imitrex should be taken as soon as your symptoms appear, but may be used at any time during an attack.

imitrex is available in three forms: injection, tablets, and nasal spray.

imitrex injection is administered just below the skin with an autoinjector (self-injection device). choose a site where the skin is thick enough to take the full length of the needle (1/4 inch). avoid injecting imitrex into a muscle or a vein. your doctor should instruct you on how to use the autoinjector and how to dispose of the empty syringes. you should also read the instruction pamphlet that comes with the medication. you can take a second injection if your headache returns.however, never take more than 2 imitrex injections within 24 hours, and be sure to wait 1 hour between doses of.

imitrex tablets should be swallowed whole, with liquid. if you have had no relief 2 hours after taking imitrex tablets, you may take a second dose of up to 100 milligrams, if your doctor advises it. if the headache returns, you may take additional doses of imitrex at intervals of at least 2 hours. you should not take more than 300 milligrams in one day. if your headache returns after you have had an imitrex injection, you may take single imitrex tablets, at intervals of at least 2 hours, up to a maximum of 200 milligrams in a day.

imitrex nasal spray is packaged in single-dose bottles containing either 5 or 20 milligrams of the drug. the usual imitrex dosage is a single spray in one nostril. if the headache returns, you may repeat the imitrex dose once after 2 hours. do not take more than 40 milligrams a day.

imitrex dosage for adults:

• imitrex injection: the maximum single recommended imitrex dose for an adult is 6 milligrams injected under the skin. the maximum recommended imitrex dose that may be given within 24 hours is two 6 milligram injections taken at least 1 hour apart.
  
  
• imitrex tablet: the usual imitrex dose for an adult is 25, 50 or 100 milligram tablet taken with water or other liquid. the most you should take at one time is 100 milligrams, and the most you should take in 1 day is 200 milligrams. imitrex doses should be spaced at least 2 hours apart.
  
  if you have liver disease, you should not take more than 50 milligrams of imitrex tablets at one time.
  
  
• imitrex nasal spray: the recommended adult dose ranges from 5 to 20 milligrams taken when the attack begins and repeated once, if necessary, 2 hours later. imitrex nasal spray doses are usually taken as a single spray in one nostril, but if a 10 milligram dose works best for you, you can take it as a 5 milligram spray in each nostril. do not use more than 20 milligrams at a time, or take more than 40 milligrams a day.

imitrex overdosage: any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. if you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

symptoms of imitrex overdose may include: bluish tinge to the skin, convulsions, dilated pupils, inactivity, lack of coordination, paralysis, redness in the arms and legs, skin changes at the site of injection, slow breathing, sluggishness, tremor.

if you miss a dose imitrex is not for regular use. take it only during an attack.

storage instructions for imitrex: store imitrex away from heat and light, at room temperature, in the case provided. if your medication has expired (the expiration date is printed on the treatment pack), throw it away as instructed, but keep the autoinjector. if your doctor decides to stop your treatment, do not keep any leftover medicine unless your doctor tells you to. throw away your medicine as instructed.

preparations of imitrex: the medication can be administered orally or by injection.

• tablets: 25mg, 50mg, 100mg
• injection: 6mg
• nasal spray: 20 mg
  
  

special information on imitrex, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the effects of imitrex during pregnancy have not been adequately studied. if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. imitrex does appear in breast milk and could affect a nursing infant.

if this medication is essential to your health, your doctor may advise you to discontinue breastfeeding until your treatment with imitrex is finished.

side effects of imitrex cannot be anticipated. if any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking imitrex.

more common side effects of imitrex: may include, burning sensation, dizziness or vertigo, feeling of heaviness, feeling of tightness, flushing, mouth and tongue discomfort, muscle weakness, nausea (nasal spray), neck pain and stiffness, numbness, pressure sensation, redness at the site of injection, sinus or nasal discomfort (nasal spray), sore throat, tingling, unusual taste (nasal spray), vomiting (nasal spray), warm/cold sensation.

less common or rare side effects of imitrex: may include, abdominal discomfort, agitation, allergic reactions (severe), anxiety, asthma, backache, backflow of stomach contents, bleeding between periods, bleeding in ears, nose or throat, breast tenderness, burning/numbness of tongue, changes in heart rhythm, chills, cold sensation, confusion, constipation, cough, depression, diarrhea, difficult or labored breathing, difficult or painful urination, difficulty concentrating, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, drowsiness/calmness, dry mouth, ear infection, ear pain, exaggerated feeling of well-being, eye irritation, facial pain, fainting, fatigue, feeling strange, fever, general feeling of illness, headache, hearing loss, hearing disturbance, heavy feeling, hives, incoordination, increased urination, intolerance of noise or light, itching, jaw discomfort, joint problems, muscle cramps, muscle pain or tenderness, painful menstruation, pressure in chest, rapid and throbbing heartbeat, rash, ringing in the ears, rise or fall in blood pressure (temporary), sensation of lightness, sensitivity to noise or heat, shivering, shortness of breath, sinus inflammation, sinus or nasal discomfort, skin eruptions, skin redness or tenderness, sleep disturbances, smell disturbances, stomach problems, sweating, swelling, tearing, thirst, tight feeling in head, tightness in chest, tremors, vision changes or loss. in addition to the above side effects, people taking imitrex for cluster headache may experience nausea, a \"pins and needles\" sensation, vomiting, or wheezing.