What is zolmitriptan?
Zolmitriptan (brand names: Zomig® and Zomig ZMT®) is a triptan medication that aims to ease all of the acute symptoms of a migraine headache, including pain, dizziness, nausea, and light and/or sound sensitivity.
What will it do for me?
Zolmitriptan helps stop an oncoming migraine attack in its tracks by reducing that awful headache pain, as well as any nausea, dizziness, or sensitivity to light and sound you might also be experiencing.
How does it help?
Research shows that blood vessels in the brain over-expand during a migraine headache, so zolmitriptan tablets try to get them back to their usual size. If you want to get scientific, zolmitriptan combats migraine symptoms by:
- narrowing the expanded blood vessels (“vasoconstriction,” if you want to get extra scientific)
- decreasing any inflammation in the nerves
- turning down the volume on those loud pain signals
How do I get zolmitriptan?
Zolmitriptan is a prescription medication so you’ll need to talk to your doctor before you can get it. Get started today with a Cove doctor consultation.
How should I take it?
Right away, at the very first sign of a migraine headache. You can take zolmitriptan with water and with or without food.
What should I be cautious of?
If any of the below looks familiar, definitely talk to your doctor before taking zolmitriptan. With any prescription medication, drug interactions and side effects can be unpleasant. Here are some risk factors to consider:
- You’re on other medications.
- You’ve had angina, heart attack, chest pain, or other heart problems.
- You’ve had a stroke or TIA.
- You’ve had a stroke-like migraine (hemiplegic migraine).
- You’ve been told you’ve had a brainstem migraine (basilar migraine).
- You have poor circulation.
- You have uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- You have certain heart arrhythmias (irregular rhythms).
- You have severe liver disease.
- You’re taking other acute prescription migraine medication.
Can I take zolmitriptan with other migraine medications?
If you’re already taking a different triptan, don’t add zolmitriptan. If you’re using other types of pain relievers, or a daily preventive medication, adding zolmitriptan shouldn’t cause you any problems. That said, you still may want to consult with your doctor if you’re not sure if zolmitriptan will interact with another medication you’re taking.
What happens if I can’t take it right away?
If you feel a migraine headache starting, take it as quickly as you can. The sooner you take it, the sooner it’ll start reducing your headache pain.
Where should I keep my zolmitriptan?
Keep it in a dry place at a cool room temperature.
Are there any common side effects of zolmitriptan?
Many people who use zolmitriptan do not experience serious side effects. Some people experience dizziness, warmth, tingling, and non-heart related chest discomfort. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you should discontinue use and contact your health care professional.
What other triptans are available?
There are currently six other triptan drugs prescribed in the United States in addition to zolmitriptan: almotriptan (generic Axert®), eletriptan (generic Relpax®), frovatriptan (generic Frova®), naratriptan (generic Amerge®), rizatriptan (generic Maxalt®), and sumatriptan (generic Imitrex®).
In addition to zolmitriptan (available as a 5 mg tablet), Cove also currently offers oral eletriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, and sumatriptan.
The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely upon the content provided in this article for specific medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor.
Eletriptan, naratriptan, and zolmitriptan are oral medications indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults and is not used to prevent migraines. 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 drug while you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. Call your doctor right away if you have allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, chest pain or chest tightness, signs and symptoms of a dangerous change in heartbeat or heart rhythm like chest pain; dizziness; fast, irregular heartbeat; palpitations; feeling faint or lightheaded; falls; breathing problems. Call your doctor right away if you have signs and symptoms of a stroke like changes in vision; confusion; trouble speaking or understanding; severe headaches; sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg; trouble walking; dizziness; loss of balance or coordination. Call your doctor right away if you have signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome like irritable; confusion; diarrhea; fast or irregular heartbeat; muscle twitching; stiff muscles; trouble walking; sweating; high fever; seizures; chills; vomiting. You can read more about eletriptan’s side effects, warnings, and precautions here. Full prescribing information for eletriptan is available here. You can read more about naratriptan’s side effects, warnings, and precautions here. Full prescribing information for naratriptan is available here. You can read more about zolmitriptan’s side effects, warnings, and precautions here. Full prescribing information for zolmitriptan is available here. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit MedWatch: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Sumatriptan and rizatriptan are oral medications indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults and not for the prophylactic therapy of migraine attacks or for the treatment of cluster headache. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using either of these drugs while you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. 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 drug. Call your doctor right away if you have weakness on 1 side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, drooping on 1 side of the face, or change in eyesight. You can read more about sumatriptan’s side effects, warnings, and precautions here. Full prescribing information for sumatriptan is available here. You can read more about rizatriptan side effects, warnings, and precautions here. Full prescribing information for rizatriptan is available here. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit MedWatch: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Photo by Gian Cescon on Unsplash.
