Zomig

zolmitriptan

Zomig, or zolmitriptan, is in a class of drugs called Triptans and is used to relieve pain from migraines.

While side effects cannot be anticipated, some common reactions include chest pain or tightness, cold sensation, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, feeling of heaviness in the chest or elsewhere, indigestion, jaw pain or tightness, nausea, neck pain or tightness, pain, skin tingling, sweating, throat pain or tightness, warm sensation and weakness.

In July 2006, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public heath advisory warning of a potential life-threatening problem known as serotonin syndrome, which may develop in patients who take Zomig while taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, popular anti-depressants. Both types of drugs are designed to boost the levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain.

In January 2007, AstraZenece Pharmaceuticals, maker of Zomig, updated the product’s label to include information about the development of serotonin syndrome when taking Zomig with SSRIs.

Other triptan drugs include:

• Amerge (naratriptan)
• Axert (frovatriptan)
• Imitrex (sumatriptan)
• Frova (frovatriptan)
• Maxalt (rizatriptan)
• Relpax (eletriptan)

Some SSRIs that may cause serotonin syndrome when combined with triptan drugs include:

• Celexa (citalopram)
• Fluvoxamine
• Lexapro (escitalopram)
• Paxil (paroxetine)
• Prozac (fluoxetine)
• Symbyax (olanzapine/fuloxetine)
• Zoloft (sertraline)