Sumatriptan for cluster headaches

Examples

---

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Imitrex	sumatriptan succinate

The injected form of sumatriptan is used to treat cluster headaches. Self-injection kits are available so that you can give yourself the shot. Nasal and oral sumatriptan are available but are less effective than the injectable form. However, research is being done that initially shows a stronger dose of sumatriptan nasal spray may be effective.¹

How It Works

---

Sumatriptan (sometimes referred to as 5-HT-1 receptor agonists) shrinks the blood vessels in the brain, which may relieve pain by reducing pressure from inflammation that can occur with cluster headaches. Sumatriptan may also affect certain brain chemicals that regulate pain.

Why It Is Used

---

Sumatriptan may be injected to stop cluster headaches.

How Well It Works

---

When injected early in a cluster headache, sumatriptan can relieve headache pain within 5 minutes.² Up to 90% of people have reduced headache pain when given a sumatriptan injection as soon as a cluster headache first begins. The injection also may stop subsequent headaches in the cycle from developing.³

Nasal and oral sumatriptan are less effective than the injectable form. However, research is being done that initially show a stronger dose of sumatriptan nasal spray may be effective.¹

Side Effects

---

Triptans may cause side effects such as:

• Nausea.
• Flushing.
• Tingling.
• Dizziness.
• A feeling of warmth or coldness.
• Sleepiness.
• Burning at the injection site (with the injected form of sumatriptan).
• Excessive thirst.
• Frequent urination.
• Temporary rise in blood pressure.

Side effects usually develop shortly after receiving the medication and go away within 1 hour. Some people may experience chest pressure or tightness. This is usually not dangerous.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about taking triptans, used for migraines, with SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or SNRIs (selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). Taking these medicines together can cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

---

Triptans should not be used if you have heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or are pregnant or nursing.

Triptans should not be combined with other certain medications, such as ergotamines.

Sumatriptan can be very expensive, so the cost of treating frequent cluster headaches can add up. If you are thinking about using sumatriptan to treat your cluster headaches, you may want to weigh its cost against the cost of other medications, office visits, and time lost from work.

Another type of sumatriptan called zolmitriptan (Zomig) is used to treat migraine headaches and is now being studied for the treatment of cluster headaches in nasal spray form. Currently, it is approved only in tablet form for cluster headaches and is not as effective as injected sumatriptan.⁴

Sumatriptan cannot be used on a daily basis to treat cluster headaches.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

References

---

Citations

1. Schuh-Hofer S, et al. (2002). Treatment of acute cluster headache with 20 mg sumatriptan nasal spray—An open pilot study. Journal of Neurology, 249(1): 94–99.

2. Rozen TD (2002). New treatments in cluster headache. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 2(2): 114–121.

3. Evans RW (2003). Headaches. In Saunders Manual of Neurologic Practice, pp. 25–32. Philadelphia: Saunders.

4. Bahra A, et al. (2000). Oral zolmitriptan is effective in the acute treatment of cluster headache. Neurology, 54(9): 1832–1839.

Credits

---

Author	Ralph Poore
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Seymour Diamond, MD - Neurology
Last Updated	April 21, 2006