Imitrex Side Effects

A few common Imitrex side effects include chest tightness or pressure; dizziness or a spinning sensation (vertigo); and abnormal sensations such as tingles, warmth or burning, pressure, tightness, or numbness. Some side effects of Imitrex that you should report to your healthcare provider immediately include shortness of breath, bloody diarrhea, or sudden severe abdominal pain (or stomach pain). A few rare side effects with Imitrex include decreased or increased blood pressure, breast tenderness, and asthma.

 

Imitrex Side Effects: An Introduction

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects of Imitrex® (sumatriptan succinate). However, not everyone who takes Imitrex will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate Imitrex well. When people do develop Imitrex side effects, in most cases they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
 
(The Imitrex side effects discussed below are not a complete list of side effects reported with Imitrex. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of side effects with you.)
 

Common Imitrex Side Effects

Imitrex has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials, with many people having been evaluated. In these studies, side effects that occur in a group of people taking the drug are always documented and compared to the side effects that occur in a similar group of people not taking the medicine. Based on these studies, the most common Imitrex side effects include:
 
  • Injection site reactions (including redness, pain, or swelling) -- occurring in up to 59 percent of people who took the injected form of the drug
  • Abnormal sensations, including tingles, warmth or burning, pressure, tightness, or numbness -- occurring in up to 42 percent of people
  • Bad or unusual taste in the mouth -- occurring in up to 25 percent of people who took Imitrex Nasal Spray
  • Dizziness or a spinning sensation (vertigo) -- occurring in up to 12 percent of people
  • Flushing (redness of the skin, especially the face) -- occurring in up to 7 percent of people
  • Chest tightness or pressure -- occurring in up to 5 percent of people
  • Weakness -- occurring in up to 5 percent of people
  • Neck pain -- occurring in up to 5 percent of people.
     
Other common Imitrex side effects, occurring in 1 to 5 percent of people, include:
 
  • Ear, nose, or throat discomfort
  • Drowsiness
  • Muscle pain or cramps
  • Anxiety
  • Abdominal pain (or stomach pain)
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Jaw pain
  • Sweating
  • Decreased salivation
  • Drowsiness.
     
(Imitrex Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;