Zolmitriptan 2.5mg Tablets

Zolmitriptan is a selective agonist for 5-hydroxytryptamine1B (5-HT1B) and 5-hydroxytryptamine1D (5-HT1D) receptors. It is believed to exert its antimigraine effects through selective vasoconstriction of intracranial blood vessels (which are dilated during a migraine attack) and inhibition of pro-inflammatory neuropeptide release from trigeminal nerve endings.

Urgent Side Effects: Seek Medical Help Right Away

Although rare, some people may experience severe and potentially life-threatening side effects while taking this medication. If you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention:

Signs of an allergic reaction, such as:
+ Rash or hives
+ Itching or red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever)
+ Wheezing or tightness in the chest or throat
+ Difficulty breathing, swallowing, or talking
+ Unusual hoarseness or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat
Signs of high blood pressure, including:
+ Severe headache or dizziness
+ Fainting or changes in vision
Vision changes or loss of eyesight (which can be long-lasting)
Diarrhea or constipation
Severe stomach pain or bloody diarrhea
Weight loss
Leg cramps
Feeling of heaviness or tightness in the leg muscles
Feeling cold
Burning or aching pain in the feet or toes
Shortness of breath
Abnormal sensations, such as burning, numbness, or tingling
Serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition, which may cause:
+ Agitation
+ Changes in balance or coordination
+ Confusion
+ Hallucinations
+ Fever
+ Fast or abnormal heartbeat
+ Flushing
+ Muscle twitching or stiffness
+ Seizures
+ Shivering or shaking
+ Excessive sweating
+ Severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
+ Severe headache
Heart problems, including heart attack and abnormal heartbeat, which may cause:
+ Chest, throat, neck, or jaw tightness, pain, pressure, or heaviness
+ Cold sweats
+ Shortness of breath
+ Fast or abnormal heartbeat
+ Severe dizziness or fainting
Brain blood vessel problems, including stroke, which may cause:
+ Weakness on one side of the body
+ Difficulty speaking or thinking
+ Changes in balance or coordination
+ Drooping on one side of the face
+ Changes in vision

Other Possible Side Effects

Like all medications, this drug can cause side effects. While many people may not experience any side effects or only minor ones, it's essential to contact your doctor if you notice any of the following:

Dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, or weakness
Feeling of warmth or heaviness
Dry mouth
* Nausea or vomiting

If you experience any of these side effects or any other unusual symptoms, contact your doctor for advice. You can also report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088 or online at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Before Taking This Medication: Important Information to Share with Your Doctor

It is essential to inform your doctor about the following conditions to ensure safe treatment:

Any allergies you have, including allergies to this medication, its components, or other substances, such as foods or drugs. Describe the allergic reaction you experienced, including the symptoms.
Certain health conditions, including:
+ High blood pressure
+ Liver disease
A history of specific health problems, such as:
+ Chest pain or pressure
+ Diseased arteries in the legs or arms
+ Heart attack
+ Heart disease
+ Poor blood flow in the heart, brain, bowel, or kidney
+ Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
+ Certain types of migraines, like hemiplegic or basilar migraines
+ Abnormal heartbeat, such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Recent use of certain medications for depression, including isocarboxazid, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine, within the last 14 days. Taking this medication within 14 days of these drugs can cause severe high blood pressure.
Use of other medications for migraine or headache, such as almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, or sumatriptan, within the last 24 hours.
Use of ergotamine, methysergide, dihydroergotamine, or similar medications within the last 24 hours.

Special Considerations for Children:

If you are under 18 years of age, inform your doctor. This medication is not approved for use in children younger than 18 years of age.

Interactions with Other Medications and Health Conditions:

This is not an exhaustive list of all potential interactions. It is crucial to inform your doctor and pharmacist about all your medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, natural products, and vitamins, as well as any health problems you have.
* Before starting, stopping, or changing the dose of any medication, consult with your doctor to ensure it is safe to take this medication with your other medications and health conditions.

It is essential to inform all your healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists, that you are taking this medication. Until you understand how this drug affects you, avoid operating a vehicle or engaging in activities that require alertness. This medication is not intended to prevent or reduce the frequency of migraine headaches; it is designed to treat individual migraine episodes. If you experience a headache that differs from your typical migraine, consult your doctor before taking this medication.

Taking a higher dose or using this medication more frequently than prescribed by your doctor may lead to worsening headaches. As drugs similar to this one have been associated with high blood pressure, it is crucial to monitor your blood pressure as advised by your doctor. If you have risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, being overweight, having high blood sugar or diabetes, smoking cigarettes, being a male over 40 years old, having a family history of early heart disease, or being a postmenopausal female, exercise caution and discuss your individual situation with your doctor.

If you are 65 years or older, use this medication with caution, as you may be more susceptible to side effects. Pregnant women, those planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding mothers should consult their doctor to weigh the benefits and risks of using this medication to themselves and their baby.

• Ergot-type drugs (e.g., ergotamine, dihydroergotamine) within 24 hours of zolmitriptan
• Other 5-HT1B/1D agonists (triptans) within 24 hours of zolmitriptan
• Monoamine Oxidase-A (MAO-A) inhibitors (e.g., phenelzine, tranylcypromine, moclobemide) within 2 weeks of zolmitriptan

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) - increased risk of serotonin syndrome
• Cimetidine - significantly increases zolmitriptan plasma concentrations

• Propranolol - may slightly increase zolmitriptan Cmax and AUC (clinical significance generally minor)
• Oral contraceptives - may slightly increase zolmitriptan Cmax and AUC (clinical significance generally minor)

• Headache intensity and duration
• Associated symptoms (nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia)
• Recurrence of headache
• Presence of chest pain, tightness, or pressure
• Tingling, numbness, or paresthesias
• Dizziness or somnolence
• Neck pain or stiffness
• Flushing or warmth sensation

Category C. Should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Limited human data available.

Zolmitriptan and its metabolites are excreted into breast milk. Caution should be exercised when zolmitriptan is administered to a nursing woman.

Approved for acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adolescents 12 to 17 years of age. Safety and efficacy not established for children younger than 12 years.

Use with caution. Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of triptans, particularly cardiovascular effects. Consider lower initial doses and monitor closely for adverse reactions due to potential for decreased renal, hepatic, or cardiac function, and concomitant disease or other drug therapy.

• Zolmitriptan is for acute migraine treatment, not for prevention or for cluster headaches.
• It should not be used for hemiplegic or basilar migraine due to lack of efficacy data and potential for increased risk of adverse events.
• Patients should be screened for cardiovascular risk factors before starting triptan therapy.
• Risk of serotonin syndrome is increased when co-administered with SSRIs, SNRIs, or other serotonergic drugs. Educate patients on symptoms.
• Do not use within 24 hours of other triptans or ergot-type medications.
• Oral disintegrating tablets (ODT) are available for patients who have difficulty swallowing or experience nausea/vomiting.

• Other Triptans (e.g., Sumatriptan, Rizatriptan, Eletriptan, Frovatriptan, Naratriptan)
• CGRP Receptor Antagonists (Gepants, e.g., Ubrogepant, Rimegepant)
• Serotonin 5-HT1F Receptor Agonists (Ditans, e.g., Lasmiditan)
• NSAIDs (e.g., Ibuprofen, Naproxen)
• Acetaminophen
• Combination analgesics (e.g., Excedrin Migraine)
• Antiemetics (e.g., Metoclopramide, Prochlorperazine) for associated nausea/vomiting
• Ergot alkaloids (e.g., Ergotamine, Dihydroergotamine - generally less preferred due to side effects and interactions)

If your symptoms or health issues persist or worsen, it's essential to contact your doctor for further guidance. To ensure your safety, never share your medication with others or take someone else's medication. Some medications may come with an additional patient information leaflet, so be sure to check with your pharmacist for more information. If you have any questions or concerns about your medication, don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. In the event of a suspected overdose, immediately call your local poison control center or seek emergency medical attention. When seeking help, be prepared to provide details about the medication taken, the amount, and the time it happened.