo Clinic

5. Drugs.com

6. Mayo Clinic

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