Imigran medication uses sumatriptan as its active ingredient. Sumatriptan is a serotonin agonist and is known as 5HT agonist. Because of its properties, the active ingredient is also known as ‘triptans’ in common. This is a painkiller type of medication used by migraine patients.
Before learning about how Imigran works, let us have a look at why migraine headaches occur. Even though the actual cause of why migraine occurs is still unknown, it is thought that migraine attacks occur the blood vessels in the brain widen and thus the throbbing pain is caused. The active ingredient used in this medication helps the blood vessels in the brain to narrow and thus helps in relieving the headaches caused by migraine. It helps to do so by stimulating the serotonin receptors that are also known as 5HT receptors in brain. Normally, our body produces a natural substance known as serotonin in the serotonin receptors to help narrow down the brain blood vessels. These receptors thus help in relieving migraine pain by narrowing the blood vessels situated in brain.
Sumatriptan, the active ingredient used in Imigran, help the patients by stimulating the serotonin receptors. This causes more serotonin to be produced. This is the reason why physicians advise the patients to have this medication right after the migraine attacks have started. However, the properties of this medication has made it able for this medication to help relieve migraine attack pains even if it is taken after a longer period after the attack has started. Migraine headaches also cause the stomach functions to slow down. In some cases, they even cause the stomach function to stop altogether. Therefore, the stomach loses the ability to absorb the medicine. Only after the stomach absorbs the medicine can it be absorbed in blood and flow to the serotonin receptors.
There are some things to not when taking this medication. This medication is only used to help relieve migraine pain meaning that this medication has to be taken after a migraine attack has occurred. None should use this medication as migraine preventer as it does not help in preventing the migraine headaches from happening. Because of health risk factors associated with this medication, this medication should not be taken without a doctor’s consult and this medication should be used as a treatment procedure only after the patient has been diagnosed of migraine. If the patient who uses this medication sees that the medication is not helping to relieve the migraine pain then he or she should refrain from taking any further amount of this medication. It is because this medication might not be effective for all. If the first dosage helps in relieving pain then this medication can be taken when the next attack occurs.
However, if the migraine attack returns afterwards, this medication should not be taken within 2 hours of first dosage. This medication can be taken again for another migraine attack only after at least two hours have passed after the first dosage. It has been advised to not take exceeding amount of this medication than prescribed. Doctors advise their patients to not take more than 300 milligrams of this medication in a 24-hour period, as it will harm the patients.
If this medication does not help in relieving migraine pain then doctors should be consulted. In addition to this, this medication should not be used on regular basis. It is because taking painkillers makes our body tolerant to its effect. Therefore, taking it regularly can cause our body to resist its effect and thus aid the migraine attack. There are some side effects associated with Imigran and those who take this medication should be aware of it.