Zolmitriptan

Generic name: Zolmitriptan

Drug class: Antimigraine agents

Dosage forms: Tablet, Disintegrating tablet

Root of administration: Oral

Dose: 2.5, 5 mg

Mechanism of action: Zolmitriptan primarily works by binding to and activating serotonin receptors, specifically the 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors.

Drug usage cases: Zolmitriptan is used to treat migraine headaches in adults. Zolmitriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks. Zolmitriptan should not be used to treat a common tension headache, a headache that causes loss of movement on one side of your body, or any headache that seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches. Use this medication only if your condition has been confirmed by a doctor as migraine headaches.

Drug contra indications: You should not use zolmitriptan if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

coronary heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart; a history of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke, including “mini-stroke”; Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome; severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure; a blood vessel disorder or circulation problems that cause a lack of blood supply within the body; or a headache that seems different from your usual migraines. Do not use zolmitriptan if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others. To make sure zolmitriptan is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

heart disease, high blood pressure, or a heart rhythm disorder; epilepsy or seizures; liver or kidney disease; a condition for which you take cimetidine (Tagamet); or coronary heart disease (or risk factors such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy). Zolmitriptan disintegrating tablets may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of zolmitriptan if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). Zolmitriptan is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Side effects: Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Zolmitriptan may cause serious side effects. Stop using zolmitriptan and call your doctor at once if you have:

feeling of tightness in your jaw, neck, throat, or chest; fast or pounding heartbeats, dizziness; sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea; heart attack symptoms–chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating; or high levels of serotonin in the body–agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting.

Warnings: You should not use zolmitriptan if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart problems, certain heart rhythm disorders, a history of heart attack or stroke, or circulation problems that cause a lack of blood supply within the body. Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine Do not use zolmitriptan within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine.

Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding: It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether zolmitriptan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.