Tosymra: Information on potential adverse effects, pricing, applications, suggested dosage, and usage guidelines
Tosymra is a nasal spray device that contains a liquid solution of sumatriptan, a medication approved by the FDA to treat migraine episodes in adults. The spray comes in one strength: 10 milligrams (mg).
Usage and Dosage
Tosymra is an acute treatment meant to stop a migraine episode that's already started. The typical dosage is one spray (10 mg) into one nostril. If a migraine doesn't go away or comes back, a second dose can be taken at least 1 hour after the first dose, with a maximum of 30 mg (three sprays total) in a 24-hour period.
Side Effects
Like all medications, Tosymra can cause side effects. Mild side effects may include nausea, dizziness, tingling, flushing, and pain or redness at the nasal spray site.
More serious side effects can include blood vessel spasms, medication overuse headaches, serotonin syndrome, increased blood pressure, and severe allergic reactions. It's essential to seek urgent medical attention if severe or unusual symptoms occur.
Interactions
Tosymra can interact with several other medications, including other acute migraine medications, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and drugs that raise serotonin levels. It's generally better to avoid using one nasal spray drug immediately before or after another nasal spray drug to avoid potential side effects.
Safety During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
There isn't enough information to determine the safety of Tosymra during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Animal studies have found that fetal development problems occurred when sumatriptan (the active drug in Tosymra) was given to pregnant animals. Your doctor may recommend that you avoid breastfeeding for 12 hours after a dose of the medication to minimize a breastfed child's exposure to Tosymra.
Precautions
Tosymra is not safe for everyone, and doctors typically will not prescribe Tosymra to people with certain conditions or factors that affect blood circulation, such as coronary artery disease, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, stroke, ministroke, certain types of migraine, peripheral vascular disease, ischemic bowel disease, high blood pressure, and recent use of certain medications that affect blood flow.
Alternatives
There are other drugs containing sumatriptan (the active drug in Tosymra) that are used to treat migraine, including Imitrex (nasal spray, oral tablet, and injection), Zembrace SymTouch injection, and Onzetra Xsail nasal powder. Other drugs used to treat migraine include eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), zolmitriptan (Zomig, Zomig-ZMT), lasmiditan (Reyvow), rimegepant (Nurtec ODT), butorphanol, dihydroergotamine (Migranal, Trudhesa), ergotamine (Ergostat), acetaminophen/aspirin/caffeine (Excedrin Migraine), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).
The cost of Tosymra can vary depending on insurance, location, and pharmacy. Mail-order pharmacies may help lower the cost.
[1] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Sumatriptan nasal spray. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/sumatriptan-nasal-spray/description/drg-20072147
[3] Drugs.com. (2021). Tosymra. https://www.drugs.com/tosymra.html
[4] U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2021). Sumatriptan. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682287.html
[5] WebMD. (2021). Tosymra. https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-10329/tosymra-oral/details
- For individuals experiencing migraines, Tosymra, a nasal spray device containing sumatriptan, is an FDA-approved option for acute treatment.
- When using Tosymra, follow the dosage instructions carefully, preferably administering one spray (10 mg) into one nostril for a migraine episode, and not exceeding three sprays (30 mg) in a 24-hour period.
- Side effects of Tosymra can include mild symptoms like nausea, dizziness, tingling, flushing, and pain or redness at the nasal spray site, while more serious side effects may necessitate urgent medical attention.
- In terms of safety, discuss your pregnancy and breastfeeding concerns with your doctor because there isn't enough information regarding Tosymra's effects during these periods.
- Tosymra is not suitable for everyone, and people with certain medical conditions or factors affecting blood circulation should consult their healthcare provider before using this drug; in addition, there are alternatives such as Imitrex, eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), and other migraine medications available on the market.
