Imitrex's Dosage: What to Know

Imitrex is a brand-name prescription medication that contains the active drug sumatriptan. It belongs to a class of drugs called serotonin receptor agonists (triptans). Imitrex is available in a generic form.

This medication has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat migraine with or without aura. Additionally, the subcutaneous injection form is approved to treat cluster headache. Both uses are approved for adults.

In this article, you’ll find information about Imitrex’s dosage and details on how to use the drug. A comprehensive overview article of Imitrex discusses factors about conditions it treats. In addition, it discusses limitations of use and more.

If you’re interested in using Imitrex, search here to find a doctor who might prescribe it.

Commonly recommended dosages for Imitrex are shown below.

You should follow the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll recommend the dosage that’s best for your condition.

Imitrex comes in the following forms and strengths:

• Oral tablet: 25 milligrams (mg), 50 mg, and 100 mg
• Nasal spray: 5 mg and 20 mg
• Subcutaneous injection, using prefilled syringe cartridge with STATdose Pen: 4 mg and 6 mg

Usually, doctors will prescribe a low dosage of Imitrex at the start of treatment. Then, they’ll adjust the dosage over time if needed. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of Imitrex that gives the desired effect.

Your dosage for migraine or cluster headache will depend on several factors. (See the “Imitrex: Dosage Considerations” section below for more information.) Recommended dosages are presented in the table below. This includes oral tablet, nasal spray, and subcutaneous injection dosages.

* If the first dose relieved some of your symptoms, you can administer a second dose. Similarly, if the first dose relieved symptoms but the headache comes back, you can administer a second dose. (In both cases, separate the two doses as noted in the table.) However, if the first dose didn’t relieve symptoms at all, talk with your doctor before administering a second dose.
† Your doctor may have a specific recommendation in this situation. See “Can I use Imitrex injections and tablets together?” in the “Imitrex: Common questions about dosage” section below for information. As always, talk with your doctor about any dosage questions you may have.

Doctors typically prescribe Imitrex as a long-term treatment. You’ll likely use it long term if you and your doctor feel it’s safe and effective for your condition.

You won’t use Imitrex every day. You’ll use it only if you have an active migraine or cluster headache. The table above shows the forms used for each condition.

Imitrex is not recommended to treat more than four headaches within 30 days. Its safety in treating more than four headaches within 30 days has not been studied.

Below are some common questions related to Imitrex’s dosage.

You should always start with the dosage of Imitrex your doctor prescribes for you.

If you still have some symptoms after 2 hours of your first dose of the tablet or nasal spray, you may use a second dose. For both forms, if the first dose relieves your symptoms but the migraine comes back, you may administer a second dose.

If you still have some symptoms after 1 hour of administering the subcutaneous injection, you may administer a second dose. However, to treat migraine, your doctor may recommend using Imitrex injections and tablets for your symptoms. See “Can I use Imitrex injections and tablets together?” below for information. As always, talk with your doctor about any dosage questions you may have.

If your first dose provides no relief at all, talk with your doctor before administering a second dose. This applies for any form of Imitrex.

The maximum recommended Imitrex dosage per day depends on the dosage form:

• Oral tablet: 200 milligrams (mg)
• Nasal spray: 40 mg
• Subcutaneous injection, using prefilled syringe cartridge with STATdose Pen: 12 mg

Call your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure whether you should use an additional dose of Imitrex.

The recommended dosage instructions for Imitrex are in the table in the “Imitrex: Dosage” section above. These are based on the manufacturer’s clinical studies, which can be found here:

• oral tablets
• nasal spray
• subcutaneous injection

Always follow the dosage guidelines your doctor prescribes for you.

The safety of Imitrex for treating more than four headaches within 30 days has not been studied. For this reason, doctors don’t recommend using the maximum dosage more than four times per month.

The actual maximum dosage per month will depend on the dosage form you use. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure whether you should use more Imitrex.

This might be possible if your doctor recommends doing so.

If your migraine symptoms return after an injection of Imitrex, your doctor may recommend one of the following actions.

• Administer another injection. In this case, you may administer it 1 hour after the first Imitrex injection.
• Take a dose of Imitrex tablets. In this case, ask your doctor how long you should wait to take the tablet after the Imitrex injection.

As always, check with your doctor if you have questions.

Your doctor will consider several factors when prescribing the dosage for Imitrex. These factors include:

• the condition you’re using Imitrex to treat
• the severity of your condition
• the form of Imitrex you’re using
• other medical conditions you have

Your doctor may adjust your Imitrex dosage if you have certain other medical conditions. They also may adjust it if you aren’t tolerating Imitrex or it isn’t working for you.

Imitrex comes in the following forms and strengths:

• Oral tablets: 25 milligrams (mg), 50 mg, and 100 mg
• Nasal spray: 5 mg and 20 mg
• Subcutaneous injection, using prefilled syringe cartridge with STATdose Pen: 4 mg and 6 mg

Administer each form as follows.

Oral tablets. Swallow Imitrex whole. Do not chew, split, or crush the tablets. You don’t need to take the tablets with food, but you can take them if you’ve eaten recently. Food isn’t expected to affect how well Imitrex works.

If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to take this form of medication. You also can talk with your doctor or pharmacist about it or discuss other forms available.

Nasal spray. Spray a 5-mg or 20-mg dose of Imitrex into one nostril. However, to administer a 10-mg dose, you’ll spray 5 mg into each nostril.

Subcutaneous injection. Inject Imitrex into the skin of your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Talk with your doctor about what injection sites may be best for you. You may find these instructions for giving subcutaneous injections helpful.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

If you find it challenging to read the label on your prescription, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Certain pharmacies provide medication labels with large print or braille. They may also offer labels containing a scannable code that your smartphone can convert from text to speech. If your pharmacy doesn’t provide these choices, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If it’s difficult for you to open medication bottles, ask your pharmacist if they can dispense Imitrex in an easy-open container. They also may recommend ways to help make it easier to open the bottles.

For some drugs, taking more than the recommended dosage may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose. Do not administer more Imitrex than your doctor prescribes.

Call your doctor if you think you’ve used too much of this drug. Also, you can call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or a local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for additional information about Imitrex’s dosages. Keep in mind that the dosages presented in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Imitrex that’s right for you and your condition. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.

As with any medications you’re using, do not change your Imitrex dosage without a recommendation from your doctor.

In addition to discussing Imitrex with your doctor, you may find the following articles helpful in learning more.

• Overview of Imitrex. For comprehensive details on Imitrex, see this article.
• Drug comparisons. To learn how Imitrex compares with Maxalt, read this article.
• Information on side effects. If you’d like to know about possible side effects of Imitrex, view this article.
• Details about migraine. To learn more about migraine, which Imitrex is used to treat, see this article.

Disclaimer: Healthgrades has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.