The HEALTHY PREGNANCY HUB team is collaborating with MotherToBaby to share information on this topic. The original version is available here (August 2023).
Serene, our chatbot, can also answer your questions about medications during pregnancy.
Please note that this fact sheet is based on United States information and has been adapted for Canada, with a review by our Canadian experts. Minor differences may exist between the two countries. Always consult your healthcare professional for information tailored to your situation.
1. What is sumatriptan?
Sumatriptan is a medication that has been used to treat migraine headaches. It can be taken by mouth (orally) in pill form, by nasal spray, or by injection (shot). Some brand names for sumatriptan are Imitrex®, Alsuma®, Imigran®, Onzetra Xsail®, Tosymra®, and Zembrace SymTouch®.
In the United States, sumatriptan is available in a combination product (Treximet®) that also contains naproxen. As of October 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that pregnant individuals should not use NSAIDs (such as naproxen) after week 20 of pregnancy unless specifically advised to do so by their healthcare provider. For more information on naproxen, see our fact sheet here.
Sometimes when people find out they are pregnant, they think about changing how they take their medication, or stopping their medication altogether. However, it is important to talk with your healthcare providers before making any changes to how you take your medication. Your healthcare providers can talk with you about the benefits of treating your condition and the risks of untreated illness during pregnancy.

2. What are the risks according to research?
Can having migraine headaches affect pregnancy?
Some studies have shown that individuals with a history of migraine headaches have a slightly higher chance for pregnancy complications including high blood pressure, preeclampsia (high blood pressure and problems with organs, such as the kidneys), that can lead to seizures (called eclampsia), and pregnancy-related stroke. Be sure to talk with your healthcare providers about your history of migraine headaches so they can monitor symptoms during pregnancy, if needed.
I take sumatriptan. Can it make it harder for me to get pregnant?
It is not known if sumatriptan can make it harder to get pregnant.
Does taking sumatriptan increase the chance of miscarriage?
Miscarriage is common and can occur in any pregnancy for many different reasons. There have been several studies done that have not found an increased chance of miscarriage when sumatriptan was used during pregnancy.
Does taking sumatriptan increase the chance of birth defects?
Every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect. This is called the background risk. Overall, studies have not found an increased chance of birth defects when sumatriptan is used in the first trimester.
Does taking sumatriptan in pregnancy increase the chance of other pregnancy-related problems?
Some studies have suggested a small increase in chance of some pregnancy-related problems, including preeclampsia, preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks), low birth weight (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces [2500g] at birth), and heavy bleeding after delivery if sumatriptan was used late in pregnancy. However, some of these complications (including preeclampsia, preterm birth, and low birth weight) have been associated with migraines in pregnancy. This makes it hard to know if the medication, the condition being treated, or other factors are the cause of these complications.
Does taking sumatriptan in pregnancy affect future behavior or learning for the child?
Studies have not been done to see if sumatriptan can cause behavior or learning issues for the child. There is limited information on the long-term effects of exposure to medications in the same class as sumatriptan during pregnancy. One study that followed children to age 3 suggested there could be small effects on attention. However, the same authors did not find behavior differences at age 5 in children who were exposed to a medication in the same class as sumatriptan.
3. Breastfeeding/ chestfeeding while taking sumatriptan
Sumatriptan gets into breast milk/ chest milk in small amounts and is not well absorbed by the stomach. The manufacturer states that avoiding breastfeeding/ chestfeeding for 12 hours after a dose of sumatriptan can minimize infant exposure. While this may be helpful in some cases (such as when the breastfeeding/ chestfeeding infant was born preterm), sumatriptan is not expected to cause side effects in most breastfed/ chestfed infants. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about all your breastfeeding/ chestfeeding questions.
4. Fathers and sperm donors
If a male takes sumatriptan, could it affect fertility or increase the chance of birth defects?
Studies have not been done to see if sumatriptan could affect a male’s fertility (ability to get a partner pregnant) or increase the chance of birth defects above the background risk. In general, exposures that fathers and sperm donors have are unlikely to increase risks to a pregnancy. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures here.
Key points
- Sumatriptan (Imitrex®) is a medication used to treat migraines headaches and is available as a tablet, nasal spray, or injection.
- Studies have not shown an increased risk of miscarriage or birth defects when sumatriptan is taken during pregnancy.
- Some potential complications (preeclampsia, preterm birth, low birth weight, or postpartum bleeding) have been suggested when sumatriptan is used late in pregnancy, but these may also be linked to migraines themselves.
- Sumatriptan passes into milk in small amounts, but it is poorly absorbed by the baby’s stomach.
- No studies have been done to determine whether sumatriptan affects male fertility or increases the risk of birth defects.
- Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or changing any medication during pregnancy.
References
Please click here for references.
Disclaimer
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