Iptam (Sumatriptan Succinate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Iptam Used For?
Iptam contains sumatriptan succinate and is specifically designed to treat migraine attacks in patients who have a stable, well-established pattern of migraine symptoms.
Primary Uses
Iptam is used to relieve migraine attacks in patients with established migraine patterns. It can treat migraines with or without ‘aura’ (warning signs before the headache). It should not be used to prevent migraine attacks from occurring and does not work for other types of headaches that are not migraines.
How It Works
Migraine headaches are thought to be caused by the widening of certain blood vessels in the head. Iptam works by returning those blood vessels to their normal size, which helps ease migraine symptoms.
Good to know: There is no evidence that Iptam is addictive.
How to Take Iptam
Your doctor will determine the right dose of Iptam for you. Always follow their instructions carefully and swallow the tablets whole with water.
Dosage Instructions
The recommended starting dose for adults is 50 mg, but your doctor may increase this to 100 mg if needed. Do NOT take more than 300 mg of Iptam in any 24-hour period. If the first tablet helps but your migraine returns later, you may take another tablet. However, do NOT take more tablets if the first dose provided no relief. Take Iptam when your migraine headache begins or when other migraine symptoms start (like nausea, vomiting, or light sensitivity). Do not take Iptam before symptoms occur.
How to Take
Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not crush or chew the tablet as it has a bitter taste. It’s best to take Iptam as soon as migraine symptoms begin, though it will still work if taken later during the attack.
Important: Never take more than 300 mg in 24 hours. If the first dose doesn’t help, don’t take more tablets – this means Iptam may not be the right treatment for you.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Pain, tingling, heat or flushing in any part of the body
- Sleepiness, dizziness or tiredness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Changes in blood pressure
- Feeling faint
- Shaking or tremors
- Uncontrolled movements
- Shortness of breath
- Breast pain
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Feelings of heaviness, pressure or tightness in chest or throat
- Irregular heartbeats
- Fits or convulsions
- Problems with eyesight
- Lower abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea (ischemic colitis)
- Persistent purple discoloration and/or pain in fingers, toes, ears, nose or jaw in response to cold
- Allergic reactions: wheezing, swelling of lips/mouth, difficulty breathing, hay fever, hives, fainting
Important Warnings
Iptam is not suitable for everyone. There are important conditions and situations where you should not take this medication.
Who Should Not Take Iptam
Do not take Iptam if you: are allergic to sumatriptan succinate or lactose; have or have had heart disease, heart attack, chest pain, or shortness of breath; have peripheral vascular disease or circulation problems; have Prinzmetal’s angina or regular angina; have high blood pressure; have had a stroke; have severe liver disease; have taken certain migraine medicines (ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, methysergide, naratriptan, zolmitriptan) in the last 24 hours; have taken MAOIs, SSRIs, or SNRIs for depression in the last two weeks.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: allergies to foods, dyes, or medicines containing sulfur; liver or kidney problems; heart problems or stroke history; risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history of heart/blood vessel problems; obesity, diabetes, or epilepsy; are male over 40 or female past menopause; smoke; are under 18 or over 65; think this headache is different from your usual migraines; have difficulty moving one side of your body during migraines; plan to have surgery.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits. If breastfeeding, avoid nursing for 24 hours after taking Iptam and discard any breast milk expressed during this time.
Children: Iptam is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 as safety and effectiveness have not been established in this age group.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines can interfere with Iptam and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medications you’re taking.
Important: Tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal preparations you take, especially those bought without prescription.
- Ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, methysergide (within 24 hours)
- Other triptan medications (naratriptan, zolmitriptan)
- MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) for depression
- SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
- SNRIs (serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors)
- Herbal preparations containing St John’s Wort
- Other medicines for depression, anxiety, or OCD
Alcohol & Driving
Iptam can affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Take precautions until you know how this medication affects you.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful when driving or using machines until you know how Iptam affects you. This medication may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or light-headedness in some people, especially after the first dose. If you experience any of these effects, do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that could be dangerous.
Storage
Store Iptam tablets in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Keep the tablets in their original pack until it’s time to take them – if you remove them from the pack, they won’t keep well. Store in a place away from moisture, heat, and sunlight (not in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills). Keep out of reach of children – a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground is ideal.
Overdose Information
If you think you or anyone else has taken too much Iptam, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department right away, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Iptam works best when taken as soon as migraine symptoms begin, though it will still be effective if taken later during the migraine attack. The medication works by returning widened blood vessels in the head to their normal size.
The medication guide doesn’t specify food restrictions. Iptam should be swallowed whole with water and should not be crushed or chewed due to its bitter taste.
No, there is no evidence that Iptam is addictive.
If the first Iptam tablet doesn’t provide any relief, do not take more tablets. You may use Iptam for at least three separate migraine attacks before you and your doctor decide if the medicine is ineffective for you.
You may take your usual headache relief medication provided it does not contain ergotamine or methysergide. Do not take other migraine medications like ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, methysergide, naratriptan, or zolmitriptan within 24 hours of taking Iptam.
Do not take more than 300 mg of Iptam in any 24-hour period. If your migraine improves but returns later, you may take another tablet. However, taking Iptam too often may make your headaches worse.
Iptam is taken as needed when migraine symptoms occur, not on a regular schedule. Take it when your migraine headache begins or when other migraine symptoms start, but do not take it before symptoms occur.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.