Key takeaways:
Sumatriptan (Imitrex, Zembrace SymTouch, Tosymra, others) is a medication that treats migraines. Available as a tablet, injection, and nasal spray, you can take one dose of sumatriptan when migraine symptoms first appear.
In addition to treating migraines, sumatriptan injections are FDA approved to treat cluster headaches. This dosage is 6 mg given under the skin as soon as cluster headache symptoms begin.
If you have a liver condition, you may be prescribed a lower sumatriptan dose. And regardless of your liver health, using sumatriptan more than 4 times in a 30-day period isn’t recommended.
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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 medication 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.
What’s the typical sumatriptan (Imitrex) dosage for adults?
Several versions of sumatriptan are available. The sumatriptan dosage you’re prescribed will vary depending on the form you use.
Good to know: Sumatriptan isn’t FDA approved for use in children. But, some healthcare professionals may prescribe sumatriptan off-label for use in kids and teens. In this case, your child’s prescriber 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 tablet (depending on what you’re prescribed) 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 dose of sumatriptan a second time. You should separate the second dose from the first dose by at least 2 hours.
The recommended maximum dosage of sumatriptan over any 24-hour period is 200 mg. And using sumatriptan tablets to treat migraine attacks more than 4 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. Always follow your prescriber’s guidance on how long and how often you can take sumatriptan tablets at your prescribed dosage.
If you’re experiencing frequent migraines, your healthcare professional 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 such as Imitrex Statdose and Zembrace SymTouch.
If you’re prescribed injectable sumatriptan, your healthcare professional will recommend a dose ranging from 1 mg to 6 mg, depending on the product you’re using and the dose you need. 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.
Migraine treatments: Discover some of the best medications and natural remedies that can help relieve migraines fast.
Older migraine products: Some migraine medications are considered to be outdated treatments. Is your prescription on the list?
Risk management: If you’re new to sumatriptan, there are a few potential side effects to keep in mind, from pins-and-needles sensations to rebound headaches.
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 administer 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 over 24 hours 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 administer 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 4 times over a 30-day period isn’t recommended.
Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?
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.
However, no matter the formulation of sumatriptan, healthcare professionals generally don’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.
Talk to a healthcare professional if you have questions about how or 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, such as 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, 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 a healthcare professional right away. Contacting Poison Control online or 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 ER right away.
How to save on sumatriptan
There are many ways to save on sumatriptan for migraines, 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 $105.32 and $21.04, 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 charge.
The bottom line
The recommended sumatriptan dosage varies depending on the form of medication you’re prescribed. With sumatriptan oral tablets, you’ll take a 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg dose as soon as you feel migraine symptoms come on. For the sumatriptan injection, the dose ranges from 1 mg to 6 mg. And with a sumatriptan nasal spray, you’ll likely administer a dose of 5 mg, 10 mg, or 20 mg.
If needed, you can repeat a dose after 1 hour or 2 hours, depending on the form of sumatriptan you’re using. But don’t go over the maximum dose per day, and don’t use sumatriptan to treat a headache more than 4 times in 30 days.
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References
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Derry, C. J., et al. (2012). Sumatriptan (oral route of administration) for acute migraine attacks in adults. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Qaseem, A., et al. (2025). Pharmacologic treatments of acute episodic migraine headache in outpatient settings: A clinical guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine.
Rising Pharma Holdings. (2025). Sumatriptan tablet, film coated [package insert].
Tonix Medicines. (2025). BlinkRx can help patients save time and money on their Tosymra.
Tonix Medicines. (2025). Save on Zembrace SymTouch.
Tonix Medicines. (2025). Tosymra- sumatriptan spray [package insert].
