SUMAGRAN ACTIVE
Sumatriptan (as succinate) 50mg film coated tablet
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about SUMAGRAN ACTIVE. It does
not contain all the information available on this medicine. It does not take
the place of talking to your pharmacist or doctor. All medicines have risks
and benefits. Your pharmacist or doctor has weighed the risks of you taking
SUMAGRAN ACTIVE against the benefits they expect it will have for you. If you
have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may want to read it again.
What SUMAGRAN ACTIVE is used for and how it works
Your SUMAGRAN ACTIVE tablets contain the active ingredient, sumatriptan
succinate. Sumatriptan belongs to a group of medicines known as serotonin
agonists.
SUMAGRAN ACTIVE is used for the acute relief of migraine attacks, with or
without what is known as 'aura' or a forewarning of an attack. This may
include visual disturbances such as brilliant flickering lights or blurring of
vision; or sensory disturbances such as numbness or weakness of the limbs.
SUMAGRAN ACTIVE is only suitable in patients who have a stable,
well-established pattern of symptoms. It should not be used to prevent
migraine attacks from occurring.
Migraine attacks are thought to be caused by the swelling of blood vessels
in the brain. Sumatriptan helps to relieve the symptoms of a migraine attack
by reducing the size of the blood vessels back to normal. SUMAGRAN ACTIVE
tablets help to relieve other symptoms that occur together with a migraine
headache, such as feeling sick and sensitivity to light and sound.
SUMAGRAN ACTIVE does not relieve the symptoms of other headaches that are
not migraine headaches.
SUMAGRAN ACTIVE is available from your pharmacist in packs of two tablets
for use in patients who have a stable, well-established pattern of symptoms.
Before you take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE
When you must not take it
- Do not take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE if you are allergic to sumatriptan
succinate, sulfur (e.g. sulfonamides) or any ingredients listed at the end
of this leaflet
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; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
- Do not take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE if you have or have ever had:
- Heart disease, or previous heart attack
- Vascular problems (including a stroke or clot)
- High blood pressure
- Angina, including Prinzmetal's angina
- Shortness of breath, pain or tightness in the chest, neck, jaw or
upper arm - Liver failure
- Do not take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE if you have taken Monoamine oxidase
inhibitors (MAOIs), a type of medicine used for depression within the last
14 days.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you are unsure as to whether or not you are
taking a MAOI
- Do not take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE if you have taken any of the following
other medicines used to treat migraines in the past 24 hours:- Other Sumatriptan containing medicines (eg. Imigran)
- Other medicines belonging to the group of medicines known as the
triptans or serotonin agonists (eg. naratriptan, rizatriptan) - Ergotamine containing preparations (eg. Cafergot) or derivatives of
ergotamine (including methylsergide containing preparations (eg. Deseril)
- Do not take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE if you are pregnant, plan to become
pregnant or you are breastfeeding, without first discussing this with your
doctor.
Your pharmacist or doctor will assess the risks and benefits of taking
SUMAGRAN ACTIVE if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Do not take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE after the expiry date (EXP)
printed on the pack.
If you take them after the expiry date has passed, they may not work as
well.
- Do not take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE if the packaging is torn or shows
signs of tampering.
If you have not told your pharmacist or doctor about any of the above, tell
them before you take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE.
Before you take it
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are allergic to:
- Any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives
- Lactose, or if you are lactose intolerant
- Any other medicines, especially any medicine that contains sulfur
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you have, or have ever had any other
health problems, especially the following:
- Liver or kidney problems
- A stroke
- Epilepsy or fits
- Brain tumour, or any other condition effecting the brain
- Any problems with your heart, including irregular heart beats, or if you
have a family history of heart problems - High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Angina or any other chest pain or tightness
- Shortness of breath, pain of tightness in the chest, neck, jaw or upper
arm
If you have not told your pharmacist or doctor about any of the above, tell
them before you take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE.
You must tell your pharmacist or doctor if:
- You are over 65 or under 18 years of age
SUMAGRAN ACTIVE is only suitable for patients between 18 and 65 years of age
- You are taking a medicine for depression called a selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)
Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you are unsure as to whether or not you are
taking a SSRI - Your headache has not been diagnosed by a doctor as a migraine
- You have different symptoms, or if you feel that this migraine is
different or worse than your usual migraine - You have difficulty moving one side of your body when you have a
"migraine" headache - It has been at least 2 hours since you took your first dose of SUMAGRAN
ACTIVE and your symptoms have not improved.
Taking other medicines
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking any other medicines, or
have taken any other medicines in the past two weeks, including any that you
buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health shop.
Some medicines may affect how well other medicines work. Your pharmacist or
doctor has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while
taking SUMAGRAN ACTIVE.
How to take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE
Follow all directions given to you by your pharmacist or doctor carefully
and read the instructions on the carton.
How much to take
Take ONE tablet at once at the first sign of a migraine attack.
If after taking the first SUMAGRAN ACTIVE tablet, your symptoms improve
but return later, you may take a second SUMAGRAN ACTIVE tablet. Wait at
least two hours after the first SUMAGRAN ACTIVE tablet was taken.
DO NOT take more than two SUMAGRAN ACTIVE tablets in 24 hours and DO NOT
take more than two tablets for the same attack.
If the first SUMAGRAN ACTIVE tablet is not effective at relieving or
helping your migraine symptoms, DO NOT take another tablet for the same
attack. The second SUMAGRAN ACTIVE can be used at a later date to treat
another migraine attack.
How to take it
SUMAGRAN ACTIVE tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Do
not crush or chew the tablets. It does not matter if you take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE
before or after food.
When to take it
It is best to take your SUMAGRAN ACTIVE tablet either when the migraine
headache begins or when other symptoms of the migraine headache begin. These
symptoms may include nausea (feeling sick), vomiting or your eyes becoming
sensitive to light.
If you take your first SUMAGRAN ACTIVE tablet during the migraine attack,
and not at the beginning as recommended, it may still work for you.
Do not take your SUMAGRAN ACTIVE tablet before the above symptoms occur.
While you are taking SUMAGRAN ACTIVE
Things you must do
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are
currently, or have recently taken SUMAGRAN ACTIVE.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your pharmacist
or doctor that you are currently, or have recently taken SUMAGRAN ACTIVE.
If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding, tell
your doctor or pharmacist.
Things you must not do
Do not give SUMAGRAN ACTIVE to anyone else, even if they have the same
condition as you.
Do not use SUMAGRAN ACTIVE to treat any other medical complaints.
Do not use SUMAGRAN ACTIVE for any other headache that is not a migraine
headache. . SUMAGRAN ACTIVE only treats migraine headaches.
Do not take SUMAGRAN ACTIVE to try and prevent a migraine attack.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how SUMAGRAN
ACTIVE affects you.
Drowsiness may occur as a result of a migraine or its treatment with SUMAGRAN
ACTIVE. It is therefore important that you are certain SUMAGRAN ACTIVE does
not affect your performance before you drive a car or operate machinery.
Side effects
Tell your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel
well while you are taking SUMAGRAN ACTIVE.
Like all medicines, SUMAGRAN ACTIVE can have some unwanted effects.
Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need
medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you notice any of the following and
they worry you:
- flushing, dizziness or feelings of weakness
- drowsiness or fatigue (tiredness)
- nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting
- feelings of tingling, warmth, cold, heaviness, pressure, or pain in
different parts of the body - decreased feeling or sensitivity, especially in the skin.
These are generally mild adverse effects and may occur in a small number of
people.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
- visual disturbances including flicking, double vision or changes in your
vision - shaking, tremors or uncontrolled movement
- changes in the speed of your heart rate (increase or decrease) or
irregular heart beat.
These may be serious side effects. You may require urgent medical
attention. These side effects are rare.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your
nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
- pain, heaviness, pressure or tightness in any part of the body including
the chest or throat - swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in
swallowing or breathing - wheezing
- sudden or severe itching, skin rash or hives
- fainting, seizures or fits
If you experience any of these side effects, you may have had a serious
allergic reaction to SUMAGRAN ACTIVE. You may need urgent medical attention or
hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare.
The list of side effects mentioned above is not complete. If you should
suffer from any of these side effects or any other undesired effect please
tell your pharmacist or doctor.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not
experience any of them.
In case of overdose
Immediately contact your doctor or the National Poisons Information
Centre (0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) or go to the Emergency department at your
nearest hospital, if you think that you may have taken too much, or if anyone
else has taken SUMAGRAN ACTIVE by mistake. Do this even if there are no signs
of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Take
the pack of SUMAGRAN ACTIVE with you if you can.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
Storage conditions
Storage
Keep SUMAGRAN ACTIVE 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 SUMAGRAN ACTIVE in a cool dry place where the temperature
stays below 25°C.
Do not store SUMAGRAN ACTIVE or any other medicine in the bathroom or near
a sink. Do not leave SUMAGRAN ACTIVE in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Disposal
If you do not take your SUMAGRAN ACTIVE tablet(s) or it has passed the
expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with the remaining medicine.
List of ingredients
SUMAGRAN ACTIVE comes in a pack containing two tablets.
Each tablet contains 50mg of the active ingredient, sumatriptan.
Each tablet also contains lactose, microcrystalline cellulose,
croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, polydextrose,
hypromellose, glycerol triacetate, polyethylene glycol, iron oxide red and
iron oxide yellow.