Manufacturer: Astra Zeneca
Pharmaceutical name: Pack: 1 tab (2.5 mg)
Zomig is used to relieve migraine headaches and associated nausea and sensitivity to light. It should not be used to treat types of headaches other than migraine.
Zomig is a headache medicine that narrows blood vessels around the brain. Zomig also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms. Zomig is used to treat migraine headaches. Zomig will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.
Zomig should not be used to treat a common tension headache, a headache that causes loss of movement on one side of your body, or any headache that seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches. Use this medication only if your condition has been confirmed by a doctor as migraine headaches. Zomig may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
The initial dose is 2.5 mg or less. The dose can be repeated after 2 hours if symptoms persist. The maximum dose is 10 mg per day. Doses less than 2.5 mg can be achieved by splitting the 2.5 mg tablet. Zomig may be taken with or without food.
Zomig directly stimulates serotonin receptors on nerves. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that are used for treating depression, for example, fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft), enhance the effects of serotonin by preventing its uptake by nerves. Therefore, the combination of Zomig and an SSRI may lead to exaggerated effects of serotonin, and has been reported to cause weakness, increased reflexes, and loss of coordination.
Ergots, like dihydroergotamine (DHE) and ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot) that often are used to treat migraine headaches, can cause blood vessels to go into spasm. It is possible that the combination of ergots and Zomig will result in exaggerated spasm of the vessels. Therefore, it is not recommended that Zomig and ergots be used within 24 hours of each other. Cimetidine (Tagamet) may double the concentration of Zomig in the blood by interfering with its elimination. Potentially, this may lead to Zomig toxicity.
Side Effects
Side effects are generally transient. Some common side effects include pain or tightness in the chest or throat, tingling sensations, flushing, weakness, dizziness, abdominal discomfort, and sweating. Rarely, allergic reactions (even shock) have been reported though usually in individuals who are highly allergic to many substances.
