Zolmitriptan is one of seven triptans available in the US and it comes in tablets (Zomig), orally disintegrating tablets, that is tablets that melt in your mouth (Zomig ZMT), and nasal spray (Zomig NS). The nasal spray was just approved for children 12 and older. It is available in 2.5 mg and 5 mg strength and the 2.5 mg is the starting dose, but kids are allowed to take 5 mg dose up to twice a day.
My previous post mentioned the approval of Treximet, a combination of sumatriptan (Imitrex) and naproxen (Aleve) in adolescents. However, Zomig is the only triptan in a nasal spray form (the second triptan available in a nasal spray is sumatriptan or Imitrex) approved in the US for children. The advantages of this form of drug delivery is that it tends to have faster onset of action and it can be taken when severe nausea or vomiting precludes the use of oral medications. Sumatriptan nasal spray is approved in kids in Europe, so there is no reason not to use it as well, however Zomig spray seems to be better than Imitrex spray. The amount of fluid in a single dose of Zomig is less than that in Imitrex and the spray droplets are of smaller size, leading to better retention of fluid in nasal passages and better absorption. Also, many patients complain of a very unpleasant taste with Imitrex spray, although this can be avoided by sucking on a hard candy while spraying. This will carry the saliva out of the mouth down the throat and the drug will not reach the mouth. When using nasal sprays it is important not to sniff them up your nose because this will carry the medicine into the throat rather than having it stay in the nose where it gets absorbed faster.
Since we are on the topic of nasal sprays, I should mention three other nasal sprays that can be used to treat headaches. Migranal nasal spray contains dihydroergotamine, which is one of the strongest injectable migraine medications. However it is a lot less effective in a nasal spray form. Sprix is a nasal spray of ketorolac (Toradol), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which is also much stronger when injected. It is also available in a tablet, but the tablet is not any stronger than aspirin or ibuprofen. The third nasal spray is Stadol NS and it contains butorphanol, a strong narcotic pain killer. It should be avoided because it is very addictive.
