|
GSK / Imigran
How does it work?
Imigran tablets and Imigran Radis tablets both contain the active ingredient sumatriptan, which is a type of medicine called a serotonin (or 5HT) agonist. This type of medicine is also commonly known as a 'triptan'. It is a painkiller specifically used to relieve migraine attacks. (NB. Sumatriptan is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.)
Although the cause of migraine attacks is not fully understood, it is thought that widening of blood vessels in the brain causes the throbbing pain of migraine headaches. Sumatriptan relieves this pain by causing the blood vessels in the brain to narrow.
Sumatriptan works by stimulating receptors called serotonin (or 5HT) receptors that are found in the brain. A natural substance called serotonin normally acts on these receptors, causing blood vessels in the brain to narrow. Sumatriptan mimics this action of serotonin by directly stimulating the serotonin receptors in the brain. This narrows the blood vessels and so relieves the pain of migraine headaches.
The dose of sumatriptan should be taken as early as possible after the migraine headache has started, though it is also effective if taken at a later stage during the migraine attack.
During a migraine attack, the normal movements of the stomach can slow down or stop. This can delay tablets from dissolving in the stomach and the medicine being absorbed into the bloodstream. Imigran Radis tablets are designed to disintegrate in the stomach more rapidly than standard Imigran tablets, which means they may start to work faster than the standard tablets.
What is it used for?
- Relieving migraine attacks
If you want to buy retail medicines, please click to Imigran... |
