Sumatriptan Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

When a migraine sets in, it can feel like your world shuts down. Symptoms can hold you hostage, preventing you from going to work or school. You may even feel unable to leave your bed. The only thing that can end the nightmare is a treatment that works — preferably as soon as possible.

Sumatriptan is a prescription medication that can treat these types of migraine attacks. A severe headache is the primary symptom of migraines, but migraines can cause other symptoms as well. This includes sensitivity to sound or light, nausea, and vision changes, among others. Sumatriptan can also treat cluster headaches, a feeling of intense pain on one side of your head.

This triptan migraine medicine has been available for a few decades. It’s even an effective, first-choice option. But in order to maximize its benefits (and manage its risks), it’s important to make sure you’re taking an appropriate sumatriptan dosage.

Promotion disclosure

Sumatriptan

Avg retail price

$139.93(Save 92.57%)

GoodRx discount

$10.40

Compare all prices

What’s the typical Sumatriptan dosage for adults?

Several versions of sumatriptan are available for adults to use. Each form of sumatriptan may be prescribed to treat migraine symptoms once they begin. The dosage you’re prescribed will vary depending on the form of sumatriptan you use.

Good to know: Sumatriptan isn’t approved for use in children. But, some healthcare providers may prescribe sumatriptan off-label for use in kids and adolescents. In this case, your child’s healthcare provider will determine a personalized dosage for them.

Sumatriptan tablets

Sumatriptan tablets (Imitrex) are available as a generic and brand-name product. You can take one 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg pill by mouth as soon as you first notice migraine symptoms. It’s common to start with a 50 mg dose and adjust up or down as needed (depending on how you respond to the medication).

If your migraine symptoms don’t go away or come back after the first dose, you may repeat your sumatriptan dose a second time. You should separate the second dose from the first dose by at least 2 hours.

The maximum recommended sumatriptan tablet dosage over any 24-hour period is 200 mg. And using sumatriptan tablets to treat migraine attacks more than four times over a 30-day period isn’t recommended. Taking sumatriptan more often than this hasn’t been studied, so the safety of doing so isn’t known.

If you’re experiencing frequent migraines, your healthcare provider may suggest trying a medication for preventing migraines.

Sumatriptan injection

Sumatriptan is also available as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. You can find it as a generic injection, in addition to brand-name products like Imitrex, Imitrex Statdose, and Zembrace SymTouch.

If you’re prescribed injectable sumatriptan, your healthcare provider will recommend a dose ranging from 1 mg to 6 mg. You can administer it as soon as you develop symptoms of a migraine attack. You may repeat this dose at least 1 hour after your first dose if your migraine symptoms don’t go away or come back after your first dose. The maximum sumatriptan injection dosage over any 24-hour period is 12 mg.

But, each injection device works a bit differently. Since you or a caregiver will usually give these injections, your pharmacist can tell you how to administer the specific product you're prescribed.

Good to know: Sumatriptan’s dosage for cluster headaches is similar to its migraine dosage. For treating a cluster headache, the sumatriptan injection dosage is 6 mg given as soon as you notice symptoms. This dose may also be repeated after at least 1 hour, if needed.

Sumatriptan nasal products

Sumatriptan nasal products are also available under several names. It comes as a generic nasal spray and as name-brand Imitrex, Tosymra, and Onzetra Xsail.

Nasal sprays

You may administer one 5 mg, 10 mg, or 20 mg dose of sumatriptan nasal spray as soon as migraine symptoms begin. But it’s important to pay attention to the dosage you’re prescribed; instructions for specific products can differ.

• Generic sumatriptan or Imitrex nasal spray (5 mg or 20 mg dose): Administer one spray into one nostril.

• Generic sumatriptan or Imitrex nasal spray (10 mg dose): Administer one 5 mg spray into each nostril.

• Tosymra: Administer one spray (10 mg) into one nostril.

If symptoms come back or don’t go away completely after your first dose, you may give another sumatriptan nasal spray dose. With generic sumatriptan and Imitrex nasal spray, wait at least 2 hours after the first dose before using a second dose. You should wait at least 1 hour with Tosymra.

The maximum sumatriptan nasal spray dosage you should use over any 24-hour period is 40 mg. Tosymra’s maximum dose is 30 mg.

Onzetra Xsail nasal powder

Onzetra Xsail’s dosages are different from its counterparts. It also comes in a unique formulation. It’s a powder-containing capsule, not a nasal spray. To take a dose, you use a small device to release the powder from the capsule and inhale it into your nose.

With Onzetra Xsail, you’ll inhale one dose into each nostril. Each spray is 11 mg, so you’ll receive 22 mg of medication altogether. This dose is given as soon as you spot symptoms of a migraine. This dose may be repeated again if it’s been at least 2 hours since the first dose. The maximum dose of Onzetra Xsail you should use over a 24-hour period is 44 mg.

Like other forms of sumatriptan, using any version of sumatriptan nasal spray to treat a migraine attack more than four times over a 30-day period isn’t recommended.

Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?

Sometimes. If you have liver problems and are prescribed sumatriptan tablets, your maximum sumatriptan dose may be lower. The maximum recommended single dose of oral sumatriptan tablets is 50 mg for people with mild or moderate liver problems. There's no equivalent dose adjustment for sumatriptan injection and nasal products.

But, no matter the formulation of sumatriptan, healthcare providers usually won’t prescribe sumatriptan to people with severe liver problems.

What happens if you miss a dose of sumatriptan?

Good news — you technically can’t “miss” a dose of sumatriptan. This is because it’s not a medication you’ll routinely take. It’s only used as needed. You’ll only take a dose when migraine symptoms appear. If you’re not experiencing a migraine, no need to take it.

Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about when to take sumatriptan.

What should you do if you take too much sumatriptan?

Taking too much sumatriptan could potentially cause extra side effects. Sumatriptan side effects that happen at normal doses, like dizziness, a “pins and needles” sensation, and flushing (feeling too warm or cold), may be more likely to occur. They may also feel more intense than normal.

What’s more, while limited data is available in people, it’s possible that sumatriptan could cause symptoms like these in more serious overdose situations:

• Convulsions

• Tremor

• Slowed breathing

• Problems with coordination and balance

If you think you’ve taken too much sumatriptan, contact your healthcare provider right away. Calling Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 is another option. Based on any symptoms you’re experiencing, they can recommend what you should do. But if your symptoms feel severe or life threatening, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room right away.

How to save on sumatriptan

There are many ways to save on sumatriptan, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication.

• Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 75% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic sumatriptan tablets cost as low as $11.00 with a free GoodRx discount at certain pharmacies. You can also find the generic nasal spray and injection for as low as $100.44 and $20.79, respectively.

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $0 for Zembrace SymTouch, $0 for Onzetra Xsail, or $0 for Tosymra using a savings card from the manufacturer. 

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for a sumatriptan patient assistance program that offers the medication free of cost.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA

Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA, is a licensed pharmacist specializing in chronic disease and health and wellness. Upon completing his residency, he worked in the managed care field, conducting medication therapy management and adherence counseling sessions with Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance patients, before transitioning to a career in medical writing.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts