Zolmitriptan is a headache medicine that narrows blood vessels around the brain. Zolmitriptan also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.

Zolmitriptan is used to treat migraine headaches in adults.

Zolmitriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

Zolmitriptan should not be used to treat a common tension headache, a headache that causes loss of movement on one side of your body, or any headache that seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches. Use this medication only if your condition has been confirmed by a doctor as migraine headaches.

Zolmitriptan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use zolmitriptan if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart problems, certain heart rhythm disorders, a history of heart attack or stroke, or circulation problems that cause a lack of blood supply within the body.

Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

Do not use zolmitriptan within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine.

Zolmitriptan comes as a tablet and an orally disintegrating tablet (tablet that dissolves quickly in the mouth) to take by mouth. It is usually taken at the first sign of a migraine headache. If your symptoms improve after you take zolmitriptan but return after 2 hours or longer, you may take a second tablet. However, if your symptoms do not improve after you take zolmitriptan, do not take a second tablet without calling your doctor. Your doctor will tell you the maximum number of tablets or orally disintegrating tablets you may take in a 24-hour period. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take zolmitriptan exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

You may take your first dose of zolmitriptan in a doctor's office or other medical facility where you can be monitored for serious reactions.

If your doctor has prescribed a dose lower than 2.5 mg, you may use your fingers to break the 2.5-mg tablet on the line that divides it in half. However, you should not break or split the orally disintegrating tablet.

To take the orally disintegrating tablet, use dry hands to peel back the foil packaging. Immediately take out the tablet and place it on your tongue. The tablet will quickly dissolve and can be swallowed with saliva. No water is needed to swallow disintegrating tablets. Do not open the foil packaging or remove the orally disintegrating tablet until just before you are ready to take it.

Call your doctor if your headaches do not get better or occur more frequently after taking zolmitriptan.

If you take zolmitriptan more often or for longer than the recommended period of time, your headaches may get worse or may occur more frequently. You should not take zolmitriptan or any other headache medication for more than 10 days per month. Call your doctor if you need to take zolmitriptan to treat more than three headaches in a 1-month period.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not use zolmitriptan in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Use zolmitriptan as soon as you notice migraine symptoms.

Take the regular tablet whole with a full glass of water.

To take the orally disintegrating tablet (Zomig-ZMT):

• Keep the tablet in its blister pack until you are ready to take it. Open the package and peel back the foil. Do not push a tablet through the foil or you may damage the tablet.

• Use dry hands to remove the tablet and place it in your mouth.

• Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing. If desired, you may drink liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet.

After taking a tablet: If your headache does not completely go away, or goes away and comes back, take a second tablet 2 hours after the first. Do not take more than 10 mg of zolmitriptan in 24 hours. If your symptoms have not improved, contact your doctor before taking any more tablets.

Call your doctor if your headache does not go away at all after taking the first zolmitriptan tablet.

Never use more than your recommended dose. Overuse of migraine headache medicine can make headaches worse.

Contact your doctor if you have more than four headaches in one month (30 days). Tell your doctor if this medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your migraine attacks.

Zolmitriptan can raise blood pressure to dangerous levels. Your blood pressure may need to be checked often while you are using this medicine. Your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG).

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

You should not use zolmitriptan if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• coronary heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart;

• a history of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke, including "mini-stroke";

• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome;

• severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;

• a blood vessel disorder or circulation problems that cause a lack of blood supply within the body; or

• a headache that seems different from your usual migraines.

Do not use zolmitriptan if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

To make sure zolmitriptan is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease, high blood pressure, or a heart rhythm disorder;

• epilepsy or seizures;

• liver or kidney disease;

• a condition for which you take cimetidine (Tagamet); or

• coronary heart disease (or risk factors such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).

Zolmitriptan disintegrating tablets may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of zolmitriptan if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether zolmitriptan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Zolmitriptan is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Since zolmitriptan is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. Call your doctor promptly if your symptoms do not improve after using zolmitriptan.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from light, excess heat, and moisture (not in the bathroom). Dispose of any orally disintegrating tablets that you removed from the blister pack but did not use immediately.

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Do not take zolmitriptan within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including:

• zolmitriptan nasal spray, almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, or sumatriptan; or

• ergot medicine--dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine.

Zolmitriptan may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Zolmitriptan may cause serious side effects. Stop using zolmitriptan and call your doctor at once if you have:

• feeling of tightness in your jaw, neck, throat, or chest;

• fast or pounding heartbeats, dizziness;

• sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea;

• heart attack symptoms--chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating; or

• high levels of serotonin in the body--agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting.

Common side effects of zolmitriptan may include:

• pain or tightness in your throat or chest;

• dry mouth, upset stomach;

• pressure or heavy feeling anywhere in your body;

• drowsiness, feeling tired; or

• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Using zolmitriptan while you are using certain other medicines can cause high levels of serotonin to build up in your body, a condition called "serotonin syndrome," which can be fatal. Tell your doctor if you also use:

• medicine to treat depression;

• medicine to treat a psychiatric disorder;

• a narcotic (opioid) medication; or

• medicine to prevent nausea and vomiting.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with zolmitriptan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Keep all appointments with your doctor. Your blood pressure should be checked regularly.

You should keep a headache diary by writing down when you have headaches and when you take zolmitriptan.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.