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Last Updated 24 May 2010

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Imigran Recovery 50mg tablets

Imigran Recovery (Im-mig-ran rek-uv-very) is a medicine which is used in treatment of migraine attacks. Imigran Recovery contains sumatriptan succinate. It is supplied by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare.

The information in this Medicine Guide for Imigran recovery varies according to the condition being treated and the particular preparation used.

Imigran Recovery 50mg tablets

Information specific to Imigran Recovery 50mg tablets when used in treatment of migraine attacks

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Your medicine

Imigran Recovery is used to treat migraine attacks. During migraine attacks certain blood vessels in the brain become enlarged and this causes pain. Imigran Recovery constricts these blood vessels and helps to stop the pain of migraine attacks. Imigran Recovery should not be taken to prevent migraine attacks from occurring but it should be taken as soon as a migraine attack starts.

If you take a dose of Imigran Recovery for a migraine attack and it does not work you should not take another dose. If you take a dose of Imigran Recovery for a migraine attack and it works at first but then the pain comes back you can take another dose of Imigran Recovery. You must wait for at least two hours before taking this second dose. For more information about when to take Imigran Recovery and how much to take speak to your prescriber or pharmacist.

It is important that you try not to overuse Imigran Recovery. Frequent use of Imigran Recovery can make your migraines worse or make them occur more frequently.

Most medicines are only available on prescription, but some medicines can be bought without a prescription. The information about this medicine in this guide is presented as if this medicine has been prescribed for you. If you have bought your medicine without a prescription you may find that the information in this Medicine Guide is different to the information that comes with the non-prescription medicine. If you get this medicine without a prescription you should follow the instructions that come with it. If you have any questions about using non-prescription medicines you should always seek advice from your pharmacist or doctor.

If you got this medicine on prescription it will have a pharmacy label. The pharmacy label on your medicine tells you how much medicine you should take. It also tells you how often to take your medicine. This is the dose that you and your prescriber have agreed you should take.

If you feel that the medicine is making you unwell or you do not think it is working, then talk to your prescriber or someone involved in your medical care.

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When to take your medicine

Some medicines work best if they are taken at a specific time of day. Getting the most from your medicine can also be affected by what you eat, when you eat and the times at which you take other medicines. Make sure you follow any specific instructions given to you by your prescriber or that are in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with this medicine.

In the case of Imigran Recovery:

  • it is best to start using this medicine as soon as a migraine appears or as soon as you feel that one is starting to develop
  • do not take Imigran Recovery within 24 hours of taking ergotamine preparations or other triptans
  • do not take ergotamine preparations within six hours of taking Imigran Recovery
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How to take your medicine

Some medicines have specific instructions about how to take them. This is because they work better when taken correctly. These instructions can include getting the right dose and special instructions for preparing the medicine.

In the case of Imigran Recovery:

  • swallow the medicine whole with a glass of water

If you are having problems taking this form of Imigran Recovery, you should talk to your prescriber or pharmacist. They may be able to give you advice on other ways to take your medicine or other preparations that are easier for you to take.

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Taking too much of your medicine

Taking extra doses of some medicines can be harmful. In some cases even one extra dose can cause you problems. If you take extra doses of your medicine, you must get medical advice immediately. You may need a test to assess the effect of taking extra doses. This is because the effects of taking too much medicine are very complex so it is very important that you seek medical advice.

Contact your prescriber, pharmacist, specialist clinic or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for advice.

Make sure you take all of your medicine containers with you if you are advised to go to hospital.

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Stopping your medicine

Only stop taking this medicine on the advice of your prescriber or if the medicine has had its intended effect and you no longer need relief from your symptoms.

If you are in any doubt, contact your prescriber, pharmacist, specialist clinic or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

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Looking after your medicine

The instructions on how you should keep your medicine are on the pharmacy label. It is a good idea to keep your medicine in the original container. This will help to keep your medicine in the best condition and also allow you to check the instructions. Do not take the medicine if the packaging appears to have been tampered with or if the medicine shows any signs of damage. Make sure that the medicine is out of the sight and reach of children.

In the case of Imigran Recovery:

  • do not store in temperatures above 30°C

You must not take the medicine after the expiry date shown on the packaging. If you have any unused medicine, return it to your pharmacist who will dispose of it safely.

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Whether this medicine is suitable for you

Imigran Recovery is not suitable for everyone and some people should never use it. Other people should only use it with special care. It is important that the person prescribing this medicine knows your full medical history.

Your prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all if you:

Furthermore the prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all for someone who is under the age of 18 years.

If you have obtained this medicine without a prescription you should talk to your doctor if:

  • you have not had your migraines diagnosed by your doctor or your pharmacist
  • your migraines usually last longer than 24 hours
  • you get four or more migraine attacks per month
  • you get any of the following symptoms with your migraine attacks: weakness on one side of the body, double vision, co-ordination problems, tinnitus, reduced consciousness, seizures or a rash
  • the nature of your migraine attacks changes
  • your migraine attacks become more frequent, more persistent or more severe
  • you do not recover completely in between migraine attacks
  • you are aged over 50 years and were over the age of 50 years when you first started to have migraines
  • you are taking an oral combined contraceptive

Over time it is possible that Imigran Recovery can become unsuitable for some people, or they may become unsuitable for it. If at any time it appears that Imigran Recovery has become unsuitable, it is important that the prescriber is contacted immediately.

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Side-effects

A medicine is only made available to the public if the clinical trials have shown that the benefits of taking the medicine outweigh the risks.

Once a medicine has been licensed, information on the medicine's effects, both intended and unintended, is continuously recorded and updated.

Some side-effects may be serious while others may only be a mild inconvenience.

Everyone's reaction to a medicine is different. It is difficult to predict which side-effects you will have from taking a particular medicine, or whether you will have any side-effects at all. The important thing is to tell your prescriber or pharmacist if you are having problems with your medicine.

Common: More than 1 in 100 people who take Imigran Recovery:

  • breathing difficulties
  • feeling dizzy
  • feeling drowsy
  • feelings of heaviness, sensations of heat or cold, pressure or tightness in any part of the body - seek medical advice if you get chest pain or a sensation of tightness in your chest or throat
  • flushing
  • nausea
  • pain
  • raised blood pressure
  • sensory problems such as paraesthesia and hypoaesthesia
  • tiredness
  • vomiting
  • weakness

Very rare: Fewer than 1 in 10,000 people who take Imigran Recovery:

  • abnormal laboratory test results
  • abnormal muscle movement - seek medical advice if you get abnormal muscle movements
  • angina
  • double vision - seek medical advice if you get double vision
  • ECG changes
  • eye or eyesight problems - seek medical advice if you suffer from reduced vision, loss of vision or get flickering in your eyesight
  • faster heart rate
  • gastrointestinal problems
  • heart attack
  • heart problems
  • hypersensitivity reactions such as skin problems or anaphylaxis - seek medical advice if you develop a rash or other symptoms of hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis
  • lowered blood pressure
  • muscle twitching
  • palpitations
  • Raynaud's phenomenon
  • seizures - seek medical advice if you get seizures
  • slower heart rate
  • tremors
  • vasospasm

The frequency of these side-effects is unknown:

  • migraine - overuse of Imigran Recovery may make your migraines worse or make them occur more often. Seek medical advice if your migraines get worse or occur more often
  • serotonin syndrome - seek immediate medical advice if you get mental status changes, autonomic dysfunction or muscle problems
  • stroke

If you feel unwell or if you have concerns about a side-effect, you will need to seek advice. If you feel very ill, get medical help straight away. Contact your prescriber, pharmacist, nurse or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

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Taking other medicines

If you are taking more than one medicine they may interact with each other. At times your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, in other cases this may not be appropriate.

The decision to use medicines that interact depends on your specific circumstances. Your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, if it is believed that the benefits of taking the medicines together outweigh the risks. In such cases, it may be necessary to alter your dose or monitor you more closely.

Tell your prescriber the names of all the medicines that you are taking so that they can consider all possible interactions. This includes all the medicines which have been prescribed by your GP, hospital doctor, dentist, nurse, health visitor, midwife or pharmacist. You must also tell your prescriber about medicines which you have bought over the counter without prescriptions.

The following medicines may interact with Imigran Recovery:

  • ergotamine
  • methysergide

The following types of medicine may interact with Imigran Recovery:

If you are taking Imigran Recovery and one of the above medicines or types of medicines, make sure your prescriber knows about it.

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Complementary preparations and vitamins

Medicines can interact with complementary preparations and vitamins.

Make sure you tell your prescriber the names of all the complementary preparations and vitamins that you are taking or are planning to take.

Your prescriber can then decide whether it is appropriate for you to take combinations that are known to interact.

In the case of Imigran Recovery:

If you have been prescribed Imigran Recovery you should only take something on the above list on the specific advice of your prescriber or pharmacist.

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Driving and operating machinery

When taking any medicine you should be aware that it might interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.

In the case of Imigran Recovery:

  • this medicine could affect your ability to drive or operate machinery

You should see how this medicine affects you before you judge whether you are safe to drive or operate machinery. If you are in any doubt about whether you should drive or operate machinery, talk to your prescriber.

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Diet

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your prescriber may advise you to avoid certain foods.

In the case of Imigran Recovery:

  • there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when taking Imigran Recovery
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Alcohol

Alcohol can interact with certain medicines.

In the case of Imigran Recovery:

  • there are no known interactions between alcohol and Imigran Recovery
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Family planning and pregnancy

Most medicines, in some way, can affect the development of a baby in the womb. The effect on the baby differs between medicines and also depends on the stage of pregnancy that you have reached when you take the medicine.

In the case of Imigran Recovery:

  • the use of this medicine during pregnancy is not recommended. You should only take this medicine during pregnancy if your doctor thinks that you need it

You need to discuss your specific circumstances with your doctor to weigh up the overall risks and benefits of taking this medicine. You and your doctor can make a decision about whether you are going to take this medicine during pregnancy.

If the decision is that you should not have Imigran Recovery, then you should discuss whether there is an alternative medicine that you could take during pregnancy.

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Breast-feeding

Certain medicines can pass into breast milk and may reach your baby through breast-feeding.

In the case of Imigran Recovery:

  • do not breast-feed for at least 12 hours after you take the last dose of Imigran Recovery. Any breast-milk produced in this time should be discarded

Before you have your baby you should discuss breast-feeding with your doctor or midwife. They will help you decide what is best for you and your baby based on the benefits and risks associated with this medicine. You should only breast-feed your baby while taking this medicine on the advice of your doctor or midwife.

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Ingredients of your medicine

Medicines contain active ingredients. They may also contain other, additional ingredients that help ensure the stability, safety and effectiveness of the medicine. They are also added to improve the medicine's taste and appearance and to make it easier to take. Some may be used to prolong the life of the medicine.

You should check that you are able to take the ingredients in your medicine, especially if you have any allergies.

Imigran Recovery contains:

If you are not able to take any of the ingredients in your medicine, talk to your prescriber or pharmacist to see if they can suggest an alternative medicine. If you have reacted badly to Imigran Recovery before, do not take Imigran Recovery. Talk to your prescriber, pharmacist or nurse as soon as possible.

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Imigran Recovery, Version 3, last updated 24 May 2010