Zomig Nasal Spray

About Zomig nasal spray

Key points   

• Relief from symptoms in 15 minutes   
• Treats symptoms of a migraine headache  
• Migraine tablet alternative  

Buy Zomig nasal spray online

You can buy Zomig Nasal Spray online from our registered pharmacy. Before our clinicians can prescribe this, you will need to fill out a short online questionnaire, which will determine your suitability for this product.  

What is Zomig nasal spray?  

Zomig is a nasal spray which works to treat migraine headache, once a migraine attack begins. It’s classified under the group of medicines called triptans, a family of drugs used as a treatment of migraines and cluster headaches.  

What is Zomig nasal spray used for?  

Zomig nasal spray is used to treat the symptoms of a migraine such as feeling or being sick and being sensitive to light and sound. 

Zomig nasal spray dosage instructions

A single dosage of Zomig is 5mg which is sprayed once in one nostril only. It doesn’t matter what nostril the medicine is sprayed into. If you still feel the migraine, you can use another spray after two hours, or if it returns within 24 hours.   

• Do not use more than the dose prescribed for you  
• Do not use more than two doses of spray in one day  
• The maximum daily dose is 10 mg  
• Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose  
• You can use zomig spray with or without food   

Seek urgent medical advice and tell your doctor if:  

• You have used more Zomig nasal spray than prescribed   

It's best to use the spray as soon as a migraine headache starts. You can also use it once an attack is progressing.  

Zomig nasal spray side effects

Side effects are possible whilst using this medication. These tend to be mild and typically go away after a short time. Not every person will experience side effects.  

Very common (1 in 10 people may be affected):  

• Taste disturbance

Common (up to 1 in 10 people may be affected):  

• Tingling in fingers and toes or skin that is sensitive to touch  
• Feeling sleepy, warm or dizzy   
• Headache  
• Irregular heartbeat  
• Nosebleed, irritation or the nose being extra sensitive   
• Nausea or vomiting  
• Stomach pain  
• Dry mouth  
• Muscle weakness or muscle pain  
• Generally feeling weak  
• Heaviness, tightness, pain or pressure in the throat, neck, arms and legs or chest  
• Difficulty swallowing 

Zomig nasal spray warnings

Do not use Zomig Nasal Spray if:  

• You have zolmitriptan allergies or allergic to any other ingredients of this medicine  
• You have high blood pressure  
• You have experienced heart problems, including a heart attack, angina, Prinzmetal’s angina   
• You have experienced heart-related symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pressure  
• You have had a stroke or short-lasting symptoms like stroke, such as transient ischaemic attack or TIA   
• You are also taking other medicines for migraine, such as ergotamine or ergot-type medicines like dihydroergotamine and methysergide or other triptan medicines

Before using Zomig nasal spray you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following apply to you:   

• You’re at risk of getting ischaemic heart disease (greater risk for smokers, people with high blood pressure or levels of cholesterol, diabetes or if anyone in your family has the disease  
• You have been told that you have Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome   
• You have ever had liver problems  
• You have headaches, different to your usual migraine headache  
• You take depression medicine  

Zomig nasal spray and pregnancy

It is not known whether it is harmful to use Zomig Nasal Spray during pregnancy. You should seek medical advice if:  

• You are pregnant   
• You think you may be pregnant   
• You are planning to have a baby

Zomig nasal spray and breastfeeding

The same advice applies to those who are breastfeeding as to date, it is not known if Zomig Nasal Spray could affect breast milk. Speak to your doctor before taking this medication.   

Zomig nasal spray interactions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, in particular:  

• Migraine medicines  
  • Wait 24 hours before using Zomig Nasal Spray if you use a triptan other than Zomig Nasal Spray (such as sumatriptan or naratriptan)  
  • After using Zomig Nasal Spray leave 24 hours before taking another triptan.  
  • Leave 24 hours before using Zomig if you take medicines containing ergotamine or ergot-type medicines (such as dihydroergotamine or methysergide)  
  • After using Zomig leave 6 hours before taking ergotamine or ergot-type medicines 
     
• Depression medicines  
  • MAOIs such as moclobemide  
  • SSRIs such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, fluvoxamine or sertraline  
  • SNRIs such as venlafaxine or duloxetine
     
• Other medicines  
  • Cimetidine for indigestion or stomach ulcers  
  • A quinolone antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin  

Serotonin syndrome is a rare, life-threatening condition that has been reported in some patients who took Zomig in combination with certain medicines for the treatment of depression.  

Signs of serotonin syndrome include:  

• Agitation or restlessness  
• Fever or excessive sweating  
• Tremor  
• Uncoordinated movement of limbs or eyes  
• Uncontrollable jerking of muscles  
• Twitching and muscle rigidity

Do not take the herbal remedy St. John’s wort at the same time as Zomig Nasal Spray. If you already take a St. John’s wort preparation, stop and tell your doctor.

Zomig nasal spray

Zomig vs Imigran  

• They are both triptan nasal sprays and work in a similar way, narrowing blood vessels around the brain and reducing substances in the body that can trigger migraine symptoms. Both medicines are fast-acting, taking just 15 minutes to relieve symptoms.   
• The differences between the two are the dosage and active ingredients. Zomig is available in 2.5 mg and 5 mg doses with the active ingredient Zolmitriptan, while Imigran comes in doses of 10 mg and 20 mg and sumatriptan is the active ingredient.   
• Choosing between the two is largely down to preference, for example how you respond to the treatment, as well as specific clinical considerations.  

Zomig nasal spray vs pill  

• Zomig Nasal Spray and Zomig Tablets contain the same active ingredient, zolmitriptan. They are both effective in treating acute migraine attacks.   
• The nasal spray has a faster onset of action, relieving symptoms of a migraine in 15 minutes. The tablets generally take longer to work, with relief often starting within 30 to 60 minutes.  
• If you require rapid relief or experience nausea and vomiting with your migraines, which makes it difficult to keep oral medications down, you may benefit from using the spray.  

How to prevent migraines

You should not use Zomig nasal spray to try to prevent an attack – only use it after your migraine symptoms start.  

There are things you can do to try and prevent a migraine: 

• Avoid your migraine triggers, such as certain foods 
• Stay well hydrated  
• Limit caffeine and alcohol 
• Maintain a healthy weight 
• Eat meals at regular times 
• Exercise regularly  
• Get good quality sleep 
• Reduce and manage stress

Zomig nasal spray ingredients

Active ingredients: zolmitriptan  

Inactive ingredients: citric acid, disodium phosphate and purified water  

Sources

NHS, 2024. Migraine: Treatment. [online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/migraine/treatment/  [Accessed 15 May 2024].