Imigran vs Zomig

Migraines are a complex debilitating condition affecting over 80 million people in the UK. There is a wide variety of medication available to help treat the condition and it is important to understand the differences before making a decision as to which medication may be better for you.

The most common group of medications are called 5HT1-receptor agonist (“triptans”), most commonly prescribed as sumatriptan (brand name, Imigran) or zolmitriptan (brand name, Zomig). This group of medications work by acting on the 5HT (serotonin) 1B/1D receptors that reverse the temporary widening of the blood vessels in the brain. This alleviates the pain and other symptoms associated with migraine attacks including nausea and sensitivity to light. Choice of medication between the different triptans depends on the severity and regularity of your migraines.

	Imigran (Sumatriptan)	Zomig (Zolmitriptan)
Active Ingredient	Sumatriptan	Zolmitriptan
Form	Tablets, nasal spray	Tablets, oro-dispersible tablets, nasal spray
Strength	50mg and 100mg tablets 20mg nasal spray	2.5mg and 5mg  5mg nasal spray
Directions	Tablets: 50mg (some patients may require 100mg); dose may be repeated after at least 2 hours if migraine recurs; max. 2 tablets in 24 hours.  Nasal Spray:1 spray (20 mg) into one nostril; dose may be repeated once after at least 2 hours if headache recurs; max. 40 mg in 24 hours.	Tablets: 2.5mg (some patients may require 5mg); dose may be repeated after at least 2 hours if migraine recurs; max. 2 tablets in 24 hours. Nasal Spray: 1 spray (5 mg) into one nostril; dose may be repeated once after at least 2 hours if headache recurs; max. 10 mg in 24 hours.
Legal Classification	Tablets: 50mg available from behind the pharmacy counter, 100mg prescription only Nasal spray: prescription only	Tablets: prescription only Nasal Spray: prescription only
How fast does it work?	Tablets: between 30-60 minutes Nasal Spray: 15 minutes	Tablets: between 30-60 minutes Nasal Spray: 15 minutes
How long do the effects last?	Tablets: approximately 2 hours	Tablets: approximately 2 hours
Common Side Effects	Dizziness, flushing, nausea, drowsiness, vomiting.	Tingling of the fingers and toes, sleepiness, headache, palpitations, nausea, stomach pain, feeling weak, dry mouth.
Pharmica Cost	Tablets: prices start from £18.99 Nasal Spray: prices start from £24.99	Tablets: prices start from £9.99 Nasal Spray: prices start from £54.99

Clinical studies have shown no significant difference in effectiveness between the different triptans. Patients may find some medicines are more effective than others and often it is trial and error before you can determine which will work better for you. Each medication should be tried a minimum of three times before assessing suitability. The good news is that if you found one particular triptan was unsuccessful at treating your migraines, another triptan may be much more useful for providing pain relief.