Imigran Nasal Spray 10mg/20mg

The usual dose for adults aged 18 to 65 is one Imigran 20 mg spray. For some people, imigran 10mg nasal spray is enough to treat their migraine.

If your symptoms return after 2 hours of spraying your first dose, you can spray a second, but no more than 2 sprays in 24 hours. Using too much Imigran could make you unwell. You should speak to a doctor or pharmacist urgently If you use more than two sprays in 24 hours.

Side effects of Imigran nasal spray include:

Very common side effects (affects more than 10% of users): 

• Unpleasant taste

Common side effects (affects up to 10% of users):  

• Pressure, tightness or pain in the chest, throat or other parts of the body
• Unusual sensations, including numbness, tingling and warmth or cold (may be intense but generally pass quickly)

Additional common side effects: 

• Burning sensation or irritation in the nose or throat
• Nose bleeds
• Being sick or feeling sick (this may be due to the migraine)
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Dizziness or feeling weak
• Hot flushes
• Increase in blood pressure (temporarily)
• Shortness of breath
• Muscles aches

Stop using Imigran and seek urgent medical help and call 999 if you notice any of the following signs of an allergy: 

• Rash, hives (itchy rash)
• Wheezing
• Swollen eyelids, face or lips
• Complete collapse

Read the patient information leaflet for the full listing of side effects.

You should not use this medication if any of the following apply to you:

• Allergic to sumatriptan, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• Have a heart problem such as narrowing of the arteries
• Have angina or have had a heart attack
• Have circulation problems in your legs that cause cramp-like pains when you walk (peripheral vascular disease)
• Have had a stroke or a mini stroke
• Have high blood pressure
• Have serious liver disease
• Use other migraine medicines, including those which contain ergotamine, or similar
• medicines such as methysergide or any triptan/5-HT1 receptor agonist
• Use anti-depressants called MAOIs or if you have taken these medicines in the last 2 weeks

If you have any extra risk factors, you should discuss using this medication with your GP beforehand. These include:

• You’re a heavy smoker, or are using nicotine replacement therapy, especially if:
• You’re a man aged over 40
• You’re a woman who has been through the menopause
• Have a history of fits (seizures)
• Have other conditions which might make it more likely that you’ll have a fit
• You have liver or kidney disease
• You are allergic to antibiotics called sulphonamides
• You are taking anti-depressants called SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) or SNRIs (Serotonin Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors)

There are some medicines that should not be taken with Imigran, whilst others may cause adverse effects. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the medicines listed:

• Ergotamine also used to treat migraine, or similar medicines such as methysergide:
  • Do not use Imigran nasal spray at the same time as using these medicines
  • Stop taking them at least 24 hours before using Imigran
  • Don’t take any medicines which contain ergotamine or compounds similar to ergotamine again for at least 6 hours after using Imigran

• Other triptans/5-HT1 receptor agonists (such as naratriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan):
  • Don’t use Imigran at the same time as these medicines
  • Stop taking these medicines at least 24 hours before using Imigran
  • Don’t take another triptan/5-HT1 receptor agonist again for at least 24 hours after using Imigran

• SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) or SNRIs (Serotonin Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors) used to treat depression:
  • Using Imigran with these medicines can cause serotonin syndrome – symptoms include restlessness, confusion, sweating, hallucinations, increased reflexes, muscle spasms, shivering, increased heartbeat and shaking).
  • Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

• MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) used to treat depression:
  • Do not use Imigran if you’ve taken these in the last 2 weeks

• St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum):
  • Herbal remedies that contain St John’s Wort may make side effects from Imigran more likely

There is limited information about the safety of Imigran for pregnant women. To date there is no evidence of an increased risk of birth defects. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, seek advice from your GP before using Imigran Nasal Spray.

You should not breastfeed your baby for 12 hours after using this medicine. If you express breast milk during this time, throw away the milk and do not give it to your baby.

• NHS UK. (n.d.). Migraine. Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/migraine/
• NHS UK. (n.d.). About Sumatriptan. Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sumatriptan/about-sumatriptan/