Imigran Nasal Spray

About Imigran nasal spray

Key points  

• Effective migraine tablet alternative  
• Works fast, in just 15 minutes  
• Suitable for those that cannot take tablets 
   

Buy Imigran nasal spray online

You can buy Imigran nasal spray online from our registered pharmacy.  Before our clinicians can prescribe this, you will need to fill out a short online questionnaire, which will determine your suitability for this product. 
 

What is imigran nasal spray used for? 

Imigran is a sumatriptan nasal spray used to relieve symptoms of a migraine headache. It works by reducing the widening of blood vessels, which occurs during a migraine attack. Head pain, nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound can be treated with this medication.  
 

How to use imigran nasal spray 

You should only use Imigran nasal spray after your migraine headache begins and not use it as a method to prevent an attack. Before taking the medication, it is best to blow your nose if it feels blocked, or if you have a cold. Each spray contains just one dose of Imigran. 
 

How often can you take imigran nasal spray? 

You can use imigran nasal spray once a migraine headache begins. You should not use more than two sprays in 24 hours. If Imigran doesn’t give you any relief, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.  

Imigran nasal spray dosage instructions

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. 

Imigran nasal spray side effects

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) 

Please note: You should get medical help urgently if these symptoms continue or become severe, especially chest pain. In a very small number of people this can be caused by a heart attack. 

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.

Imigran nasal spray warnings

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) 

Please note: using Imigran too often can worsen your headaches. Your doctor may recommend stopping treatment if you use it frequently and experience headaches. 

Imigran nasal spray and pregnancy

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.  

Imigran nasal spray and breastfeeding

You should not breast-feed 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.  

Imigran nasal spray interactions

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

Imigran nasal spray alternatives

Zomig Nasal Spray vs Imigran Nasal Spray 

• Zomig active ingredient is Zolmitriptan, Imigran active ingredient is Sumatriptan 
• Zomig available in 2.5 mg and 5 mg doses, Imigran in 10 mg and 20 mg doses 
• They are both triptan nasal sprays and work in a similar way, narrowing blood vessels around the brain and reducing substances in the body that can trigger migraine symptoms 
• Both fast-acting, taking 15 minutes to work 

Preventions

A combination of lifestyle changes can help prevent a migraine; these include: 

• Make sure you get regular quality sleep 
• Try to keep your stress levels low 
• Stay active and exercise regularly  
• Stay hydrated and drink 6-8 cups of water a day 
• Avoid trigger foods such as aged cheese, chocolate, processed meats  
• Stop or limit drinking alcohol

Imigran nasal spray ingredients

Active ingredient: sumatriptan 

Inactive ingredient: potassium dihydrogen phosphate, dibasic sodium phosphate anhydrous, sulphuric acid, sodium hydroxide and purified water 

Sources

1. NHS UK. (n.d.). Migraine. Retrieved June 11, 2024, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/migraine/

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