Key takeaways

  • Sumatriptan’s side effects can depend on several factors, including the form and dose you’re prescribed. Common side effects of sumatriptan oral tablets include tingling sensations, chest pain or pressure, vertigo, and fatigue.
  • Sumatriptan tablets come in three strengths: 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg. Similar side effects have been reported with all doses of the drug, but may be more common at higher doses.
  • Sumatriptan has multiple contraindications, including a history of unmanaged high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke. (A contraindication is a health factor or condition that could prevent your doctor from prescribing a drug.)

Sumatriptan’s side effects are usually mild. Serious side effects are rare and often related to the drug’s effect on a chemical in the brain called serotonin. This article describes sumatriptan’s side effects, also referred to as adverse effects.

For more information about sumatriptan, including details about its uses, see this in-depth article.

Note: Sumatriptan also comes in nasal spray and injectable forms, but those are not covered in this article. Sumatriptan is also available as the brand-name drug Imitrex, which comes as a tablet and in other forms.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their sumatriptan treatment. Examples of the drug’s commonly reported side effects include:

  • fatigue (low energy)
  • feeling generally unwell
  • pain, pressure, or tightness in your chest, neck, throat, or jaw
  • feeling warm or cold
  • vertigo (a feeling of spinning)
  • numbness or tingling

To learn more about some of these side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section.

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Sumatriptan may cause mild side effects. These usually go away on their own. Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with sumatriptan include:

  • feeling warm or cold
  • pain, pressure, or tightness in your chest, neck, throat, or jaw
  • fatigue (low energy)
  • feeling generally unwell
  • vertigo (a feeling of spinning)
  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • drowsiness
  • numbness or tingling

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking sumatriptan unless your doctor recommends it.

To learn more about some of these side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Sumatriptan may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Serious side effects have been reported with sumatriptan. These include:

If you develop serious side effects while taking sumatriptan, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

To learn more about some of these side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section.

Allergic reaction

For some people, sumatriptan can cause an allergic reaction. But it’s not clear how often this side effect occurred in sumatriptan’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking sumatriptan.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to sumatriptan, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking sumatriptan and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Learn more about some of the side effects sumatriptan may cause. Certain side effects can either be mild or a sign of something more serious. Talk with your doctor about how to tell the difference.

Drowsiness

Drowsiness was a rare side effect in studies of sumatriptan. Fatigue (low energy) was a common side effect. People sometimes use those two words to mean the same thing.

Drowsiness is when you feel less alert than usual during the day. If you have this side effect, avoid tasks that require alertness and coordination such as driving.

Migraine headaches can also cause drowsiness. So it’s possible you could be having a symptom of your condition, not a side effect of the drug.

What might help

There are several lifestyle changes that can decrease your overall risk of drowsiness. These include:

  • getting enough sleep
  • stress management
  • frequent breaks during work
  • exercise

If you notice drowsiness when you take sumatriptan, make a note of how long it lasts. (This can be part of keeping an overall side effects journal.) This will help you plan around the drowsiness.

Talk with your doctor if drowsiness from sumatriptan is interfering with your usual activities. They may have suggestions that help, including prescription medications to help keep you alert. They may also recommend a different migraine treatment option.

Nausea

Nausea was a rare side effect in studies of sumatriptan. Similar to the side effect of stomach pain just above, nausea can be either mild and temporary, or a sign of a more serious problem.

Severe or sudden nausea may be a symptom of these serious sumatriptan side effects:

  • stroke
  • heart attack
  • low blood flow to the digestive system
  • serotonin syndrome (a high level of the chemical serotonin)

Nausea is also a common symptom of migraine. So mild nausea could be a symptom of your condition rather than a side effect of the drug.

What might help

If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, call your doctor right away or go to your nearest emergency department.

If the nausea is mild, there are several treatment options, which include:

  • using over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as Dramamine or Tums
  • eating a bland diet
  • avoiding nausea triggers like strong smells or humid places

Talk with your doctor if the nausea does not go away in a few days. They may have additional OTC or prescription treatment suggestions.

Numbness or tingling in the arms, legs, hands, and feet

A mild, common side effect in sumatriptan studies was numbness or tingling. Some people may experience this as a burning sensation. Another common sumatriptan side effect is a feeling of warmth, which could also feel like a burning sensation.

These sensations can happen anywhere in the body but are common in the hands, feet, face, legs, and arms.

What might help

This side effect usually goes away on its own. If it doesn’t go away after a few days, talk with your doctor. They can determine if it’s from sumatriptan or an unrelated cause and will change your dose of the drug accordingly.

If the numbness and tingling is severe or sudden, it could be a sign of a more serious sumatriptan side effect, such as stroke. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about sumatriptan’s side effects.

Yes, studies of sumatriptan showed that higher doses sometimes caused more side effects. The 25-milligram (mg) dose was considered the lower dose in these studies. Your doctor will likely prescribe the lowest dose of sumatriptan that meets your needs.

Your risk of side effects depends on several factors in addition to dosage. These include:

  • the severity of the condition you’re using sumatriptan to treat

  • how often you take sumatriptan

  • other health conditions you have

Talk with your doctor about how to decrease your risk of side effects from sumatriptan.

It’s possible. Long-term side effects usually start while you’re taking sumatriptan and continue for a long time. Some of the side effects reported in the drug’s studies that could possibly become long-term health problems include:

  • seizures, which can have long-term health consequences

  • medical emergencies, such as stroke, which can also have long-term health consequences

Talk with your doctor about ways to reduce your risk of long-term side effects from sumatriptan.

Sometimes. Certain rare side effects seen in sumatriptan studies are similar across all forms of the drug. These include high blood pressure and serotonin syndrome (a high level of the chemical serotonin). This is because these are side effects that happen after your body absorbs the drug.

Other side effects are specific to the drug’s form. For example, the nasal spray is more likely to cause nose discomfort. And the injectable forms can cause injection site reactions, such as pain or redness.

Talk with your doctor about the form of sumatriptan that will work best for you. For instance, if you take sumatriptan for migraine headaches and you are too nauseous to swallow a pill, one of the other forms may be a better choice.

 

Yes, it can be. Rebound headache is also called medication overuse headache. It was a rare side effect in studies of sumatriptan. It’s more likely when you take the drug for more than 10 days each month.

This is a serious side effect because it means your migraine episodes may be harder to treat later. Talk with your doctor about migraine prevention treatments that will help you use sumatriptan less often.

No, weight gain was not a side effect reported in sumatriptan studies. But other sumatriptan side effects might lead to weight gain. For example:

  • If you feel chest or throat tightness, you may be less likely to exercise.

  • If you have vertigo (a feeling of spinning), you may be cautious about exercise that requires balance.

  • If you have nausea, you may change your usual diet.

Talk with your doctor about sumatriptan side effects that interfere with your diet or exercise routine. They may have suggestions to help you get back on track.

Before taking sumatriptan, discuss your health history with your doctor. Sumatriptan may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

If you have questions about side effects that sumatriptan can cause, talk with your doctor. You can also ask them about Imitrex, which is the brand-name version of sumatriptan. A generic drug and its brand-name version are expected to have the same side effects because they contain the same active ingredient. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Here are a few ideas for questions you may want to ask your doctor.

  • Does my risk of high blood pressure increase if I take a higher dose of sumatriptan?
  • Are side effects from sumatriptan worse than those from other drugs that treat migraine?
  • Will my rebound headaches go away if I switch to a drug other than sumatriptan?
  • Can sumatriptan cause liver problems?
  • How can I tell if sumatriptan side effects are signs of a more serious problem?

To learn more about sumatriptan or Imitrex oral tablets, see these articles:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.