alsuma

Alsuma (sumatriptan) is a headache medicine that narrows blood vessels around the brain. Sumatriptan also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.

Alsuma auto-injector is used to treat migraine headaches and cluster headaches in adults. Alsuma will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

Alsuma should not be used to treat a common tension headache or a headache that causes loss of movement on one side of your body. Use this medicine only if your condition has been confirmed by a doctor as migraine headaches.

Important information

You should not use Alsuma if you have any history of heart disease or coronary artery disease, blood circulation problems, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe liver disease, circulation problems affecting your intestines, history of a stroke, or if your headache seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches.

Do not use Alsuma if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

Do not use Alsuma within 24 hours before or after using any migraine headache medicine..

Before using this medicine

You should not use Alsuma if you are allergic to sumatriptan, or if you have:

• coronary artery disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart;

• a heart disorder called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome;

• a history of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke, including "mini-stroke";

• untreated or or uncontrolled high blood pressure;

• severe liver disease;

• circulation problems affecting your intestines; or

• a headache that seems different from your usual migraine headaches.

Do not use Alsuma if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

To make sure Alsuma is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver or kidney disease;

• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

• high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder; or

• risk factors for coronary artery disease (such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).

Alsuma can affect your pupils during cataract surgery. Tell your eye surgeon ahead of time that you are using this medicine.

It is not known whether Alsuma will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine. Your name may need to be listed on a sumatriptan pregnancy registry.

Sumatriptan can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not breast-feed within 12 hours after using a Alsuma. If you use a breast pump during this time, throw out any milk you collect. Do not feed it to your baby.

This medicine should not be given to anyone under 18 or over 65 years of age.

How should I use Alsuma?

Use Alsuma auto-injector exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Overuse of migraine headache medicine can actually make your headaches worse.

Alsuma is injected under the skin. You will be shown how to use the Auto-Injector at home. Do not self inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection.

Alsuma Auto-Injector comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Use Alsuma as soon as you notice headache symptoms, or after an attack has already begun.

Your doctor may want to give your first dose of this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting to see if you have any serious side effects.

Alsuma is a disposable one time use, pre-filled auto-injector.

After using an injection: If your headache does not completely go away after the injection, call your doctor before using a second Alsuma injection. If your headache goes away and then comes back, you may use a second injection if it has been at least one hour since your first injection. Do not use more than two (2) injections in 24 hours. If your symptoms do not improve, contact your doctor before using any more injections.

Store Alsuma at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Throw away any unused auto-injectors after the expiration date on the label has passed.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Alsuma is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. Call your doctor promptly if your symptoms do not improve after using Alsuma.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include tremors, skin redness, scabs or scaly skin where you injected the medicine, weakness, lack of coordination, breathing problems, blue-colored lips or fingernails, vision problems, seizure (convulsions), or loss of movement in any part of your body.

What should I avoid while using Alsuma?

Do not use Alsuma within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including:

• sumatriptan tablets or nasal spray, almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or

• ergot medicine such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Migergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

Alsuma may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Alsuma side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Alsuma: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Alsuma and call your doctor if you have:

• sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea;

• numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes;

• seizure (convulsions);

• dangerously high blood pressure - severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, nosebleed, anxiety, confusion, severe chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats;

• heart attack symptoms - chest pain or pressure, tightness or pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;

• signs of a stroke - sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance; or

• (if you are also taking an antidepressant) - agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting.

Common Alsuma side effects may include:

• numbness or burning sensation;

• pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body;

• dizziness, drowsiness;

• feeling weak or tired;

• neck pain or stiffness;

• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling); or

• pain, redness, bleeding, swelling, or bruising where you injected the medicine.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Alsuma?

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Alsuma, especially:

• imatinib, isoniazid, nefazodone;

• an antibiotic - clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin;

• an antidepressant - amitriptyline, citalopram, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, escitalopram, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine, imipramine, nortriptyline, paroxetine, sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, or vilazodone;

• antifungal medication - itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole;

• heart medication - nicardipine, quinidine; or

• antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis C or HIV/AIDS - boceprevir, atazanavir, cobicistat (Stribild, Tybost), delavirdine, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, telaprevir.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with sumatriptan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.