Sumatriptan - gegen Migräne und Clusterkopfschmerzen

About sumatriptan

In people with Migräne ,Es wird angenommen, dass bestimmte Chemikalien im Gehirn in ihrer Aktivität zunehmen und infolgedessen Teile des Gehirns verwirrte Signale aussenden, die zu den Symptomen von Kopfschmerzen und Übelkeit führen. Warum Menschen mit Migräne diese chemischen Veränderungen entwickeln, ist nicht klar. Viele Migräneanfälle treten ohne ersichtlichen Grund auf, aber bei manchen Menschen können bestimmte Dinge einen Anfall auslösen, wie bestimmte Lebensmittel oder Getränke.

Clusterkopfschmerzen consist of attacks of severe one-sided pain in the head. Typically, a number of attacks will occur over several weeks and then pass. It may then be weeks, months or years until the next cluster of headaches develops.

Sumatriptan belongs to a class of medicines known as 5HT₁-receptor agonists. They are also known simply as triptans. Triptans work by stimulating the receptors of a natural substance in the brain, called serotonin (or 5HT). This eases the symptoms of migraine and cluster headaches.

There are two strengths of sumatriptan tablet available (50 mg and 100 mg), one strength of injection (6 mg/0.5 ml) and one strength of nasal spray (10 mg/actuation). The injection is usually prescribed for people with cluster headaches, whereas the injection, spray or tablets may be prescribed for people with migraines.

Sumatriptan 50 mg tablets can be purchased from pharmacies for the treatment of migraine headache. The pharmacist will need to check that the medicine is suitable for you to take.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking sumatriptan it is important that your doctor knows:

• Wenn Sie älter als 65 Jahre oder jünger als 18 Jahre sind.

• Wenn Sie schwanger sind oder stillen.

• If you have a heart condition such as angina, or if you have had a heart attack.

• Wenn Sie hohen Blutdruck (Hypertonie) haben.

• If you have circulation problems.

• Wenn Sie Probleme mit der Funktionsweise Ihrer Leber oder Ihrer Nieren haben.

• Wenn Sie jemals einen Schlaganfall oder einen vorübergehenden ischämischen Angriff (dies wird auch als TIA oder „Mini-Schlaganfall“ bezeichnet) gehabt haben.

• Wenn Sie jemals einen Anfall (Krampfanfall) hatten.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine. It is particularly important that you tell your doctor if you have had a bad reaction to a sulfonamide antibiotic (such as co-trimoxazole or sulfadiazine).

• Wenn Sie andere Medikamente einnehmen oder verwenden. Dazu gehören alle Medikamente, die Sie einnehmen und die ohne Rezept erhältlich sind, sowie pflanzliche und ergänzende Medikamente.

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about sumatriptan and a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it. It will also provide you with a step-by-step guide and diagrams to show you how to use the preparation you have been supplied with. If you are still unsure what to do, ask your pharmacist for further advice.

• Your dose will be on the label of the pack. Take sumatriptan exactly as your doctor tells you to.

• If you are taking Tabletten: take one (50 mg or 100 mg) tablet with a drink of water, as soon as the headache phase develops. You can take Imigran Radis® tablets stirred into a small amount of water. If your migraine at first improves but then comes back, you may take a further dose, providing it is at least zwei Stunden after the initial dose. If the first tablet has no effect, do not try a second dose for the same attack, as it is unlikely to work.

• If you are using the Injektion: inject one dose as soon as the headache develops. If your headache at first improves but then comes back, you may use one further dose, providing it is at least one hour after the initial dose. Do not use more than two doses in 24 hours. If the first dose has no effect, do not try a second dose for the same attack, as it is unlikely to work. The needle shield may contain natural latex rubber.

• If you using the Nasal Spray: use the spray as soon as the headache phase develops. If your migraine at first improves but then comes back, you can use the spray again providing it is at least zwei Stunden after your first dose. Do not use the spray more than twice in 24 hours. If the first spray has no effect, do not try a second dose for the same attack, as it is unlikely to work.

If you have migraines

• Sumatriptan is used to treat headache pain during a migraine attack, not to stop the pain from coming on. You should wait until the migraine symptoms start to develop, rather than taking it when you feel that a migraine may be developing.

• Do not take other migraine treatments (such as other triptans or ergotamine) at the same time as sumatriptan.

• Some people may benefit from taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkiller (such as naproxen) in addition to sumatriptan. Your doctor will advise you about this if it is recommended for you.

• If you find that sumatriptan does not relieve your migraine, make an appointment to discuss this with your doctor, as an alternative medicine may be more effective for you.

• Es kann hilfreich sein, ein Migräne-Tagebuch zu führen. Notieren Sie, wann und wo jeder Migräneanfall begonnen hat, was Sie gerade getan haben und was Sie an diesem Tag gegessen haben. Es könnte ein Muster erkennbar sein, und es ist möglicherweise möglich, einige der Auslöser Ihrer Migräneanfälle zu vermeiden.

• Sumatriptan is used to treat migraine attacks once the pain has started, but there are other medicines available that may help to reduce the number of migraine attacks. If you have migraines frequently, discuss this with your doctor.

• Some people who get frequent migraine attacks are in fact getting medication-induced headache. Medication-induced headache (also called medication-overuse headache) is caused by taking painkillers or triptans too often. If you use sumatriptan or painkillers on more than two days a week on a regular basis, you may be at risk of this. You should talk with your doctor if you suspect it.

If you have cluster headaches

• Sumatriptan is usually given by injection for cluster headache, as it provides pain relief in about 5-15 minutes in most people.

• You will be shown how to use the injection. You should use it as soon as a headache occurs. The adult dose is one 6 mg injection for each headache. If you get more than one headache a day, the maximum dose you can have in 24 hours is two 6 mg injections. You must leave at least one hour between the two injections.

• You may also be prescribed another medicine to try to prevent the headaches from occurring. Preventative treatment is often taken over the period of the cluster headaches and is then stopped, although some treatments are taken longer-term.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with sumatriptan. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Wenn Sie andere Symptome bemerken, die Ihrer Meinung nach auf das Medikament zurückzuführen sein könnten, sprechen Sie mit Ihrem Arzt oder Apotheker für Rat.

• Bewahren Sie alle Medikamente außerhalb der Reichweite und Sicht von Kindern auf.

• An einem kühlen, trockenen Ort aufbewahren, fern von direkter Hitze und Licht.