information for parents and carers

Sumatriptan for migraine headaches

This leaflet is about the use of sumatriptan for migraine headaches.

This leaflet is for parents and carers about how to use this How should I give it?
medicine in children. Our information sometimes differs Nasal spray: Insert the nozzle of the the spray
from that provided by the manufacturers, because their as far up one nostril as is comfortable. Spray the
information is usually aimed at adults. Please read this dose directly into their nose.
leaflet carefully. Keep it somewhere safe so that you can
read it again. •• You should not tip your child’s head
backwards. Keep their head in the normal
Name of drug position or tilt their head slightly forward. This
Sumatriptan stops the spray running down the back of
Brand names: Imigran, Imigran Radis their throat.
•• Only use the spray in both nostrils if your
Why is it important for my child to take this medicine? child has been prescribed two sprays.
Sumatriptan is used at the start of a migraine headache to try You can view a video on how to give nasal sprays
to stop it getting worse. Migraine headaches can be caused at www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk/nasal-spray
by the blood vessels in the brain expanding. Sumatriptan Tablets should be swallowed with a glass of
helps to constrict (narrow) these vessels and stop the water, milk or juice. Do not crush the tablet. Your
migraine. child should not chew the tablet.
Your child should only use this medicine once they know they Imigran Radis tablets can be dissolved in
are going to have a migraine or are actually having a a small amount of water, although it will have
migraine headache. It will not prevent a migraine or cluster a bitter taste. To hide the taste of the liquid
headache from starting. medicine, you can use fruit juice, milk or squash
instead. Your child should drink it all straight
What is sumatriptan available as? away. Then add some more water, squash or milk
This medicine is most commonly given as a spray into the to the glass, swirl it around and ask your child to
nose but it can also be given as a tablet. drink it. This makes sure they get all the medicine.
• Sumatriptan nasal spray is available as 10 mg or 20
mg per spray. When should the medicine start working?
• Tablets (Imigran) and dispersible tablets The medicine should start working 15 minutes after it is given.
(Imigran Radis): 50 mg; 100 mg If the migraine headache comes back after two hours or
If you have any concerns or questions, speak with your child’s more, then a second dose can be given. No more than 2
doctor or pharmacist. doses should be given in 24 hours.

When should I give sumatriptan? What if my child is sick (vomits)?

Your child should usually take this medicine as soon as they It is very common for children to be sick (vomit) at the start of
feel a migraine headache starting. a migraine headache.
•• Sumatriptan is usually given as a nasal spray. You do
How much should I give? not need to worry if your child is sick, as the medicine
Your doctor will work out the amount of sumatriptan (the will still work.
dose) that is right for your child. The dose will be shown on •• If your child is sick after having the tablet, it is probably
the medicine label. best not to give another dose. If your child is usually sick
If the migraine headache comes back after 2 hours or more, at the start of a migraine headache, you can discuss
then a second dose can be given. No more than 2 doses using the nasal spray with your doctor or pharmacist.
should be given in 24 hours.
It is important that you follow your doctor’s What if I forget to give it?
instructions about how much to give. This medicine should only be given when your child is about
to have, or already has, a migraine headache. If you forget to
give it, you can give it later on if they have another migraine
or if the migraine is continuing, but do not give more than 2
doses in 24 hours.
What if I give too much? Is there anything else I need to know about this
You are unlikely to do harm if you give an extra dose of medicine?
sumatriptan by mistake. If you concerned that you may have •• Make sure your child’s teachers know about their
given too much, contact your doctor or local NHS services medicine. Your child should keep the medicine with
(details at end of leaflet). Have the medicine or packaging them and may need to use it at school if they feel they
with you if you telephone for advice. are starting to develop a migraine headache.

Are there any possible side-effects? General advice about medicines

We use medicines to make our children better, but sometimes •• If you are not sure a medicine is working, contact your
they have other effects that we don’t want (side-effects). doctor but continue to give the medicine as usual in
Side-effects you must do something about the meantime. Do not give extra doses, as you may do
harm.
If your child is short of breath or is wheezing, or their
face, lips or tongue start to swell, or they develop a rash, •• Only give this medicine to your child. Never give it to
they may be allergic to sumatriptan. Take your child to anyone else, even if their condition appears to be the
hospital or call an ambulance straight away. same, as this could do harm.
•• If you think someone else may have taken the medicine
Other side-effects you need to know about by accident, contact a doctor straight away.
•• Your child may get a strange taste in their mouth •• Make sure that you always have enough medicine.
•• Your child may have an irritating or burning feeling Order a new prescription at least 2 weeks before you
in their nose or mouth; they may occasionally have will run out.
nose bleeds with the nasal spray. Your child may have •• Make sure that the medicine you have at home has
strange sensations in their body. They may feel tingling, not reached the ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date on the
warm, heavy or a feeling of pressure or tightness of any packaging. Give old medicines to your pharmacist to
part of the body (including the chest and throat). dispose of.
•• Your child may get flushed or dizzy.
•• Your child may also feel weak or tired and feel sick Where I should keep this medicine?
(nausea) or be sick (vomit). •• Keep the medicine in a cupboard, away from heat and
Some of these side-effects may be caused by your child’s direct sunlight. It does not need to be kept in the fridge.
migraine headache. If they get worse after taking sumatriptan •• Make sure that children cannot see or reach the
or if you are concerned, contact your doctor. medicine.
There may, sometimes, be other side-effects that are •• Keep the medicine in the container it came in.
not listed above. If you notice anything unusual and are
concerned, contact your doctor. You can report any suspected Who to contact for more information
side-effects to a UK safety scheme at http://yellowcard.mhra. Your child’s doctor, pharmacist or nurse will be able to give
gov.uk. you more information about sumatriptan nasal spray and
More information on side-effects can be found in the following about other medicines used to treat migraine and cluster
leaflet http://www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk/side-effects- headaches.
childrens-medicines You can also get more information from:
England: NHS 111
Can other medicines be given at the same time as Tel 111 - www.nhs.uk
sumatriptan? Scotland: NHS 24
•• You can give your child medicines that contain Tel 111 - www.nhs24.scot
paracetamol or ibuprofen, unless your doctor has told Wales: NHS 111 Wales
you not to. Tel 111 - www.111.wales.nhs.uk
•• Sumatriptan should not be taken with some medicines Northern Ireland: NI Direct
that you get on prescription. Tell your doctor and www.nidirect.gov.uk
pharmacist about any other medicines your child is The Migraine Trust
taking before giving sumatriptan. www.migrainetrust.org/young-sufferers
•• Check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving any MiGain – your migraine action resource
other medicines to your child. This includes herbal or www.migain.org.uk
complementary medicines.

www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk

Version 1, July 2016. © NPPG, RCPCH and WellChild 2011, all rights reserved. Reviewed by: July 2019.
The primary source for the information in this leaflet is the British National Formulary for Children. For details on any other sources used for this leaflet, please contact us through
our website, www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk
We take great care to make sure that the information in this leaflet is correct and up-to-date. However, medicines can be used in different ways for different patients. It is
important that you ask the advice of your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about something. This leaflet is about the use of these medicines in the UK, and may not apply
to other countries. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG), WellChild and the contributors and
editors cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information, omissions of information, or any actions that may be taken as a consequence of reading this leaflet.