Please read this carefully before starting to take your medicine. The smaller 3-tablet pack is designed for first-time users, to see if it works on their migraine attacks, or for people with only a few attacks a year.

Imigran tablets contain sumatriptan, the first of a new group of medicines developed for the treatment of migraine. The symptoms of migraine may be due to swollen blood vessels around the brain. Medicines like Imigran probably work by reducing the size of these blood vessels and are called 5HT₁ agonists.

• Are you taking any medicines for your migraine which contain ergotamine? (If so, you should stop taking them at least 24 hours before taking Imigran tablets)
• Are you taking any medicines on a doctor’s prescription for the treatment of depression or to help you lose weight?
• Are you pregnant, or likely to become pregnant, or breast feeding? (See also back of this leaflet) - Are you over 65 years of age? - Do you have a family history of heart disease?

Did you tell your doctor at the last visit or an earlier visit?

You should also talk to your doctor before using these tablets if you have been told you have sugar diabetes, or a high blood cholesterol or if you are a regular cigarette smoker or if you are very overweight.

Your doctor will advise you about taking the medicine.

It should say WHO should take them, HOW MANY and WHEN. If it does not or you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist or follow this advice

At the first signs of a migraine attack take ONE tablet. If this does not make your migraine better do NOT take a second tablet.

If your migraine goes then comes back you may take another tablet. Up to two recurrences can be treated in this way in 24 hours. DO NOT TAKE MORE THAN 3 tablets in any 24 hour period.

Because there is little experience of its use in children or those over 65 years of age it is not usually prescribed for these age groups.

Swallow each tablet whole with a little water. Do not chew or crush them.

• After starting to take your tablets

Within an hour or two of taking a tablet most people find their migraine is much better. If the tablet does not ease your migraine, then you may take your usual 'pain killers', provided they do not contain ergotamine Wait at least six hours after taking an Imigran tablet before taking any medicines containing ergotamine. Most people find taking this medicine causes no problems. As with most medicines, a few people may find they have side-effects to it.

See the back of this leaflet for more information.

a migraine attack coming on.

Keep the tablets away from heat (below 30°C/86°F) which could spoil them.

As with all medicines, keep Imigran tablets safely

away from children. A child may be harmed by

medicine prescribed for someone else

More information on IMIGRAN TABLETS

Each long white tablet contains:

Other ingredients include lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, titanium dioxide

(E171) and sodium benzoate (E211).

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause unwanted effects. Most people taking this medicine find it causes no problems.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side-effects occur:

Sudden wheeziness, fluttering or tightness in the chest Swelling of eyelids, face or lips

Skin rash - red spots or hives (skin lumps)

If you notice any of these side-effects it may be that you are allergic to the medicine.

Do not take any more of the tablets unless your doctor tells you to do so.

A few people may notice the following side-effects:

Feelings of tingling, warmth, heaviness, pressure, tightness or sometimes pain in different parts of the body, including the chest or throat; although sometimes very strong they usually pass off in a few minutes. If they continue or are particularly severe (especially chest pain) tell your doctor immediately.

Do NOT take any more tablets; your doctor will decide if you should stop using them.

Also;

Tiredness or sleepiness (IMPORTANT if you are driving or working a machine)

Dizziness

Flushing (redness of face lasting a few minutes)

Feeling of weakness

Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting) - when not part of migraine attack.

These are not usually very troublesome and pass off with time. There is no need to stop treatment unless you find them too unpleasant.

If you feel unwell or have any other unusual discomfort you don't understand it is important to tell your doctor as soon as possible.

It is important to keep to the dose on the label. Taking more than this could make you ill. If an overdose is taken, DO NOT DELAY, ask your doctor what to do or contact your nearest hospital emergency department.

As with most medicines it is better not to take Imigran tablets if you are pregnant, especially during the first few months of the pregnancy. Your doctor will advise you.

The sumatriptan in Imigran tablets may pass into mothers' milk. It is better, therefore, that breastfeeding mothers do NOT take these tablets.

If you do not get satisfactory relief of your migraine by taking Imigran tablets then tell your doctor at your next visit.

• What to do with any unused tablets

If your doctor stops your treatment do not keep any left-over tablets unless your doctor tells you to. Return any unused tablets to your pharmacist for safe disposal .

Do not use Imigran tablets after the expiry date printed on the treatment pack but return them to your pharmacist.

• Remember

This medicine is for YOU. Only a doctor can prescribe it for you. Never give the tablets to someone else. There may be reasons why they could harm that person.

• Further information

This leaflet does not contain all the information about your medicine. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist who has the information you need and will advise you.

Pharmaceutical Companies are not allowed to answer questions from patients about their diseases.

There are two national organisations which offer both help and advice on migraine:

The British Migraine Association

178a High Road

Byfleet, Weybridge

Surrey KT14 7ED

Telephone: 0932-352468

The Migraine Trust

45 Gt. Ormond Street

London WC1N 3HD

Telephone: 071-278 2676

You may well be able to find out more about prescribed medicines from books in public libraries.

Product Licence held by Glaxo Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd Stockley Park, England

Manufactured by Glaxo Pharmaceuticals UK Limited Speke, Liverpool, England

IMIGRAN is a trade mark

Leaflet written September 1993