Association Between Sumatriptan Use and Ischemic Colitis?

Sumatriptan and other serotonin-1 receptor agonists used in the treatment of migraine headache have been associated with myocardial ischemia and infarction, presumably because of their vasoconstrictive effect. This case series of eight patients with ischemic colitis associated with sumatriptan use, derived from a retrospective search of postmarketing reports to the Food and Drug Administration, suggests that this vasoconstrictive effect may be even more generalized.

Seven of the eight patients were women, the median age was 46, and the reported dosages of sumatriptan were in the approved therapeutic range. Half of the doses were given by injection. All patients presented with acute abdominal pain and hematochezia. Symptoms occurred from six …