Zomig 2.5mg Tablets

Migraine Doctor Service

Zomig tablets are used to treat migraine headaches. Zomig Tablets contain zolmitriptan and belong to a group of medicines called triptans.

It is not a painkiller but you can use this medicine if painkillers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have not worked. contain zolmitriptan and belong to a group of medicines called triptans.

How Zomig Works

This medication works to reverse the changes in the brain which induce migraines. It is thought to work by narrowing blood vessels around the brain, stopping pain signals from being sent to the brain, and blocking the release of certain natural substances that cause pain, nausea, and other symptoms of migraine.

• Zomig works only when a migraine attack has started. It will not stop you from getting an attack.
• Do not take it at the warning stage, before your migraine starts. This is when some people get symptoms of "aura".
• If used quickly, it can help alleviate the symptoms before they come on and many people find it much more effective than painkillers.
• Use of Zomig tablets is not recommended for children under 18 years old
• Use of Zomig tablets is not recommended for people aged over 65

You can order Zomig for migraine from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. To see if you are suitable for this treatment, complete the online assessment and checkout. Our UK registered doctors will review the order and after approval pass the prescription to the Pharmacy team. We will then dispense and dispatch your order to your chosen address.

Migraine

A migraine is usually a moderate or severe headache felt as a throbbing pain on 1 side of the head. Many people also have symptoms such as feeling sick, being sick and increased sensitivity to light or sound. 

Migraine is a common health condition, affecting around 1 in every 5 women and around 1 in every 15 men. They usually begin in early adulthood. There are several types of migraine, including:

• Migraine with "aura" – where there are specific warning signs just before the migraine begins, such as seeing flashing lights.
• Migraine without aura – the most common type, where the migraine happens without the specific warning signs.
• Migraine aura without headache, also known as silent migraine – where an aura or other migraine symptoms are experienced, but a headache does not develop.

Some people have migraines frequently, up to several times a week. Other people only have a migraine occasionally. It's possible for years to pass between migraine attacks.

A good self care guide and information for migraine is available on the NHS website.

NHS - Migraine

What Is Zomig?

Zomig is a prescription medication used in the treatment of diagnosed migraines. It helps relieve many of the symptoms associated with migraine attacks.

How Does Zomig Work?

Zomig works by reducing the widening of the blood vessels in the brain in turn which takes away the migraine and any associated symptoms.

What Is The Ingredient In Zomig?

The active substance is zolmitriptan. Zomig 2.5 mg  Tablets contain 2.5 mg of zolmitriptan. 

Can I Drink Alcohol With It?

Alcohol does not affect how zolmitriptan works. However, it's best not to drink alcohol during a headache attack. Migraines and cluster headaches can sometimes be triggered by alcohol.

Does Zomig Have To Be Taken With Food?

No, Zomig does not have to be taken with food. Zomig can take longer to work if it is taken after food. Although it is better to take it on an empty stomach, you can still take it if you have eaten.

Can Lifestyle Changes Help?

There are steps you can take to help prevent severe headaches. This includes working out what things trigger an attack so you can avoid them. Keeping a migraine diary can help.

If you smoke, it's a good idea to quit. People who smoke seem to have a higher risk of getting cluster headaches. Eating a healthy, balanced diet and avoiding trigger foods or drinks can also help.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Some of the symptoms below could be part of the migraine attack itself.

Stop taking Zomig and contact your doctor straight away if you notice any of the following:

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

• Allergic reactions including itchy rash (urticaria) and swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue and throat.

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

• Angina (pain in the chest, often brought on by exercise), heart attack or spasm of the blood vessels of the heart. The signs include chest pain and shortness of breath.
• Spasm of the blood vessels of the gut, which can cause damage to your gut. The signs include stomach pain or bloody diarrhoea.
• Bleeding in the brain (cerebral bleeding) or stroke.

Other possible side effects include:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

These side effects are usually mild and go away after a short time.

• Abnormal sensations such as tingling in your fingers and toes or skin that is sensitive to touch
• Feeling sleepy, dizzy or warm
• Headache
• Uneven heart beat
• Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
• Stomach pain
• Dry mouth
• Muscle weakness or muscle pain
• Feeling weak
• Heaviness, tightness, pain or pressure in the throat, neck, arms and legs, or chest
• Problems swallowing

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Very fast heart beat.
• Slightly higher blood pressure.
• Increase in the amount of water you pass (urine) or in how often you need to pass water.

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

• Sudden urgent need to pass water (urine).

For a full list of side effects, please read the Patient Information Leaflet.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, our Rightdose pharmacists or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can help to make medicines safer by reporting any side-effects to the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org.uk, or by contacting us.

Patient Information Leaflet Zomig 2.5mg Tablets

Children and adolescents

• Zomig is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years.

Other medicines and Zomig

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes herbal medicines and medicines you buy without prescription.

In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

Medicines for migraine

• If you take a triptan other than Zomig (such as sumatriptan or naratriptan) leave 24 hours before
  taking Zomig.
• After taking Zomig leave 24 hours before taking another triptan.
• If you take medicines containing ergotamine or ergot-type medicines (such as dihydroergotamine or methysergide), leave 24 hours before taking Zomig.
• After taking Zomig leave 6 hours before taking ergotamine or ergot-type medicines.

Medicines for depression

• Mono-Amine Oxidase Inhibitors, also known as MAOIs (such as moclobemide).
• SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, fluvoxamine or sertraline.
• SNRIs (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) such as venlafaxine or duloxetine.

Serotonin syndrome is a rare, life-threatening condition that has been reported in some patients who took Zomig in combination with so called serotonergic medicines (e.g. certain medicines for the treatment of depression).

Signs of serotonin syndrome may be for example agitation, restlessness, fever, excessive sweating, tremor, uncoordinated movement of limbs or eyes, uncontrollable jerking of muscles, twitching and muscle rigidity. Your doctor may advise you on this.

Other medicines

• Cimetidine (for indigestion or stomach ulcers).
• A quinolone antibiotic (such as ciprofloxacin).
• You should not take the herbal remedy St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) at the same time as this medicine. If you already take a St. John’s wort preparation, stop taking it and mention this to your doctor at your next visit.

Zomig with food and drink

• You can take Zomig with or without food. It does not affect the way that Zomig works.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility

It is not known if taking Zomig during pregnancy is harmful. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advise before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

• During a migraine attack your reactions may be slower than usual. Bear this in mind when you drive or use any tools or machines.
• Zomig is unlikely to affect driving or using tools or machines. However, it may make you feel sleepy. Wait to see how Zomig affects you before you try these activities.

Zomig contains Lactose

Zomig 2.5 mg tablets contain lactose which is a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

How to store Zomig

• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Store this medicine in the original package.
• Do not store above 25°C.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

You can take Zomig Tablets as soon as a migraine headache starts. You can also take it once an attack is underway.

Directions:

Adults (aged 18 to 65 years):

• The recommended dose is one tablet (2.5 mg).
• Swallow your tablet with a drink of water.
• You can take another tablet if the migraine is still present after two hours or if it returns within 24 hours.

If the tablets did not relieve your migraine, tell your doctor. Your doctor may raise the dose or change your treatment. Do not use more than the dose prescribed for you.

Do not use more than two doses in one day unless prescribed to by your doctor. The maximum daily dose is 10 mg.

Children (below 18 years): Zomig is not recommended for use in children and adolescents aged under 18 years.

Elderly (over 65 years): Zomig is not recommended for older adults over the age of 65 years.

If you take more Zomig than you should

• If you take more Zomig than prescribed by your doctor, talk to your doctor or pharmacist straight
  away or go to the nearest hospital straight away. Take this medicine with you.

If you forget to take Zomig

• Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take Zomig:

• If you are allergic to zolmitriptan or any of the other ingredients of this medicine 
• If you have high blood pressure.
• If you have ever had heart problems, including a heart attack, angina (chest pain caused by exercise or effort), Prinzmetal’s angina (chest pain which happens at rest) or have experienced heart related symptoms such as shortness of breath or pressure over the chest.
• If you have had a stroke or short-lasting symptoms similar to stroke (transient ischaemic attack or TIA).
• If you are at the same time taking some other medicines for migraine (e.g. ergotamine or ergottype medicines like dihydroergotamine and methysergide) or other triptan medicines for migraine

Do not take Zomig if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Zomig.

Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Zomig:

• If you are at risk of getting ischaemic heart disease (poor blood flow in the arteries of the heart). Your risk is greater if you smoke, have high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol, diabetes or if anyone in your family has ischaemic heart disease
• If you have been told that you have Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (a type of abnormal heart beat)
• If you have ever had liver problems
• If you have headaches which are not like your usual migraine headache
• If you are taking any medicine for treatment of depression 

If you go into the hospital, tell the medical staff you are taking Zomig.

As with other migraine treatments, taking too much Zomig can cause daily headaches or can make your migraine headaches worse. Ask your doctor if you think that this is the case for you. You may need to stop taking Zomig to correct the problem.

What Zomig 2.5 mg tablets contain

The active substance is zolmitriptan. Each tablet contains 2.5 mg of zolmitriptan.

The other ingredients are: hypromellose, lactose anhydrous, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, macrogol 400 and 8000, sodium starch glycolate, titanium dioxide (E171) and yellow iron oxide (E172).

What Zomig 2.5 mg tablets look like and contents of the pack

Zomig 2.5 mg tablets are yellow, round and marked with the letter ‘Z’ on one side and will come in blister packs containing 6 or 12 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Zomig may also be available as orodispersible 2.5 mg and 5 mg tablets, and nasal spray 5 mg/dose.