The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zecuity (sumatriptan iontophoretic transdermal system) for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Zecuity is a single-use, battery-powered patch that actively delivers sumatriptan, the most widely prescribed migraine medication, through the skin. Zecuity provides relief of both migraine headache pain and migraine-related nausea (MRN).
Zecuity is a single-use, battery-powered patch applied to the upper arm or thigh during a migraine. Following application and with a press of a button, Zecuity initiates transdermal delivery (through the skin), bypassing the gastrointestinal tract. Throughout the four-hour dosing period, the microprocessor within Zecuity continuously monitors skin resistance and adjusts drug delivery accordingly to ensure delivery of 6.5 mg of sumatriptan, the most widely prescribed migraine medication, with minimal patient-to-patient variability.
The most common side effects of Zecuity are application site pain, tingling, itching, warmth and discomfort. Most patients experience some skin redness after removing Zecuity. This redness typically goes away in 24 hours.
Zecuity Patient Information
Read this Patient Information before you start using Zecuity and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment.
What is the most important information I should know about Zecuity?
Zecuity can cause serious side effects, including:
Heart attack and other heart problems. Heart problems may lead to death.
Stop using Zecuity and get emergency medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a heart attack:
- discomfort in the center of your chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back
- chest pain or chest discomfort that feels like an uncomfortable heavy pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain
- pain or discomfort in your arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
- shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
- breaking out in a cold sweat
- nausea or vomiting
- feeling lightheaded
Zecuity is not for people with risk factors for heart disease unless a heart exam is done and shows no problem. You have a higher risk for heart disease if you:
- have high blood pressure
- have high cholesterol levels
- smoke
- are overweight
- have diabetes
- have a family history of heart disease
- are a female who has gone through menopause
- are a male over age 40
What is Zecuity?
Zecuity is a prescription medicine used for the acute treatment of migraine headaches with or without aura in adults. Zecuity comes in an iontophoretic transdermal system (TDS) that uses a mild electrical current to deliver the medicine sumatriptan through your skin.
Zecuity is used for people who have been told by a healthcare provider that they have migraine headaches.
Zecuity is not used to prevent or decrease the number of migraine headaches you have.
It is not known if Zecuity is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.
Who should not use Zecuity?
Do not use Zecuity if you have:
- heart problems or a history of heart problems
- had a stroke, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), or problems with your blood circulation
- narrowing of blood vessels to your legs, arms, stomach, or kidney (peripheral vascular disease)
- uncontrolled high blood pressure
- hemiplegic migraines or basilar migraines. If you are not sure if you have these types of migraines, ask your healthcare provider
- taken any of the following medicines in the last 24 hours:
- almotriptan (Axert)
- eletriptan (Relpax)
- frovatriptan (Frova)
- naratriptan (Amerge)
- rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT)
- sumatriptan and naproxen (Treximet)
- ergotamines (Cafergot, Ergomar, Migergot)
- dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal)
Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if your medicine is listed above.
- severe liver problems
- an allergy to sumatriptan, the medicine in Zecuity, or any of the components in Zecuity TDS. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in Zecuity.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Zecuity?
Before you use Zecuity, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have high blood pressure
- have high cholesterol
- have diabetes
- smoke
- are overweight
- are a female who has gone through menopause
- have heart problems or family history of heart problems or stroke
- have liver problems
- have had epilepsy or seizures
- are not using effective birth control
- have or have had any side effects caused by the use of electrical devices. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are not sure if you have a medical electronic device or sensitivities to electrical devices.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Zecuity will harm your unborn baby.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if the medicine in Zecuity passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will use Zecuity or breastfeed. You should not do both.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Using Zecuity with certain other medicines can affect each other, causing serious side effects.
Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take anti-depressant medicines called:
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider or pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I use Zecuity?
- Read the Instructions for Use in the package that comes with your Zecuity TDS for information about the right way to use Zecuity TDS.
- Certain people should apply their first dose of Zecuity in their healthcare provider’s office or in another medical setting. Ask your healthcare provider if you should use your first dose in a medical setting.
- Zecuity is for use on the skin only.
- Use Zecuity exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.
- Apply one Zecuity to your upper arm or thigh.
- Do not apply Zecuity to other areas of your body. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are not sure where to apply Zecuity.
- If your headache comes back or you only get some relief from your headache, you may apply a second Zecuity to your other arm or thigh, no sooner than 2 hours after the activation of the previously applied Zecuity.
- Do not apply more than two Zecuity in 24 hours.
- If you use too much Zecuity, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
- It is not known if using more than four Zecuity in one month is safe.
What should I avoid?
- Do not bathe, shower, or swim while wearing Zecuity.
- Zecuity can cause dizziness, weakness, or drowsiness. If you have these symptoms, do not drive a car, use machinery, or do anything where you need to be alert.
- You should remove Zecuity before you have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) procedure.
Zecuity side effects
See What is the most important information I should know about Zecuity?
Zecuity may cause serious side effects including:
Most people have some skin redness after removal of Zecuity. This redness will usually go away in 24 hours.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of Zecuity. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Call your healthcare provider 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)
How should I store Zecuity?
- Store Zecuity at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
- Do not store Zecuity in the refrigerator or freezer.
Keep Zecuity and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about the safe and effective use of Zecuity
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use Zecuity for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Zecuity to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.
This Patient Information leaflet summarizes the most important information about Zecuity. If you would like more information, talk to your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about Zecuity that is written for healthcare professionals.
For more information, go to www.Zecuity.com or call 1-855-ZECUITY.
What are the ingredients in Zecuity?
Active ingredient: sumatriptan succinate
Inactive ingredients:
- Sumatriptan Reservoir Card and pad: purified water, basic butylated methacrylate copolymer (polyamine), lauric acid, adipic acid, methylparaben, and non-woven viscose pad.
- Salt Reservoir Card and pad: purified water, hydroxypropylcellulose, sodium chloride, methylparaben, and non-woven viscose pad.
- Iontophoretic device: medical grade adhesive fabric, foam and plastic dome containing an activation button, coin cell lithium batteries, and electronics.
