From the Guidelines
Sumatriptan is associated with several common side effects, including nausea, warmth, vomiting, vertigo, malaise, headache, injection site reactions, and chest pressure and heaviness, as reported in the study published in the American Family Physician 1. The most common side effects of sumatriptan can be categorized into several groups, including:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms: nausea, vomiting
- Cardiovascular symptoms: chest pressure and heaviness
- Neurological symptoms: vertigo, malaise, headache
- Local symptoms: injection site reactions These side effects are generally mild to moderate in intensity and usually resolve within a few hours after taking sumatriptan. Some patients may experience more severe side effects, such as severe chest pain, shortness of breath, or slurred speech, which require immediate medical attention. It is essential to note that sumatriptan is contraindicated in patients with certain medical conditions, such as ischemic vascular conditions, vasospastic coronary disease, uncontrolled hypertension, or other significant cardiovascular disease, as reported in the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine 2. Patients with heart disease, uncontrolled hypertension, or a history of stroke should use sumatriptan with caution or avoid it altogether. In general, the side effects of sumatriptan result from its mechanism of action as it binds to serotonin receptors, causing blood vessel constriction and affecting pain pathways. Overall, sumatriptan is a effective medication for the treatment of migraines, but patients should be aware of the potential side effects and take necessary precautions to minimize their risk.
From the FDA Drug Label
The most common side effects of sumatriptan tablets include: tingling or numbness in your fingers or toes warm or cold feeling feeling weak, drowsy, or tired pain, discomfort, or stiffness in your neck, throat, jaw, or chest dizziness
The most common side effects of sumatriptan are:
- Tingling or numbness in fingers or toes
- Warm or cold feeling
- Feeling weak, drowsy, or tired
- Pain, discomfort, or stiffness in the neck, throat, jaw, or chest
- Dizziness 3
From the Research
Common Side Effects of Sumatriptan
The most common side effects of sumatriptan include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Malaise
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Injection site reactions (minor pain and redness of brief duration) in patients receiving subcutaneous sumatriptan 4, 5, 6
- Chest symptoms (mainly tightness and pressure) in 3 to 5% of sumatriptan recipients 4, 6
Less Common Side Effects
Less common side effects of sumatriptan include:
- Headache
- Heaviness
- Pressure
- Feelings of warmth 6
- A bitter taste at the back of the mouth after intranasal administration 5
Serious Adverse Events
Serious adverse events, such as acute myocardial infarction, occur in about 0.14% of patients with migraine treated with sumatriptan 5. The risk of severe cardiovascular adverse events after the use of a triptan is estimated at 1:100,000 treated attacks 7. A case-crossover study found that triptan initiation was associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction, although the risk was very low for individual patients with low background cardiovascular risk 8.