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The article by Knudsen et al¹ presents their astute clinical observation of a series of 8 cases of ischemic colitis in patients being treated with sumatriptan succinate. This is a heretofore unreported association and represents a potentially critical side effect involving extracranial vasoconstriction. In speculating about the cause, the authors discuss the possibility of drug-drug interactions, noting that 7 of the 8 patients in their series were taking other concurrent medication(s) in addition to the sumatriptan.

Of particular interest, the most common medication taken by their patients was fluoxetine hydrochloride, taken by 3 of the 8. This is not surprising because many patients with migraine headaches also suffer from depression, and even in the absence of comorbid depression, antidepressants are a standard part of migraine therapeutics.

Sumatriptan and serotonergic antidepressants have been reported to potentially cause serious side effects in a small percentage of patients.² These side effects have been . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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