Zolmitriptan
Pronunciation: zol-mih-TRIP-tan.
- Generic name
- zolmitriptan
- Brand names
- Zomig (United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand), Zomig Rapimelt (United Kingdom, Canada, Australia)
- Drug class
- Triptan (selective serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist)
- Form
- Film-coated tablet, orodispersible tablet, or metered nasal spray
- Route
- Oral (tablet or orodispersible tablet) or intranasal (nasal spray)
- Legal status
- Prescription-only (tablet forms in all 6 markets); the 5 mg nasal spray is classified as pharmacist-only in New Zealand
Availability and supply rules vary by country
Trade names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand
Australia: Zomig / Zomig Rapimelt (5) · Full directory
What zolmitriptan is and how it works
Zolmitriptan is a prescription-only triptan medicine used to treat a migraine attack that has already started, in adults. It is not used to prevent migraines and is not used for other headache types. (1)
Take zolmitriptan as soon as possible after your migraine symptoms begin, exactly as your prescriber directs. Because of real cardiovascular contraindications and interaction risks, your prescriber will check your medical history and current medicines carefully before prescribing it, and it is important not to combine it with certain other headache medicines within 24 hours.
Mechanism of action: how zolmitriptan works
Zolmitriptan is a selective agonist at serotonin 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors located on intracranial blood vessels and trigeminal sensory nerves, producing cranial vasoconstriction and inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory neuropeptides implicated in migraine pathophysiology. (1)
What zolmitriptan is used for
Acute treatment of migraine with or without aura
Used to treat a migraine attack, with or without aura, in adults, once it has started. Not indicated for migraine prevention (prophylaxis) or for cluster headache. (1)
Before taking zolmitriptan
Do not take / not appropriate for
- Do not take zolmitriptan if you have ischaemic heart disease (such as angina or a previous heart attack), coronary artery vasospasm (including Prinzmetal's angina), Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or a related heart rhythm disorder, a history of stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), hemiplegic or basilar migraine, peripheral vascular disease, ischaemic bowel disease, or uncontrolled high blood pressure. (all countries) (1)
- Do not take zolmitriptan within 24 hours of another triptan medicine or an ergotamine-type medicine. (all countries) (1)
- Do not take zolmitriptan if you are currently taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A inhibitor, or have taken one within the past 2 weeks. (all countries) (1)
- Do not take zolmitriptan if you have had a serious allergic reaction to it. (all countries) (1)
Tell your clinician about
- Any heart or blood vessel problems, including risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, a strong family history of heart disease, or being past menopause -- your prescriber may want to check your heart health before your first dose, especially if you have not taken a triptan before.
- Any history of stroke, TIA, or migraine with unusual neurological symptoms.
- Any liver problems, since your dose may need to be reduced.
- All other medicines you take, especially antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAOIs), other migraine medicines, ergotamine-type medicines, cimetidine, or hormonal contraceptives.
- How often you get migraines and how often you use headache medicines, since using zolmitriptan too frequently can itself worsen headaches.
- Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
How to take zolmitriptan
- Take zolmitriptan as soon as possible after your migraine symptoms begin, exactly as your prescriber directs.
- If your migraine returns after an initial response, a second dose may be taken after at least 2 hours, up to the maximum daily amount your prescriber has set.
- Do not take zolmitriptan on 10 or more days per month, since frequent use can itself lead to worsening headaches (medication-overuse headache) -- discuss your pattern of use with your prescriber.
- Do not combine zolmitriptan with another triptan or an ergotamine-type medicine within 24 hours of each other.
Procedures and treatment changes
Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Missed dose
Zolmitriptan is taken as needed when a migraine attack starts, not on a fixed daily schedule, so a 'missed dose' does not usually apply -- take it as soon as possible after symptoms begin, following your prescriber's instructions on timing and maximum daily amount.
Overdose
Seek urgent medical attention or contact a poison control centre if too much zolmitriptan has been taken, or if you develop chest pain, severe dizziness, a very fast or irregular heartbeat, seizures, or loss of consciousness. (1)
Side effects
Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.
A feeling of pain, tightness, or pressure in the neck, throat, jaw, or chest -- usually not related to the heart, but tell your prescriber about it.
What to notice: A feeling of pain, tightness, or pressure in the neck, throat, jaw, or chest -- usually not related to the heart, but tell your prescriber about it.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)
Dizziness.
What to notice: Dizziness.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)
Tingling or numbness (paraesthesia).
What to notice: Tingling or numbness (paraesthesia).
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)
Weakness (asthenia) and sleepiness (somnolence).
What to notice: Weakness (asthenia) and sleepiness (somnolence).
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)
A warm or cold sensation, nausea, a feeling of heaviness, and dry mouth.
What to notice: A warm or cold sensation, nausea, a feeling of heaviness, and dry mouth.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1)
Serious warnings
Signs of a heart problem or stroke — emergency
Symptoms: Severe chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the arm or jaw, sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, or sudden severe headache unlike your usual migraine.
Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately. (1)
Signs of serotonin syndrome (especially when combined with SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAOIs) — emergency
Symptoms: Agitation, hallucinations, a fast heartbeat, high body temperature, muscle stiffness or twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.
Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately; a clinician will decide on further management, which may include stopping the interacting medicines. (1)
Signs of a serious allergic reaction — emergency
Symptoms: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; hives; or sudden difficulty breathing.
Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately. (1)
Worsening headache pattern from frequent use (medication-overuse headache) — high caution
Symptoms: Headaches becoming more frequent or harder to treat despite regular use of zolmitriptan or other migraine medicines.
Action: Contact your prescriber to review your migraine treatment plan if this occurs. (1)
Interactions
- Monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A inhibitors are contraindicated with zolmitriptan -- they significantly increase zolmitriptan and its active metabolite's levels in the body. (1)
- SSRIs and SNRIs (common antidepressants) combined with zolmitriptan have been linked to life-threatening serotonin syndrome in reported cases. (1)
- Other triptan medicines and ergotamine-type medicines must not be used within 24 hours of zolmitriptan. (1)
- Cimetidine roughly doubles zolmitriptan's blood levels and how long it stays in the body -- your prescriber may adjust your dose. (1)
- Hormonal (oral) contraceptives can increase zolmitriptan blood levels moderately. (1)
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age
Pregnancy
Based on animal studies, zolmitriptan may cause harm to a developing baby at clinically relevant exposures; there is not enough human data to be certain. Tell your prescriber if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Breastfeeding
There is no data on whether zolmitriptan passes into human breast milk; animal studies found levels in milk up to 4 times higher than in the mother's blood. Discuss with your prescriber before breastfeeding. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Children
Not established as safe and effective in children in the source reviewed for this dossier; used in adults. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Elderly
Cardiovascular risk factors become more common with age, which is directly relevant to zolmitriptan's cardiovascular contraindications -- your prescriber will assess this carefully. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Hepatic_impairment
Moderate or severe liver impairment requires a lower starting dose (1.25 mg), with severe impairment additionally limited to no more than 5 mg per day. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Renal_impairment
Not specifically detailed as requiring dose adjustment in the source reviewed for this dossier; tell your prescriber about any kidney problems. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Source_ids
Monitoring
Before starting
- Cardiovascular risk assessment, particularly in patients who have not used a triptan before and who have multiple cardiovascular risk factors
- Review of current medicines for MAOI, SSRI/SNRI, other triptan, or ergotamine-type interactions
- Review of headache frequency and pattern of acute-medicine use
During treatment
- Watching for chest, throat, neck, or jaw tightness and distinguishing it from true cardiac symptoms, with prompt evaluation when there is uncertainty.
- Monitoring frequency of use to detect medication-overuse headache.
- Watching for signs of serotonin syndrome if combined with antidepressants.
Storage
Store between 20-25C (68-77F). Protect from light and moisture.
Study the drug class: Triptans and migraine agents
Professional information
Clinician-facing context only, sourced from the current US FDA prescribing information; verify against the current full label before prescribing.
United States
Indication: Acute treatment of migraine with or without aura
Dose summary: Starting dose 1.25 mg or 2.5 mg; maximum single dose 5 mg; may repeat after 2 hours; maximum 10 mg/24h. Moderate/severe hepatic impairment: 1.25 mg, with severe impairment capped at 5 mg/day. With cimetidine: max single dose 2.5 mg, max 5 mg/24h.
Renal context: Not established in the source reviewed for this dossier. (1)
Hepatic guidance
Moderate to severe hepatic impairment reduces zolmitriptan clearance; use the lowest recommended dose (1.25 mg) and observe the 5 mg/day cap in severe impairment.
Overdose note
Reported adverse effects with excessive triptan exposure include cardiovascular effects (elevated blood pressure, arrhythmia), sedation, and incoordination. Manage per local poison-control and clinical toxicology guidance, with cardiovascular monitoring. (1)
Frequently asked questions
Is zolmitriptan (Zomig) available in the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand?
Yes, it is approved and available in all of these regions as tablets, orodispersible tablets, or a nasal spray, depending on the country. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Can I use zolmitriptan to prevent migraines?
No. Zolmitriptan treats a migraine attack that has already started; it is not used to prevent migraines. Ask your prescriber about separate preventive options if you have frequent migraines. (1)
Why can't I take zolmitriptan with certain antidepressants?
Combining zolmitriptan with SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAOIs can raise the risk of a rare but serious condition called serotonin syndrome, and MAOI combination is specifically contraindicated. Tell your prescriber about all antidepressants you take. (1)
Who should not take zolmitriptan?
People with certain heart or blood vessel conditions (such as ischaemic heart disease, coronary vasospasm, uncontrolled high blood pressure, peripheral vascular disease), a history of stroke or TIA, or those who have recently used another triptan, an ergotamine-type medicine, or an MAOI should not take zolmitriptan -- your prescriber will check your history carefully before prescribing it. (1)
What is the mechanism of action of zolmitriptan?
Zolmitriptan is a selective agonist at serotonin 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors located on intracranial blood vessels and trigeminal sensory nerves, producing cranial vasoconstriction and inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory neuropeptides implicated in migraine pathophysiology. (1)
What is the generic name of Zolmitriptan?
The generic name is zolmitriptan. It is sold under brand names including Zomig (United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand), Zomig Rapimelt (United Kingdom, Canada, Australia). (1)
What class of drug is zolmitriptan?
Zolmitriptan is classed as: Triptan (selective serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist). (1)
References
- ZOMIG (zolmitriptan) tablets -- full prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed (NIH), full prescribing information · United States · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 1
- Zolmitriptan: list of nationally authorised medicinal productsEuropean Medicines Agency (EMA) -- PSUSA nationally-authorised-products list · European Union · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 2
- Zomig Tablets 2.5mg -- Summary of Product Characteristicselectronic medicines compendium (emc), United Kingdom · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 3
- ZOMIG (zolmitriptan) tablets -- Product MonographHealth Canada product monograph, AstraZeneca Canada Inc. · Canada · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 4
- ZOMIG / ZOMIG RAPIMELT zolmitriptan -- ARTG registrationTherapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia · Australia · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 5
- Zolmitriptan -- Medicines Classification Committee agenda paper (Zomig Nasal Spray reclassification)Medsafe (New Zealand regulator) -- Medicines Classification Committee agenda paper · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 6
Brand names by country
Single-ingredient zolmitriptan names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.
Priority countries
United States
- Zolmitriptan OD2.5 mg, 5 mg · avkare
- zolmiptriptan2.5 mg, 5 mg · glenmark pharmaceuticals inc., usa
- ZOMIG5 mg, 2.5 mg · amneal pharmaceuticals llc
United Kingdom
- Zomig / Zomig Rapimelt (3)MHRA licensed emc smpc confirmed · 2.5 mg tablet, 2.5 mg / 5 mg orodispersible (Rapimelt), 5 mg nasal spray (generic) · AstraZeneca and generic manufacturers
Canada
- ZOMIG
- ZOLMITRIPTAN ODT
- ZOMIG RAPIMELT
- PMS-ZOLMITRIPTAN ODT
- TEVA-ZOLMITRIPTAN OD
- SANDOZ ZOLMITRIPTAN ODT
- MYLAN-ZOLMITRIPTAN ODT
- MINT-ZOLMITRIPTAN ODT
- JAMP-ZOLMITRIPTAN ODT
- SEPTA-ZOLMITRIPTAN-ODT
Australia
- Zomig / Zomig Rapimelt (5)TGA ARTG registered confirmed · 2.5 mg · Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Ltd (plus generic sponsors)
New Zealand
- Zomig / Zomig Nasal Spray (6)Medsafe approved confirmed · tablet (prescription-only), 5 mg nasal spray (pharmacist-only) · AstraZeneca New Zealand (and generics)
View brands in additional countries.
European Union
Zomig (and national brand equivalents) (2)