Consumer Medicine Information
ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN
Sumatriptan (as succinate) 50 mg and 100 mg Tablets
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN.
It does not contain all of the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may need to read it again.
WHAT ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN is used for
ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN contains the active ingredient sumatriptan succinate. This medicine belongs to a group of medicines called serotonin agonists.
ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN is used to relieve migraine headache, with or without what is known as 'aura' (eg seeing dots or flickering lights, weakness or numbness of limbs). It also relieves other symptoms of a migraine attack like nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light and sound.
ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN should not be used to prevent migraine attacks from occurring. There is no information on the use of ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN in special kinds of migraine known as 'basilar migraine' or 'hemiplegic migraine'.
It is thought that migraine headache is due to widening of certain blood vessels in the head. ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN works by making those vessels normal again and ease the symptoms of migraine.
ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN does not work in other types of headache that are not a migraine.
ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN is not recommended for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
Your doctor may have prescribed ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN has been prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN is addictive.
ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN
When you must not take it
Do not take ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN if you are allergic to medicines containing sumatriptan succinate or sulphur (eg sulphonamides), or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
- shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
- lumpy skin rash ("hives"), hayfever or fainting.
Do not take ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN if you have or have had the following medical conditions:
- previous heart attack
- angina (severe chest pain and/or tightness), including Prinzmetal's angina (an uncommon form of angina where pain is experienced at rest rather than during activity)
- shortness of breath, pain or tightness in the chest, jaw or upper arm (signs of ischaemic heart disease)
- other heart diseases (eg arrhythmias)
- stroke or mini-stroke
- vascular disease (pain in the back of the legs) or are prone to cold, tingling or numb hands and feet
- uncontrolled high blood pressure
- severe liver disease.
Do not take ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN if you have taken any of these medicines in the last 24 hours:
- ergotamine (eg Cafergot)
- dihydroergotamine (eg Dihydergot)
- methysergide (eg Deseril)
- naratriptan (eg Naramig)
- zolmitriptan (eg Zomig).
Do not take ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN if you have taken a monoamine oxidase
inhibitor (MAOI), a type of medicine used for depression, in the last two
weeks.
The examples are moclobemide, phenelzine and tranylcypromine.
Do not take ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN if you are pregnant or trying to become
pregnant, breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, unless your doctor says you
can.
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking ARROW -
SUMATRIPTAN during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Do not take ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN if the expiry date (Exp.) printed on the
pack has passed.
It may not work well if you do.
Do not take ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN if the packaging shows signs of tampering or the tablets do not look quite right.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to
- certain foods, dyes or preservatives
- lactose, or you are lactose intolerant (ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN tablets contain lactose)
- any other medicines, especially those contain sulphur (eg sulphonamide).
Tell your doctor if you are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI). These medicines are used to treat depression or other mental disorders.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had medical conditions like:
- previous heart attacks
- angina (severe chest pain and/or tightness); Prinzmetal's angina
- shortness of breath, pain or tightness in the chest, jaw or upper arm
- irregular heartbeats
- other heart diseases or a family history of heart problems
- stroke or mini-stroke
- brain tumour, or any other conditions affecting the brain
- epilepsy, fits or seizures, or been told that you are prone to this problem
- high blood pressure
- high blood cholesterol levels
- diabetes
- liver or kidney problems.
Your doctor may decide to do tests to check if your heart is healthy before prescribing ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN tablets. Your doctor may also decide to do tests if you get certain symptoms with ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN. This is because ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN can make certain types of heart disease worse.
Tell your doctor if:
- you are under 18 or over 65 years of age
- for females, you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have reached menopause
- for males, you are over 40 years of age
- you have not had your headache diagnosed as migraine by a doctor
- you think that this headache is different and worse than your usual migraine
- you have difficulty moving one side of your body when you have the "migraine" headache
- you smoke.
Taking other medicines
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking or have taken any other medicines in the last two weeks, including those you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may be affected by ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN or may affect how well it works. These include:
- ergotamine or ergot-type medicines
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), eg moclobemide, phenelzine and tranylcypromine
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), eg citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and sertraline
- triptans
- herbal preparations containing St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).
Your doctor can tell you what to do when taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN with other medicines. If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN.
How to take ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN
How much to take
The recommended starting dose for adults is 50 mg. Depending on your response, you may need a higher dose of 100 mg. Your doctor will tell you which dose is right for you.
If the first ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN tablet helps your migraine, but the migraine comes back later, you may take another ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN tablet. Do not take more than 300 mg of ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN tablets in any twenty-four hour period. Six 50 mg or three 100 mg tablets contain 300 mg.
If the first dose has not provided any relief of your symptoms, do not take more ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN tablets, or any other form of medications containing sumatriptan.
You may take your other usual headache relief medication, provided it does not contain ergot-type medicines such as ergotamine, dihydroergotamine or methysergide. You must not take ergot-type medicines within six hours of taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN. If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If your migraine is not relieved by ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN, you may use it on another occasion to treat another migraine attack. Provided there are no side effects, you can use ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN tablets to treat at least three separate migraine attacks before you and your doctor decide whether this medicine is ineffective for you.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
How to take ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN
Swallow the tablets with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the tablet, as it has a bitter taste.
When to take ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN
It is best to take your ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN when:
- migraine headache begins
- other symptoms of migraine begin, such as nausea (feeling sick), vomiting or your eyes becoming sensitive to light.
If you take your tablet later during the migraine attack, it will still work for you.
Do not take your ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN tablet before the above symptoms occur.
If you take too much ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor, or the National Poisons Information Centre (0800 POISON or 0800 764 766), or go to Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too many ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN tablets.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN
Things you must do
Before starting any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN.
Tell all the doctors and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN.
If you become pregnant or trying to become pregnant while taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN, tell your doctor.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine
exactly as directed.
Otherwise, your doctor may think that it is not working and change your
treatment unnecessarily.
Things you must not do
Do not use ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN to treat any other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not change the dose of your ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN without checking with your doctor.
Do not give ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how ARROW -
SUMATRIPTAN affects you.
ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN does not generally cause any problems with your
ability to drive a car or operate machinery. However, as with many other
medicines, ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN may cause drowsiness in some people. Make sure
you know how you react to ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN before you drive a car or
operate machinery.
If you use ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN tablets too often, it may make your headache worse. If this happens, your doctor may tell you to stop taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN tablets.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel
well while you are taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN.
Like other medicines, ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN can cause some side effects. If
they occur, they are most likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may
be serious and need medical attention.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- pain, tingling, heat or flushing in any part of the body
- nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting
- feeling of sleepiness, dizziness or tiredness
- feeling of faintness or "pass out" (may indicate a change in blood pressure)
- problems with your eyesight
- shaking or tremors
- shortness of breath.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you notice any of the following after taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN:
- feel heaviness, pressure or tightness in any part of the body including the chest or throat
- feel irregular heartbeats - too fast or too slow
- have a fit or convulsion
- have wheezing, swelling of the lips or mouth, difficulty in breathing, hayfever, lumpy rash ("hives") or fainting. These could be symptoms of allergic reactions.
These side effects are likely to be serious. Stop taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN and seek medical attention straight away.
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
After taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN
Storage
Keep ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a
good place to store medicines.
Keep your tablets in the blister packs in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN or any other medicines in the bathroom
or near a sink. Do not leave the tablets in the car or on window sills.
Heat, light and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN, or your tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that are left over.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
What it looks like
ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN come in two strengths:
- ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN 50 - white to off-white, round, biconvex tablet,
embossed with 'SA' over '50' on one side and '
'
on the other side. Each pack contains 2 or 4 tablets. - ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN 100 - white to off-white, round, biconvex tablet,
embossed with 'SA' over '100' on one side and ''
on the other side. Each pack contains 2 tablets.
Ingredients
The active ingredient in ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN is sumatriptan (as succinate):
- each ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN 50 contains 50 mg of sumatriptan.
- each ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN 100 contains 100 mg of sumatriptan.
The tablets also contain
- microcrystalline cellulose
- croscarmellose sodium
- magnesium stearate
- anhydrous lactose.
The tablets do not contain gluten, sucrose, tartrazine or any azo dyes.
Supplier
ARROW - SUMATRIPTAN is distributed in New Zealand by:
Arrow Pharmaceuticals (NZ) Limited
Mount Eden Central Business Park
33a Normanby Road, Mt Eden
Auckland, New Zealand.
Date of preparation
18 November 2008