Drug Profiles:
IMITREX® Injection

CAUTION: Federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription.

What is IMITREX®-

IMITREX® (sumatriptan succinate) is an abortive medication used for the treatment of Migraine attacks in adults. IMITREX® is the oldest of the new 'Tripans' Migraine wonder drugs.

This is a highly effective acute treatment, which appeared in 1993, which will work with efficiency for most Migraineurs, and has very few side effects.

About the Drug-

IMITREX® autoinjections are the original drawing board up anti-migraine medicine. Now in a much improved delivery system with its' new STATdose SYSTEM® and STATdose PEN®.

It's chemical name is sumatriptan succinate, created specifically for Migraine disease. So IMITREX® can relieve more than the severe head pain of Migraine - it also relieves the nausea and other symptoms, like sensitivity to light, that often accompany Migraine.

About the Dose-

IMITREX STATdose SYSTEM® is available along with IMITREX prefilled syringes. The STATdose SYSTEM Kit contains 6-mg dose of injectable IMITREX® and the STATdose PEN® (an autoinject device), together in a neat plastic, all-in-one carrying case. Using IMITREX®- IMITREX® should be taken at the onset of a Migraine attack. But, if you can't, you should know that IMITREX® is usually effective at any time - even if you take it when your Migraine is at its worst. In addition, IMITREX® is not a narcotic or barbiturate, and, most importantly, according to the manufacturer, in most people IMITREX® does not cause the unpleasant side effect of drowsiness. The most frequently seen side effects are tingling and nasal discomfort.

Precautions-

IMITREX®, a prescription product available only through your doctor, is used for the acute treatment of migraine attacks in adults. You should not take IMITREX® if you have certain types of heart disease, a history of stroke or Transient lschemic Attacks (TIAs), peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's syndrome, or blood pressure that is uncontrolled. Very rarely, certain people, even some without heart disease, have had serious heart-related problems when taking IMITREX®. Therefore, if you have risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or are a smoker, you need to be evaluated by your doctor before taking IMITREX®. If you are currently taking other medications, particularly MAO inhibitors and ergotamines, or if you are pregnant, nursing, or thinking of becoming pregnant, you should talk to your doctor. What's more, if the headaches you are suffering are not Migraines, IMITREX® is not for you.

About the Auto-Injection System-

IMITREX® pre-filled syringes are available for those who would prefer to self-inject without the autoinject device (please ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details). However, people who evaluated the STATdose SYSTEM preferred it to the old system for several reasons:

Easier to use (based on a 1995 survey of 85 healthcare professionals and patients) Compact, all-in-one design carrying case about the size of a deck of cards.

Glaxo offers a free videotape entitled How to Use the IMITREX® (sumatriptan succinate) STATdose SYSTEM. You can order the video by calling 800-358-0252.