Triptans
Both the sumatriptan injection and nasal spray formulations have been discontinued in Australia by the manufacturer, Aspen Pharma, due to "sustainability of ongoing supply".
Sumatriptan in tablet form is designed to work quickly — but how fast it helps depends on when and how you take it.
These tips can help you get the best possible response from your dose.
Take It Early
The earlier you take sumatriptan after your migraine or cluster headache begins, the better it works. Once pain becomes severe, the medication takes longer to relieve symptoms and may be less effective overall.
Empty Stomach = Faster Absorption
For the quickest results, take the tablet on an empty stomach with a full glass of water.
Food — especially high-fat or heavy meals — slows how quickly the medicine moves from your stomach to your bloodstream.
Approximate digestion times:
Light snack (toast or banana): 30–60 minutes.
Chicken sandwich: 2–3 hours.
Meat pie or fried food: 3–4+ hours.
If you’ve recently eaten something heavy, the medicine may take up to 90 minutes to start working. Waiting a couple of hours after a large meal can make a big difference. Likewise, if you know roughly when you are likely to have an attack, don't eat for at least 4 hours prior.
For a tablet, the fastest way to get it into your bloodstream is to take it while lying on your right side. This posture uses gravity and the natural anatomy of the stomach to help the pill pass into the small intestine, where most oral drug absorption occurs, more quickly.
Why Body Posture Matters
When you swallow a pill, it must travel through the stomach into the small intestine to dissolve and be absorbed into the bloodstream. Lying on your right side allows the pill to reach the lower part of the stomach (antrum) and pass through the pylorus (stomach exit) into the small intestine in an average of 10 minutes.
Staying upright or lying on your back can take 23 minutes.
Lying on your left side is the slowest and can take more than 100 minutes.
Take the pill with a large glass of water to help it go down smoothly and ensure enough liquid in the stomach for dissolution.
Drinks That Help or Hinder absorbtion of the tablet
✅ Water – always a good choice.
✅ Black coffee or tea – caffeine can slightly speed absorption and may boost migraine relief (it's a vasoconstrictor).
⚠️ Coffee with milk – the small amount of milk isn’t a major problem, but dairy fat can slow things a little.
❌ Greasy, creamy, or protein-heavy foods – delay absorption the most.
If you like to have coffee, take your sumatriptan with water first, then enjoy your drink 10–15 minutes later.
⚠️ Before Using Sumatriptan
Sumatriptan (injection or nasal spray) can stop a cluster headache fast — often within 10–15 minutes — but it’s not suitable for everyone.
✅ Common, usually mild side effects:
Tingling, warmth, or flushing.
Pressure or tightness in the chest, throat, or jaw (short-lived).
Dizziness, drowsiness, or fatigue.
Nausea.
Temporary rise in blood pressure.
🚫 Seek medical help or avoid if you have:
Heart disease, angina, or past stroke/TIA.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Severe liver problems.
Used another triptan or ergotamine within the past 24 hours.
Important: Limit use to no more than two injections (or sprays) in 24 hours.
If you take antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAOIs), discuss the risk of serotonin syndrome with your doctor.
Other Options
If triptans or oxygen aren’t suitable:
Zolmitriptan (Zomig Nasal Spray) – a fast-acting nasal option still available in Australia.
Octreotide (Sandostatin) – an injectable alternative for people who cannot use triptans.
Preventive medications such as verapamil, lithium, or Emgality (Galcanezumab) can reduce the frequency of cluster cycles.
Summary
Imigran spray and injection: discontinued in Australia.
Generic sumatriptan injections: still available – ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Sumatriptan tablets: take 30 mins to work.
Oxygen therapy: safe and highly effective.
Other triptans and preventives: available under specialist guidance.
- European Academy of Neurology guideline (acute oxygen; triptans). 2023.
- Australian Prescriber review (verapamil first‑line; ECG monitoring). 2022.
- NEJM trial & reviews of galcanezumab for episodic cluster. 2019–2022.
- StatPearls & reviews on hypothalamic activation and circadian features. 2018–2024.
- Meta‑analyses on prevalence (~1:1,000) and sex differences.