Side Effects Of Sumatriptan

Like all medicines, sumatriptan can cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only minor ones.

Common side effects

These common side effects of sumatriptan happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They're usually mild and do not last long. Some of the side effects are similar to the symptoms of migraine or cluster headaches. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and these side effects bother you or last more than a few days.

Serious side effects

It happens rarely, but some people have serious side effects when taking sumatriptan.

Do not take any more sumatriptan and tell a doctor urgently, or call 111 straight away if you get continued or increasing:

• tightness or tingling in your face, arms, legs or chest
• unusual feelings of heaviness in your face, arms, legs or chest
• feelings of warmth or cold in your face, arms, legs or chest

These feelings usually do not last for long. If they continue, or become severe or intense, seek medical help straight away.

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to sumatriptan.

Call 999 now if:

• your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
• your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
• your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• someone faints and cannot be woken up
• a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of sumatriptan. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Reporting side effects

You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.

Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.

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