Skip to main content

How long does Imitrex (sumatriptan) take to work?

Medically reviewed by Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD. Last updated on May 8, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Imitex (sumatriptan) can start to work within 30 minutes of taking a dose. However, it may take a few hours for you to notice the full effects.

In clinical studies, more people had a response 4 hours after taking a dose of Imitrex compared to 2 hours.

If a single dose does not completely relieve migraine symptoms, you can take a second dose as long as you have had a response to the first dose and it has been at least 2 hours since taking it. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

The maximum recommended daily dose of Imitrex tablets is 200 mg in a 24 hour period.

References

Sumatriptan. Revised 12/2023. Bionpharma Inc. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=e90b0eea-c424-4f00-98da-6ed6e80de1f6

Read next

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups