Zomig

What is Zomig?

Zomig is the brand name for a medicine named zolmitriptan. It is a selective serotonin receptor agonist of the 1B and 1D subtypes, and a member of the triptan class of drugs.

Zomig works to relieve the throbbing pain that comes when you suffer a migraine headache. It can also help with other migraine symptoms, such as nausea.

It is safe to be taken by adults over 18 years old. You must have a prescription to buy Zomig. 

What is Zomig used to treat?

Zomig is a commonly prescribed migraine treatment.

Zomig is most effective if taken at the initial onset of a migraine attack. However, it will still work to relieve symptoms if taken later on during an episode.

This medication should not be taken to prevent migraines from coming on; it should only be taken to relieve attacks as they happen.

Why is Zomig recommended for migraines?

Zomig contains zolmitriptan as its active ingredient. This medicine has been clinically researched and shown to be effective at relieving migraine symptoms, even in cases where patients have not responded to other types of treatment. 

Zolmitriptan is generally well tolerated, which means that you are unlikely to suffer any serious side effects. 

How does Zomig work?

It is believed that a migraine attack happens when the blood vessels in your head swell. Zomig works by reducing the widening of the blood vessels, relieving the effects associated with migraine including headaches, nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.

Zolmitriptan stops pain signals from being sent to the brain, it also prevents the release of natural substances created by the body that cause pain, nausea and other symptoms of a migraine.

Who can take Zomig?

Zomig is an effective treatment for migraine attacks, but it is not a suitable medicine for everyone to take.

You should speak to your doctor before you use Zomig if you have any of these conditions:

• You have high blood pressure
• You have an allergy to zolmitriptan or any of the other ingredients in this medicine
• You are taking any medicines to treat depression
• You have or have ever had heart problems (such as a heart attack, heart disease, angina), or any heart-related symptoms (such as shortness of breath or tightness in the chest)
• You are taking any other migraine treatments, whether prescribed or not
• You have liver problems
• You have or are at risk of getting ischaemic heart disease
• You are suffering from headaches that are more severe or different to the ones you usually get during migraine attacks
• You smoke, have high cholesterol or diabetes

If you need to go to hospital for any reason, you should inform the hospital staff that you are using Zomig.

This medicine is only suitable for adults aged 18 and over.

This list is not exhaustive. Please see the patient information leaflet, which will come with your medication, for complete details on why Zomig tablets might not be suitable for you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Can you buy Zomig over the counter?

No, you cannot buy Zomig without having a prescription from your doctor.

Can you buy Zomig online in the UK?

Zomig is a prescription-only medicine (POM). To buy Zomig online from Medicine Direct, you will first need to answer some questions in our simple online consultation questionnaire. Your answers will be assessed by one of our registered prescribers to make sure it is suitable for you to take.

If you place your order by 2pm, next day delivery is available on your medication.

You should never order any type of medicine online unless it is from a pharmacy that is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), like Medicine Direct. This guarantees your safety in purchasing approved and safe medication.

Zomig alternatives

If Zomig is not suitable for you, we stock many alternative medicines to treat migraine headaches. Aside from Zomig, we also sell generic Zolmitriptan, which you can purchase after completing a confidential online questionnaire for one of our registered prescribers to assess. Additionally, we sell other triptan medicines, including Almotriptan and Sumatriptan tablets, which get to work the same way as Zolmitriptan.

Alternatively, you could opt for a non-prescription alternative, such as Migraleve Pink. Containing paracetamol, codeine and buclizine, these tablets work to relieve the pain caused by migraines, as well as other symptoms like nausea and dizziness.

Anadin Extra caplets can also be bought from our pharmacy. Anadin Extra contains paracetamol and aspirin to provide comprehensive pain relief. It also contains caffeine to make sure the medicine gets to work straight away.

Zomig Dosage

Our pharmacists and prescribers follow NICE guidelines when prescribing Zomig.

You should always make sure you take Zomig exactly as instructed by your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the patient information leaflet thoroughly before taking it.

Zomig tablets should be swallowed whole and taken with a glass of water. It can be taken with or without food.

You can take Zomig as soon as the symptoms of a migraine attack start.

You can take a second dose after two hours if your migraine symptoms do not disappear, or if they come back.

The maximum dose is 10mg each day (2 5mg tablets). Do not take more than two doses of Zomig in a 24 hour period, unless instructed to do so by your doctor.

You should go back to your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, they may prescribe you a different migraine treatment.

Zomig Side Effects

These common side effects should go away after a short time, but go back to your doctor if these symptoms persist or don't go away:

• You feel weak
• You feel sleepy, warm or dizzy
• You have dry mouth
• You have heaviness, tightness, pain or pressure in your throat, neck, chest, arms or legs
• You have difficulty swallowing
• You have a pain in your stomach
• You have an uneven heartbeat
• You have muscle pain or muscle weakness
• You have a headache

You should stop taking Zomig and seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of these reactions:

• Bleeding in the brain
• Stroke
• Spasm of the blood vessels in the gut – this can damage your gut (symptoms include bloody diarrhoea and/or stomach pain)
• Angina, heart attack, spasm of the heart's blood vessels (signs include chest pain and shortness of breath)
• Increased heartbeat
• Needing to urinate more or less frequently

This list may not be exhaustive; you should refer to the patient information leaflet that will come with your medicine for a comprehensive list of undesired effects.

Zomig warnings and drug interactions

Other drugs may interact with Zomig and hinder its effectiveness.

You should always make your doctor and pharmacist aware if you are taking any of these medicines:

• Any medication to treat depression
• Cimetidine
• Any quinolone antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin)
• Any medicine or remedy that contains St. John's Wort

If you are already taking any other triptans, you should stop taking them at least 24 hours before you use Zomig. Similarly, after you take Zomig, you should wait a minimum of 24 hours before taking any other triptan medicine.

Wait at least 6 hours after taking Zomig if you need to take any ergotamine or ergot-type medicines.

Always inform your doctor of any medicine you are currently using before taking a new prescription drug. This includes both prescription and non-prescription medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements. Speak to your pharmacist for more information.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

There is insufficient evidence to prove either way as to whether Zomig is dangerous to use during pregnancy. For this reason, you should make sure you inform your doctor before you use Zomig if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or think you might be pregnant.

If you are currently breastfeeding, small amounts of this medication can get into your breast milk and be passed on to your baby. You should tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Zomig Ingredients

The main active ingredient within this medicine is: Zolmitriptan.

For a full list of the inactive ingredients, please read the Summary of Product Characteristics.

Is Zomig the same as zolmitriptan?

Zolmitriptan is the active ingredient contained in Zomig. These medicines are both used to treat migraine symptoms. Generic Zolmitriptan is also available to buy from Medicine Direct and is a cheaper alternative.

Is zolmitriptan an opioid?

No, zolmitriptan belongs to the triptan class of drugs. It is not an opioid.

Can you take Zomig two days in a row?

You can take Zomig two days in a row if required, although you must not exceed the maximum dose in a 24-hour period. If you regularly need to take zolmitriptan more than two days each week, you may suffer a medication-induced headache, which occurs when you take a triptan medicine too frequently.

Can you overdose on Zomig?

It is possible to overdose on Zomig if you exceed the maximum dose. If you take more than you were supposed to, you should call 111 or go to the nearest hospital immediately. If you need to go to a hospital, take the medicine and the patient information leaflet with you, so the doctor knows what you have taken.

How quickly does Zomig work?

Zomig should have provided relief from your migraine symptoms within two hours of being taken. If your migraine is still bothering you after two hours or comes back within 24 hours, you can take a second tablet.

Can Zomig cause rebound headaches?

Headaches are a common side effect of taking Zomig. This is may be caused by taking too much of the medication. To reduce the risk of headaches, only take the instructed dose of Zomig. Taking Zomig too frequently can also cause headaches or make your migraine headache even worse.

How many days in a row can you take Zomig?

You should only take Zomig when you suffer a migraine headache. Taking this medicine more than 10 days each month can cause side effects and may make your headaches worse. You may suffer a headache caused by taking too much medicine. If you need to take a triptan medicine regularly, you should talk to your doctor.

Does Zomig thin your blood?

No, Zomig works to narrow the blood vessels around the brain to relieve the symptoms of a migraine headache. It will not thin your blood.

Is Zolmitriptan stronger than Sumatriptan?

Studies have shown that Zolmitriptan 2.5mg is “significantly stronger” than Sumatriptan 50mg when relieving headaches. It was concluded that people who took Zolmitriptan were more likely to benefit from 24-hour pain relief compared to those taking Sumatriptan.

Is Zomig a painkiller?

Although Zomig can help to relieve the pain and discomfort that is caused by a migraine headache, it is not a generic painkiller and should not be used for any problem other than migraines. Do not take Zomig to relieve problems like toothache or period pain.