What is sumatriptan and naproxen?
Sumatriptan is a headache medicine. It is believed to work by narrowing the blood vessels
around the brain. Sumatriptan also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain,
nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.
Naproxen is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Naproxen works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.
The combination of sumatriptan and naproxen is used to treat migraine headaches.
Sumatriptan and naproxen
will only treat
a headache that has already begun.
It
will not prevent
headaches or reduce the number of attacks. This medication
should not be used to treat a migraine that causes visual aura (such as flickering lights) with weakness
on one side of the body, speech problems, ringing in your ears.
Sumatriptan and naproxen may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication
guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking sumatriptan and naproxen?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to sumatriptan (Imitrex), naproxen
(Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn), or if you have a history of asthma or allergic reaction caused by aspirin or
other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine),
indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), and others.
Do not take sumatriptan and naproxen if you have:
-
liver disease;
-
untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure; or
-
a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood
circulation problems, heart attack, stroke, or heart bypass surgery (also called coronary artery
bypass graft, or CABG).
Do not take sumatriptan and naproxen if you have taken a monoamine
oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), rasagiline
(Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or phenelzine (Nardil) in the past 14 days.
Do not take sumatriptan and naproxen within 24 hours before or after
taking any of the following medicines:
-
almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova),
naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), sumatriptan (Imitrex), or zolmitriptan
(Zomig); or
-
ergot medicine such as methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine
(Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal
Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), methylergonovine (Methergine).
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special
tests to safely use this medication. Before taking sumatriptan and naproxen, tell your doctor if you have:
-
high blood pressure;
-
congestive heart failure;
-
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
-
liver disease;
-
kidney disease; or
-
coronary artery disease (or risk factors that include
diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or 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).
FDA pregnancy category C. Sumatriptan and naproxen may be harmful
to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before you take this medication.
Taking naproxen during the last 3 months of pregnancy may result in birth defects.
Do not take sumatriptan and naproxen during pregnancy without your doctor's advice.
Sumatriptan and naproxen can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not
use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take sumatriptan and naproxen?
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow the instructions on your
prescription label.
Never use more than the recommended dose of sumatriptan and naproxen. Overuse of
migraine headache medicine can actually make your headaches worse. Tell your doctor if the medicine
seems to stop working as well in treating your migraine attacks.
Take one (1) sumatriptan and naproxen tablet as soon as you notice headache symptoms, or
after an attack has already begun.
Do not crush, chew, or break the tablet. Swallow the pill whole.
You may take this medication with or without food.
After taking a tablet:
If your headache does not completely go away, or
goes away and comes back, you may take a second tablet two (2) hours after the first.
You must wait at least 2 hours before taking a second tablet.
Do not take more
than 2 sumatriptan and naproxen tablets in 24 hours.
If your symptoms have not
improved, contact your doctor before taking any more tablets.
Contact your doctor if you have more than five headaches in one month (30 days).
If you take sumatriptan and naproxen every now and then over a long period of time, your
doctor may want to check you on a regular basis to make sure the medication is not causing harmful
effects. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
Naproxen can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who
treats you if you have taken sumatriptan and naproxen within the past 72 hours.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of sumatriptan and naproxen?
Since sumatriptan and naproxen is taken only when needed, it does not have a daily dosing
schedule.
Do not take more than 2 sumatriptan and naproxen tablets in 24 hours.
Where can I get more information about sumatriptan and naproxen?
Your pharmacist has information about sumatriptan and naproxen written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of sumatriptan and naproxen?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
runny or stuffy nose; hives; wheezing or trouble breathing; swelling of your face,
lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you a serious side effect such as:
-
chest pain or pressure, tight feeling in your neck or jaw, pain
spreading to your arm or shoulder;
-
sudden numbness or weakness, confusion, problems with
vision, speech, or balance;
-
bloody, or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that
looks like coffee grounds;
-
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
-
urinating less than usual or not at all;
-
pale skin, weakness, easy bruising, flu symptoms;
-
swelling or rapid weight gain;
-
numbness, tingling, pale or blue-colored appearance in your
fingers or toes;
-
severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
-
seizure (convulsions); or
-
anxiety, restlessness, high fever, sweating, memory
problems, trouble concentrating, loss of coordination, vomiting, diarrhea, fast heart rate,
hallucinations, or fainting.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
dizziness, drowsiness;
-
constipation, dizziness, indigestion, dry mouth;
-
warmth, numbness, or tingly feeling;
-
redness in your face;
-
tight muscles; or
-
mild pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body.
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. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about sumatriptan and naproxen?
Do not take more than 2 sumatriptan and naproxen tablets in 24 hours.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to sumatriptan (Imitrex) or naproxen
(Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn), or if you have a history of asthma or allergic reaction caused by aspirin or
other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
Do not take sumatriptan and naproxen if you have liver disease, uncontrolled high blood
pressure, or a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, heart attack,
stroke, or heart bypass surgery.
Do not take sumatriptan and naproxen if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or
phenelzine (Nardil) in the past 14 days.
Do not take sumatriptan and naproxen within 24 hours before or after
taking any of the following medications:
almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax),
frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), sumatriptan (Imitrex), or
zolmitriptan (Zomig), or ergot medicine such as methysergide (Sansert), ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat,
Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine
(Ergotrate), methylergonovine (Methergine).
What should I avoid while taking sumatriptan and naproxen?
Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or pain medication without first asking
your doctor or pharmacist. Medicines available over the counter contain aspirin, naproxen, or other
medicines similar to naproxen (such as ibuprofen or ketoprofen). If you take certain products together
you may accidentally take too much of this type of medication. Read the label of any other medicine
you are using to see if it contains aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or naproxen.
Do not drink alcohol while taking sumatriptan and naproxen. Alcohol can increase the risk
of stomach bleeding caused by naproxen.
Sumatriptan and naproxen can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions.
Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
What other drugs will affect sumatriptan and naproxen?
Many drugs can interact with sumatriptan and naproxen. Below is just a partial list. Tell your
doctor if you are using:
-
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
-
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
-
methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
-
probenecid (Benemid);
-
a diuretic (water pill) such as furosemide (Lasix);
-
steroids (prednisone and others);
-
aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs) such as diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin),
ketoprofen (Orudis), meloxicam (Mobic), and others;
-
an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril
(Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), ramipril
(Altace), and others;
-
a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol
(Coreg), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), and others; or
-
an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine
(Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), paroxetine (Paxil),
sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
sumatriptan and naproxen. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter
medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other
doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of sumatriptan and naproxen?
