warnings and cautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Myocardial Ischemia/Infarction, and Prinzmetal's Angina : Perform cardiac evaluation in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors ( 5.1 ) Arrhythmias : Discontinue zolmitriptan if occurs ( 5.2 ) Chest/Throat/Neck/Jaw Pain, Tightness, and Pressure : Generally not associated with myocardial ischemia; evaluate for CAD in patients at high risk ( 5.3 ) Cerebral Hemorrhage, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, and Stroke : Discontinue zolmitriptan if occurs ( 5.4 ) Gastrointestinal Ischemic Reactions and Peripheral Vasospastic Reactions : Discontinue zolmitriptan if occurs ( 5.5 ) Medication Overuse Headache : Detoxification may be necessary ( 5.6 ) Serotonin Syndrome : Discontinue zolmitriptan if occurs ( 5.7 , 7.4 ) Patients with Phenylketonuria : Zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets contains phenylalanine ( 5.9 ) 5.1 Myocardial Ischemia, Myocardial Infarction, and Prinzmetal's Angina Zolmitriptan is contraindicated in patients with ischemic or vasospastic coronary artery disease(CAD). There have been rare reports of serious cardiac adverse reactions, including acute myocardial infarction, occurring within a few hours following administration of zolmitriptan. Some of these reactions occurred in patients without known CAD. 5-HT 1 agonists including zolmitriptan may cause coronary artery vasospasm(Prinzmetal's Angina), even in patients without a history of CAD. Perform a cardiovascular evaluation in triptan-naïve patients who have multiple cardiovascular risk factors(e.g., increased age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, obesity, strong family history of CAD)prior to receiving zolmitriptan. Do not administer zolmitriptan if there is evidence of CAD or coronary artery vasospasm [see Contraindications(4) ]. For patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors who have a negative cardiovascular evaluation, consider administrering the first zolmitriptan dose in a medically-supervised setting and performing an electrocardiogram (ECG)immediately following zolmitriptan administration. For such patients, consider periodic cardiovascular evaluation in intermittent long-term users of zolmitriptan. 5.2 Arrhythmias Life-threatening disturbances of cardiac rhythm including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation leading to death have been reported within a few hours following the administration of 5-HT 1 agonists. Discontinue zolmitriptan if these disturbances occur. Zolmitriptan is contraindicated in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or arrhythmias associated with other cardiac accessory conduction pathway disorders [see Contraindications(4) ]. 5.3 Chest, Throat, Neck and Jaw Pain/Tightness/Pressure As with other 5-HT 1 agonists, sensations of tightness, pain, and pressure in the chest, throat, neck, and jaw commonly occur after treatment with zolmitriptan and is usually non-cardiac in origin. However, perform a cardiac evaluation if these patients are at high cardiac risk. 5-HT 1 agonists including zolmitriptan are contraindicated in patients with CAD or Prinzmetal's variant angina [see Contraindications (4) ]. 5.4 Cerebrovascular Events Cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and stroke have occurred in patients treated with 5-HT 1 agonists, and some have resulted in fatalities. In a number of cases, it appears possible that the cerebrovascular events were primary, the 5-HT 1 agonist having been administered in the incorrect belief that the symptoms experienced were a consequence of migraine, when they were not. As with other acute migraine therapies, before treating headaches in patients not previously diagnosed as migraineurs, and in migraineurs who present with symptoms atypical for migraine, exclude other potentially serious neurological conditions. Zolmitriptan is contraindicated in patients with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack [see Contraindications (4) ]. 5.5 Other Vasospasm Reactions 5-HT 1 agonists, including zolmitriptan, may cause non-coronary vasospastic reactions, such as peripheral vascular ischemia, gastrointestinal vascular ischemia and infarction (presenting with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea), splenic infarction, and Raynaud's syndrome. In patients who experience symptoms or signs suggestive of a vasospastic reaction following the use of any 5-HT 1 agonist, rule out a vasospastic reaction before receiving additional zolmitriptan doses [see Contraindications (4) ]. Reports of transient and permanent blindness and significant partial vision loss have been reported with the use of 5-HT 1 agonists. Since visual disorders may be part of a migraine attack, a causal relationship between these events and the use of 5-HT 1 agonists has not been clearly established. 5.6 Medication Overuse Headache Overuse of acute migraine drugs (e.g., ergotamine, triptans, opioids, or a combination of drugs for 10 or more days per month) may lead to exacerbation of headache (medication overuse headache). Medication overuse headache may present as migraine-like daily headaches or as a marked increase in frequency of migraine attacks. Detoxification of patients, including withdrawal of the overused drugs, and treatment of withdrawal symptoms (which often includes a transient worsening of headache) may be necessary. 5.7 Serotonin Syndrome Serotonin syndrome may occur with triptans, including zolmitriptan tablet and zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets, particularly during co-administration with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and MAO inhibitors [see Drug Interactions (7.5) ]. Serotonin syndrome symptoms may include mental status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, hyperthermia), neuromuscular aberrations (e.g., hyperreflexia, incoordination), and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). The onset of symptoms usually rapidly occurs within minutes to hours of receiving a new or a greater dose of a serotonergic medication. Discontinue zolmitriptan if serotonin syndrome is suspected [see Drug Interactions (7.4) ] 5.8 Increase in Blood Pressure Significant elevations in systemic blood pressure have been reported in patients treated with 5-HT 1 agonists including patients without a history of hypertension; very rarely, these increases in blood pressure have been associated with serious adverse reactions. In healthy subjects treated with 5 mg of zolmitriptan, an increase of 1 and 5 mm Hg in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, was seen. In a study of patients with moderate to severe liver impairment, 7 of 27 patients experienced 20 to 80 mm Hg elevations in systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure after a dose of 10 mg of zolmitriptan. As with all triptans, blood pressure should be monitored in zolmitriptan-treated patients. Zolmitriptan is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled hypertension [see Contraindications (4) ]. 5.9 Risks in Patients with Phenylketonuria Phenylalanine can be harmful to patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). Zolmitriptan orally disintegrating tablets contain phenylalanine (a component of aspartame). Each 2.5 mg orally disintegrating tablet contains 2.1 mg phenylalanine. Each 5 mg orally disintegrating tablet contains 4.2 mg phenylalanine.