Clinical drug

zolmitriptan 2.5 MG/ACTUAT Nasal Spray [Zomig]

2.5 MG/ACTUAT · Nasal Spray · nasal

A form of zolmitriptan

zolmitriptan 2.5 MG/ACTUAT Nasal Spray [Zomig] — Selective serotonin (5HT1) agonists. INDICATIONS AND USAGE ZOLMITRIPTAN NASAL SPRAY is indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults and pediatric patients

zolmitriptan 2.5 MG/ACTUAT Nasal Spray [Zomig]

Active ingredient

Classification

Selective serotonin (5HT1) agonistsSerotonin-1b and Serotonin-1d Receptor Agonist

Drug interactions

Zolmitriptan has several contraindicated interactions with other drugs, particularly those affecting serotonin levels and vasospasm risk.

  • majorcimetidine — increased half-life and AUC of zolmitriptan
  • majorergotamine-containing drugs — prolonged vasospastic reactions
  • majorMAO-A inhibitors — increased systemic exposure of zolmitriptan
  • major5-HT 1B/1D agonists (e.g. triptans) — increased risk of vasospastic reactions
  • majorSSRIs/SNRIs — risk of life-threatening serotonin syndrome

Indications

INDICATIONS AND USAGE ZOLMITRIPTAN NASAL SPRAY is indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older. Limitations of Use Only use ZOLMITRIPTAN NASAL SPRAY if a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established. If a patient has no response to ZOLMITRIPTAN NASAL SPRAY treatment for the first migraine attack, reconsider the diagnosis of migraine before ZOLMITRIPTAN NASAL SPRAY is administered to treat any subsequent attacks. ZOLMITRIPTAN NASAL SPRAY is not indicated for the prevention of migraine attacks. Safety and effectiveness of ZOLMITRIPTAN NASAL SPRAY have not been established for cluster headache. Not recommended in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) ] . ZOLMITRIPTAN NASAL SPRAY is a serotonin (5-HT) 1B/1D receptor agonist (triptan) indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older (1) Limitations of Use: Use only after a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established (1) Not intended for the prophylactic therapy of migraine (1) Not indicated for the treatment of cluster headache (1) Not recommended in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment (1)

Dosage

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • Recommended starting dose: 1.25 mg or 2.5 mg ( 2.1 ) • Maximum single dose: 5 mg ( 2.1 ) • May repeat dose after 2 hours if needed; not to exceed 10 mg in any 24-hour period ( 2.1 ) • Do not break zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets ( 2.2 ) • Moderate or Severe Hepatic Impairment: 1.25 mg recommended ( 2.3 , 8.6 ) 2.1 Dosing Information The recommended starting dose of zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets is 1.25 mg or 2.5 mg. The 1.25 mg dose can be achieved by manually breaking the functionally-scored 2.5 mg tablet in half. The maximum recommended single dose of zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets is 5 mg. In controlled clinical trials, a greater proportion of patients had headache response following a 2.5 mg or 5 mg dose than following a 1 mg dose. There was little added benefit from the 5 mg dose compared to the 2.5 mg dose, but adverse reactions were more frequent with the 5 mg dose. If the migraine has not resolved by 2 hours after taking zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets, or returns after a transient improvement, a second dose may be administered at least 2 hours after the first dose. The maximum daily dose is 10 mg in any 24-hour period. The safety of zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets in the treatment of an average of more than three migraines in a 30-day period has not been established. 2.2 Administration of Zolmitriptan Orally Disintegrating Tablets Instruct patients not to break zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets because they are not functionally-scored. Administration with liquid is not necessary. Orally disintegrating tablets are packaged in a blister pack. Instruct patients not to remove the tablet from the blister until just prior to dosing. Subsequently, instruct patients to peel the blister pack open, and to place the orally disintegrating tablet on the tongue, where it will dissolve and it will be swallowed with the saliva. 2.3 Dosing in Patients with Hepatic Impairment The recommended dose of zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment is 1.25 mg (one-half of one 2.5 mg zolmitriptan tablet) because of increased zolmitriptan blood levels in these patients and elevation of blood pressure in some of these patients. Limit the total daily dose in patients with severe hepatic impairment to no more than 5 mg per day. The use of zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets is not recommended in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment because these orally disintegrating tablets should not be broken in half [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.6 ), and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ) ] . 2.4 Dosing in Patients taking Cimetidine If zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets are co-administered with cimetidine, limit the maximum single dose of zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets to 2.5 mg, not to exceed 5 mg in any 24-hour period [see Drug Interactions ( 7.5 ), Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ) ].

Warnings

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Myocardial Ischemia/Infarction, and Prinzmetal Angina : Perform cardiac evaluation in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors ( 5.1 ) Arrhythmias : Discontinue zolmitriptan if occurs ( 5.2 ) Chest/Throat/Neck/Jaw Pain, Tightness, and Pressure : Generally not associated with myocardial ischemia; evaluate for CAD in patients at high risk ( 5.3 ) Cerebral Hemorrhage, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, and Stroke : Disc33ontinue zolmitriptan if occurs ( 5.4 ) Gastrointestinal Ischemic Reactions and Peripheral Vasospastic Reactions : Discontinue zolmitriptan if occurs ( 5.5 ) Medication Overuse Headache : Detoxification may be necessary ( 5.6 ) Serotonin Syndrome : Discontinue zolmitriptan if occurs ( 5.7 , 7.4 ) Patients with Phenylketonuria : Zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets contain phenylalanine ( 5.9 ) 5.1 Myocardial Ischemia, Myocardial Infarction, and Prinzmetal Angina Zolmitriptan is contraindicated in patients with ischemic or vasospastic coronary artery disease (CAD) . There have been rare reports of serious cardiac adverse reactions, including acute myocardial infarction, occurring within a few hours following administration of zolmitriptan. Some of these reactions occurred in patients without known CAD. 5-HT 1 agonists including zolmitriptan may cause coronary artery vasospasm (Prinzmetal Angina), even in patients without a history of CAD. Perform a cardiovascular evaluation in triptan-naïve patients who have multiple cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., increased age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, obesity, strong family history of CAD) prior to receiving zolmitriptan. Do not administer zolmitriptan if there is evidence of CAD or coronary artery vasospasm [ see Contraindications ( 4 ) ]. For patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors who have a negative cardiovascular evaluation, consider administrating the first zolmitriptan dose in a medically-supervised setting and performing an electrocardiogram (ECG) immediately following zolmitriptan administration. For such patients, consider periodic cardiovascular evaluation in intermittent long-term users of zolmitriptan. 5.2 Arrhythmias Life-threatening disturbances of cardiac rhythm including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation leading to death have been reported within a few hours following the administration of 5-HT 1 agonists. Discontinue zolmitriptan if these disturbances occur. Zolmitriptan is contraindicated in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or arrhythmias associated with other cardiac accessory conduction pathway disorders [ see Contraindications ( 4 ) ]. 5.3 Chest, Throat, Neck and Jaw Pain/Tightness/Pressure As with other 5-HT 1 agonists, sensations of tightness, pain, and pressure in the chest, throat, neck, and jaw commonly occur after treatment with zolmitriptan and is usually non-cardiac in origin. However, perform a cardiac evaluation if these patients are at high cardiac risk. 5-HT 1 agonists including zolmitriptan are contraindicated in patients with CAD or Prinzmetal's variant angina [ see Contraindications ( 4 ) ] . 5.4 Cerebrovascular Events Cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and stroke have occurred in patients treated with 5-HT 1 agonists, and some have resulted in fatalities. In a number of cases, it appears possible that the cerebrovascular events were primary, the 5-HT 1 agonist having been administered in the incorrect belief that the symptoms experienced were a consequence of migraine, when they were not. As with other acute migraine therapies, before treating headaches in patients not previously diagnosed as migraineurs, and in migraineurs who present with symptoms atypical for migraine, exclude other potentially serious neurological conditions. Zolmitriptan is contraindicated in patients with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack [ see Contraindications ( 4 ) ]. 5.5 Other Vasospasm Reactions 5-HT 1 agonists, including zolmitriptan, may cause non-coronary vasospastic reactions, such as peripheral vascular ischemia, gastrointestinal vascular ischemia and infarction (presenting with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea), splenic infarction, and Raynaud's syndrome. In patients who experience symptoms or signs suggestive of a vasospastic reaction following the use of any 5-HT 1 agonist, rule out a vasospastic reaction before receiving additional zolmitriptan doses [ see Contraindications ( 4 ) ]. Reports of transient and permanent blindness and significant partial vision loss have been reported with the use of 5-HT 1 agonists. Since visual disorders may be part of a migraine attack, a causal relationship between these events and the use of 5-HT 1 agonists have not been clearly established. 5.6 Medication Overuse Headache Overuse of acute migraine drugs (e.g., ergotamine, triptans, opioids, or a combination of drugs for 10 or more days per month) may lead to exacerbation of headache (medication overuse headache). Medication overuse headache may present as migraine-like daily headaches or as a marked increase in frequency of migraine attacks. Detoxification of patients, including withdrawal of the overused drugs, and treatment of withdrawal symptoms (which often includes a transient worsening of headache) may be necessary. 5.7 Serotonin Syndrome Serotonin syndrome may occur with triptans, including zolmitriptan, particularly during coadministration with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and MAO inhibitors [see Drug Interactions ( 7.5 )] . Serotonin syndrome symptoms may include mental status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, hyperthermia), neuromuscular aberrations (e.g., hyperreflexia, incoordination), and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) . The onset of symptoms usually rapidly occurs within minutes to hours of receiving a new or a greater dose of a serotonergic medication. Discontinue zolmitriptan if serotonin syndrome is suspected [see Drug Interactions ( 7.4 ) ]. 5.8 Increase in Blood Pressure Significant elevations in systemic blood pressure have been reported in patients treated with 5-HT 1 agonists including patients without a history of hypertension; very rarely, these increases in blood pressure have been associated with serious adverse reactions. In healthy subjects treated with 5 mg of zolmitriptan, an increase of 1 and 5 mmHg in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, was seen. In a study of patients with moderate to severe liver impairment, 7 of 27 patients experienced 20 to 80 mmHg elevations in systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure after a dose of 10 mg of zolmitriptan . As with all triptans, blood pressure should be monitored in zolmitriptan-treated patients. Zolmitriptan is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled hypertension [see Contraindications ( 4 ) ] . 5.9 Risks in Patients with Phenylketonuria Phenylalanine can be harmful to patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). Zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets contain phenylalanine (a component of aspartame). Each 2.5 mg orally disintegrating tablet contains 2.51 mg phenylalanine. Each 5 mg orally disintegrating tablet contains 5.01 mg phenylalanine.

Contraindications

CONTRAINDICATIONS Zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets are contraindicated in patients with: • Ischemic coronary artery disease (angina pectoris, history of myocardial infarction, or documented silent ischemia), other significant underlying cardiovascular disease, or c oronary artery vasospasm including Prinzmetal’s angina [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) ]. • Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome or arrhythmias associated with other cardiac accessory conduction pathway disorders [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ) ]. • History of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or history of hemiplegic or basilar migraine because these patients are at a higher risk of stroke [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 ) ]. • Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 ) ]. • Ischemic bowel disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 ) ]. • Uncontrolled hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 ) ]. • Recent use (i.e., within 24 hours) of another 5-HT 1 agonist, ergotamine-containing medication, or ergot-type medication (such as dihydroergotamine or methysergide) [see Drug Interactions ( 7.1 , 7.3 ) ]. • Concurrent administration of a monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A inhibitor or recent use of a MAO-A inhibitor (that is within 2 weeks) [see Drug Interactions ( 7.2 ) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 ) ]. • Known hypersensitivity to zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets (angioedema and anaphylaxis seen) [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 ) ]. • History of coronary artery disease (CAD) or coronary vasospasm ( 4 ) • Symptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome or other cardiac accessory conduction pathway disorders ( 4 ) • History of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or hemiplegic or basilar migraine ( 4 ) • Peripheral vascular disease ( 4 ) • Ischemic bowel disease ( 4 ) • Uncontrolled hypertension ( 4 ) • Recent (within 24 hours) use of another 5-HT 1 agonist (e.g., another triptan), or an ergotamine-containing medication ( 4 ) • Monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A inhibitor used in past 2 weeks ( 4 ) • Known hypersensitivity to zolmitriptan ( 4 )

Mechanism of action

Mechanism of Action Zolmitriptan binds with high affinity to human recombinant 5-HT 1D and 5-HT 1 B receptors, and moderate affinity for 5-HT 1A receptors. The N-desmethyl metabolite also has high affinity for 5-HT 1B/1D and moderate affinity for 5-HT 1A receptors. Current theories proposed to explain the etiology of migraine headache suggest that symptoms are due to local cranial vasodilatation and/or to the release of sensory neuropeptides (vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide) through nerve endings in the trigeminal system. The therapeutic activity of zolmitriptan for the treatment of migraine headache is thought to be due to the agonist effects at the 5-HT 1B/1D receptors on intracranial blood vessels (including the arterio-venous anastomoses) and sensory nerves of the trigeminal system which result in cranial vessel constriction and inhibition of pro-inflammatory neuropeptide release.

Indicated ICD-10 codes

Source: RxNorm + openFDA + RxClass + FAERS · 2026

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