migraine treatment
with triptans

Triptans: medication for treating migraine

There are many migraine treatment options available. One option is using triptans.

What is a triptan?

A triptan is a type of prescription medication that has been developed specifically to treat migraine. It is thought that one of the ways triptans work is by mimicking the action of serotonin, a chemical in the brain.

When serotonin levels are high, blood vessels shrink. When serotonin levels fall, the blood vessels swell, which can cause pain or other problems. It is believed that this swelling of blood vessels causes the headache pain of a migraine attack. It is thought that triptans may reduce this swelling of blood vessels and may also block the release of substances that can cause migraine headache pain. Triptans may ease or stop a migraine headache after it has begun.

It is important to take a triptan as soon as your migraine headache begins. The earlier you take it after your headache has started, the more effective it may be.

Is a triptan right for you?

Only your doctor will know if a triptan is the right medication to treat your migraines, so talk to him or her at your next appointment.

ZOMIG is a triptan that is available in 3 forms. Find out more about ZOMIG at About ZOMIG.

Approved Use and Important Safety Information for ZOMIG

Approved Use for ZOMIG

ZOMIG is a prescription medication used for the treatment of migraine headaches in adults. ZOMIG is not for the prevention of migraines. ZOMIG is not for other types of headaches.

Important Safety Information

  • Do not take ZOMIG if your headache is not a migraine
  • Do not take ZOMIG if your headache is hemiplegic or basilar migraine (If you are unsure about this, ask your doctor)
  • Do not take ZOMIG if you have heart disease, history of, or risk factors for heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, circulation (blood flow) problems, or have had a stroke. Only your doctor can determine if ZOMIG is right for you
  • ZOMIG should not be used within 24 hours of another 5-HT1 agonist (triptans), ergotamine-containing or ergot-type medication (for headache), or within 2 weeks of an MAO-A inhibitor (for depression)
  • Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding because ZOMIG may not be right for you
  • ZOMIG, like other triptans, may be associated with a potentially life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome, mainly when taken together with certain antidepressants. Inform your doctor of all your medications prior to taking ZOMIG
  • Phenylketonurics: ZOMIG-ZMT® (zolmitriptan) Orally Disintegrating Tablets contain phenylalanine, a component of aspartame
  • Safety and effectiveness of ZOMIG in pediatric patients have not been established
  • Side Effects: The most common side effects reported by patients in clinical trials with ZOMIG Nasal Spray include unusual taste, tingling sensation, skin sensitivity, and dizziness
  • Side Effects: The most common side effects reported by patients in clinical trials with ZOMIG Tablets and ZOMIG-ZMT include dizziness; tightness, pressure, pain in the neck, throat, or jaw; fatigue; tingling; drowsiness; and nausea

Talk to your doctor about prescription ZOMIG.

Click here to see the Prescribing Information for ZOMIG Tablets and ZOMIG-ZMT Orally Disintegrating Tablets Opens in new window (PDF — 194KB)

Click here to see the Prescribing Information for ZOMIG Nasal Spray Opens in new window (PDF — 122KB)

Click here to see the Important ZOMIG Product Information for Patients Opens in new window (PDF — 480KB)

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.