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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat migraine that occurs with or without aura. Zomig can be a long-term treatment. It’s prescribed to treat migraine that’s already occurring. Zomig doesn’t prevent migraine attacks or treat cluster headaches. Here are some fast facts about Zomig:Active ingredient: zolmitriptanDrug class: serotonin receptor agonists (also called triptans)Drug forms:nasal sprayoral tabletorally disintegrating tablet Zomig nasal spray is approved to treat migraine in children ages 12 years and older. However, the oral tablet and disintegrating tablet forms of Zomig are not approved for use in children. As with other drugs, Zomig can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Zomig, including details about its uses, see this article. More common side effects of Zomig Zomig pills and nasal spray can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist. These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Zomig in clinical trials:dizzinessweaknesssleepinessdry mouthnausea* * For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below. Mild side effects of Zomig Mild side effects can occur with Zomig tablets and nasal spray. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more details, you can refer to the prescribing information for Zomig’s tablet forms and nasal spray. Mild side effects that have been reported with Zomig include:pain, pressure or tightness in your neck, throat, or jawdizzinessnumbness or tinglingweaknesssleepinessfeeling a warm, cold, or heavy sensationdry mouthupset stomachnausea* In addition to the side effects listed above, Zomig nasal spray may also cause other side effects, including:discomfort in your nose or nasal passagechanges in taste* These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Zomig and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch. * For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below. Serious side effects of Zomig Zomig may cause serious side effects. Serious side effects were not common with this drug, but you should still be aware of possible serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to the prescribing information for Zomig’s tablet forms and nasal spray. If you develop serious side effects while taking Zomig, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:Heart problems, such as irregular heart rhythm or heart attack. Symptoms can include:chest pain or discomfortdifficulty breathingdizzinessnausea or vomitingStroke or brain bleeds. Symptoms can include:difficulty speakingweakness or numbness, especially on one side of your bodyfacial droopingRaynaud’s disease (changes in the color or feeling in your fingers or toes). Symptoms can include:pale or blue fingers or toesnumbness or tingling in your fingers or toesStomach or digestion problems. Symptoms can include:nausea or vomitingconstipationdiarrheaabdominal painBlood vessel or circulation problems, especially in your legs or feet. Symptoms can include:pain or cramping in your legscold feeling in your legs or feetnumbness or tingling in your legsabdominal painHigh blood pressure. Symptoms can include:headachenosebleedsconfusionchest painSerotonin syndrome*Medication overuse headache*Allergic reaction.* * For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below. FAQs about the side effects of Zomig Zomig may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers. Does Zomig have side effects with long-term use It’s possible that Zomig may have side effects with long-term use of the medication. For example, this drug may cause medication overuse headaches (MOH) to occur if you take it too often. MOHs can occur if you take a migraine treatment, such as Zomig, for more than 10 days per month. This can cause even more severe, daily headaches to occur. Due to this risk, your doctor will recommend limiting your use of Zomig to less than 10 doses per month. In addition, other long-term side effects may occur from Zomig, such as:heart problems, such as irregular heart rhythm or heart attackstroke or brain bleedsRaynaud’s disease (changes in the color or feeling in your fingers or toes)blood vessel or circulation problems, especially in your legs or feethigh blood pressure If you have questions or concerns about how to take Zomig and what side effects you may experience, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Is weight gain a side effect of Zomig No, weight gain is not a side effect of Zomig. This side effect was not reported in clinical trials of people taking Zomig. However, if you’re also taking medications to prevent migraine episodes from occurring, they may cause weight gain to occur. For example, amitriptyline and Depakote (divalproex) may be used to prevent migraine. These drugs may cause weight gain as a side effect. If you notice weight gain while you’re taking Zomig, talk with your doctor about what may be causing it. How long do Zomig side effects last How long your side effects last will depend on what side effects your experiencing. For example, if you have nausea or dizziness from Zomig, these side effects may resolve a few hours after your dose of Zomig. However, other times, side effects may be long-term. For example, if you develop side effects such as high blood pressure or heart problems, they may last even after you stop treatment with Zomig. If you’re concerned about how long specific side effects of Zomig may last, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Side effect specifics Learn more about some of the side effects that Zomig may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Zomig’s tablet forms and nasal spray. Medication overuse headache You may develop medication overuse headaches (MOH) from taking Zomig. MOHs can occur if you take a migraine treatment, such as Zomig, for more than 10 days per month. This can cause even more severe, daily headaches to occur. You may also experience migraine attacks more often if you have MOHs. It’s important to note that you should only use Zomig to treat migraine that’s already occurring. This medication should not be used to prevent migraine attacks. So, you shouldn’t take this drug every day. MOHs can occur with Zomig nasal spray, oral tablets, or orally disintegrating tablets. What you can do To prevent MOHs from occurring, limit your use of Zomig to less than 10 doses per month. If you develop headaches that are more frequent or severe than usual, tell your doctor. They can help you determine if you’re experiencing MOHs. If you do develop this condition, your doctor will recommend that you stop treatment with Zomig. In some cases, you may be able to restart Zomig after your MOHs have improved. Serotonin syndrome It’s possible to develop a condition called serotonin syndrome from taking Zomig. Although this condition is not common, it’s a possible side effect of the medication, which can be serious. Serotonin syndrome can occur with any form of Zomig. Serotonin syndrome is a serious, possibly life-threatening condition. It can occur if your serotonin levels build up and become too high. You may be at an increased risk of serotonin syndrome occurring if you’re taking Zomig in combination with other drugs that increase your serotonin levels. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include:increased heart ratefevernauseavomitingdiarrheaconfusion If you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, see your doctor, or go to the hospital right away. What you can do Before you start treatment with Zomig, be sure to tell your doctor about any other medications that you’re taking. If you’re taking other medications that can also increase your serotonin levels, your doctor may monitor you more often for symptoms of serotonin syndrome. In some cases, they may recommend a different treatment option for you. If you develop any symptoms of serotonin syndrome while you’re taking Zomig, see your doctor or go to the hospital right away. This condition can be serious or even life-threatening. Your doctor will recommend treating you for serotonin syndrome. They’ll also likely recommend that you stop taking Zomig. In this case, they may recommend a different medication for your migraine treatment. Nausea You may experience nausea during your treatment with Zomig. In fact, nausea was one of the most common side effects that people taking this drug reported in clinical trials. Nausea can occur with any form of Zomig. What you can do If you experience nausea during your treatment with Zomig, tell your doctor. It’s possible that nausea is a side effect of Zomig. But nausea can also occur from migraine. It may also be a symptom of another, more serious condition, such as heart attack or stomach problems. Your doctor will be able to help you determine what’s causing your nausea and the best way to treat it. In some cases, they may recommend taking another medication to treat your nausea such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Changes in taste You may experience changes in taste during your treatment with Zomig. Changes in taste only occurred in people using the Zomig nasal spray. This side effect was not reported in people taking the oral tablet or orally disintegrating tablet. This side effect may cause changes in your taste, such as a metallic or bitter taste. What you can do If you’re experiencing changes in your sense of taste that are bothersome to you, tell your doctor. They may recommend switching to the oral tablet or orally disintegrating tablet form of Zomig. Allergic reaction As with most drugs, Zomig can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:skin rashitchingflushingswelling under your skin, typically in your lips, eyelids, feet, or handsswelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe What you can do For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Zomig. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Precautions for Zomig Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Zomig. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include: Heart disease. If you have heart disease, tell your doctor before starting treatment with Zomig. This medication can increase your risk of heart problems, including serious conditions such as a heart attack. If you already have heart disease before starting Zomig, you may be at an increased risk of heart problems occurring. In many cases, your doctor may recommend a different medication for your migraine if you have heart problems. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or other heart conduction conditions. You should not take Zomig if you have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or other heart conduction conditions. In fact, this drug is contraindicated for use in people with these conditions. A contraindication is a factor or condition that could prevent your doctor from prescribing a drug due to risk of harm. So, your doctor will recommend a different treatment option for you. Stroke or certain types of migraine. Tell your doctor if you have a history of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or hemiplegic or basilar migraine. In this case, your doctor will recommend a different treatment option for you. Zomig should not be used in people with these conditions. Vascular disease or problems with blood circulation. Tell your doctor if you have vascular disease or any blood circulation problems. This may include conditions such as Raynaud’s disease or inflammatory bowel disease. This medication may make these conditions worse. So, if you have any vascular conditions, your doctor will likely recommend a different treatment option for you. Uncontrolled high blood pressure. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, tell your doctor before starting treatment with Zomig. They’ll likely recommend treating your high blood pressure before you start Zomig. This medication can cause your blood pressure to become higher, which can become serious. Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Zomig or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Zomig. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you. Liver problems. If you have liver problems, your doctor may recommend a different medication for your migraine. This is because your liver works to remove Zomig from your body after you take a dose of medication. If you have liver problems, your liver may not be able to break the drug down, which can cause it to build up in your body. This may increase your risk of side effects occurring. Your doctor can help you determine if it’s safe for you to take Zomig. Phenylketonuria. Tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). This is a condition where you have too much phenylalanine in your body. The orally disintegrating Zomig tablet has phenylalanine in it. So, people with PKU should avoid this form. Instead, your doctor will likely recommend Zomig tablets or nasal spray. Alcohol with Zomig There’s no known interaction between drinking alcohol and taking Zomig. However, it’s possible for alcohol to cause migraine attacks to occur or worsen. In addition, some side effects of Zomig may worsen if you drink alcohol. For example, you may be at an increased risk of nausea, dizziness, and upset stomach. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to drink during treatment with Zomig. Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Zomig It’s not known if it’s safe to take Zomig during pregnancy or while you’re breastfeeding. At this time, there haven’t been any studies done in pregnant people to see if Zomig may cause any issues during pregnancy. However, in animal studies, congenital anomalies (birth defects) and increased risk of miscarriage were reported. It’s important to note that animal studies do not always indicate what may happen in humans. It’s also possible that untreated migraine in pregnant people may increase the risk of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is when high blood pressure occurs during pregnancy, which can be very dangerous. Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend treating your migraine during pregnancy. It’s not known if Zomig passes into breast milk during breastfeeding, or what effects the drug may have on a child who is breastfed. Animal studies show that the drug is present in breast milk. However, animal studies do not always indicate what may happen in humans. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning for either, tell your doctor before starting treatment with Zomig. They can help you determine if the drug is a safe treatment option for you. When to talk with your doctor You may experience side effects from taking Zomig. Although most side effects are mild, it’s possible to develop serious side effects from this medication. If you’d like to learn more about Zomig, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug. Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:More information about Zomig. For details about other aspects of Zomig, refer to this article.Dosage specifics. For information about Zomig’s dosage, see this article.A look at migraine. For details about migraine, see our headache and migraine hub and list of related articles. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. Last medically reviewed on June 13, 2022Headache / MigrainePharmacy / PharmacistDrugsMedically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, Pharm.D. — By Jennifer Mitri Williamson, Pharm.D. on June 13, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? 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