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zolmitriptan

Generic Name: zolmitriptan (nasal) (ZOL mi TRIP tan)
Brand names: Zomig, Zomig-ZMT

What is zolmitriptan nasal?

Zolmitriptan is a headache medicine. It is believed to work by narrowing the blood vessels around the brain. Zolmitriptan nasal also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.

Zolmitriptan nasal is used to treat migraine headaches.

Zolmitriptan nasal will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

Zolmitriptan nasal may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about zolmitriptan nasal?

Do not use zolmitriptan nasal within 24 hours after taking almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or ergot medicine such as methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), methylergonovine (Methergine). Zolmitriptan nasal can cause rare but serious side effects on the heart, including heart attack or stroke. Do not use this medication if you have a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, ischemic bowel disease, severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure, or history of a heart attack or stroke.

Before using zolmitriptan nasal, tell your doctor if you have coronary artery disease, or risk factors for coronary artery disease (such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).

Do not use zolmitriptan if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the past 14 days.

Zolmitriptan nasal will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

After using zolmitriptan nasal spray, you must wait two (2) hours before using a second dose. Call your doctor if the first dose did not make your headache go away completely. Do not use more than 10 mg of zolmitriptan nasal in 24 hours.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using zolmitriptan nasal?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to zolmitriptan nasal, or if you have:

a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, or history of a heart attack or stroke;
ischemic bowel disease;
severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure; or
a headache that is not like other headaches you have had.

almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), or rizatriptan (Maxalt); or
ergot medicine such as methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), methylergonovine (Methergine).

Before using zolmitriptan nasal, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease;
heart disease, high blood pressure; or
coronary artery disease (or risk factors that include diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use zolmitriptan nasal.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether zolmitriptan nasal passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.

How should I use zolmitriptan nasal?

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Use zolmitriptan nasal as soon as you notice headache symptoms, or after an attack has already begun.

The usual dose of zolmitriptan nasal is a single spray into one nostril. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Blow your nose gently to clear your nostrils before using this medication. Remove the protective cap from the nasal spray device. Hold the device upright and insert the tip into your nostril. Hold your other nostril closed with the tip of your index finger.

Tilt your head back slightly and press the plunger on the nasal spray device. Inhale slowly as you spray the zolmitriptan dose into your nostril. Remove the spray device and breathe gently through your nose for 5 to 10 seconds. Keep your head tilted back, as you may feel some liquid in your nose or in the back of your throat.

There is only one spray in each zolmitriptan nasal spray device. Do not press the plunger on the device until you have inserted the tip into your nostril.

After using the nasal spray: If your headache goes away and comes back, use a second dose two (2) hours after the first. Do not use more than 10 mg of zolmitriptan nasal in 24 hours. If your headache does not completely go away, call your doctor before using a second dose of zolmitriptan nasal.

Contact your doctor if you have more than four headaches in one month (30 days).

Store zolmitriptan nasal at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the protective cap on the nasal spray until you are ready to use it.

Throw away the single-use nasal spray device after one use.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since zolmitriptan nasal is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. Call your doctor promptly if your symptoms do not improve after using zolmitriptan nasal.

After using zolmitriptan nasal, you must wait two (2) hours before using it a second time. Do not use more than 10 mg of zolmitriptan nasal in 24 hours.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, trouble breathing, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while using zolmitriptan nasal?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are using zolmitriptan nasal.

Zolmitriptan nasal side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using zolmitriptan nasal and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
fast heart rate, agitation, muscle stiffness, hallucinations, lack of coordination, with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea; or
numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes.

Less serious side effects may include:

dry mouth, unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth;
pain, tingling, or discomfort in or around your nose;
nausea, mild stomach pain;
feeling of pain or pressure in your nose, neck, or throat;
dizziness, drowsiness;
headache; or
sleep problems (insomnia).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect zolmitriptan nasal?

Before using zolmitriptan nasal, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

any other migraine headache medicine (prescription or over-the-counter); or
an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with zolmitriptan nasal. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about zolmitriptan nasal.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.