This medication is used to treat migraines. It helps to
relieve headaches, pain and other symptoms of migraines, including
sensitivity to light/sound, nausea, and vomiting. Prompt treatment allows
you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other
pain medications. Naratriptan does not prevent future migraines or reduce
how often you may get a headache.
Naratriptan belongs to a group of drugs called triptans.
It affects a certain natural chemical (serotonin) that constricts blood
vessels in the brain. It may also block other pain pathways in the
brain.
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from
your pharmacist before you start using naratriptan and each time you get a
refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Take one tablet by mouth with or without food as
directed by your doctor, usually at the first sign of a migraine. Do not
take naratriptan to prevent a migraine. If there is no improvement in your
symptoms, do not take any more doses of this medication before talking to
your doctor. If your symptoms are only partly relieved, or if your headache
comes back, you may take a second dose after 4 hours or as directed by your
doctor. Do not take more than 5 milligrams in a 24-hour
period.
If you have never taken this medication before and you
have risk factors for heart disease (see Precautions), you may be advised
to take your first dose in your doctor's office in order to monitor for
rare but serious heart problems (such as heart attack).
The dosage is based on your medical condition and
response to treatment. Tell your doctor if your condition does not get
better or if it gets worse.
If you are using drugs for migraine attacks on 10 or
more days each month, the drugs may actually make your headaches worse
(medication overuse headache). Do not use medications more often or for
longer than directed. Tell your doctor if you need to use this medication
more often, or if the medication is not working as well, or if your
headaches get worse.
Flushing, sensations of
tingling/numbness/prickling/heat, weakness, drowsiness, or dizziness may
occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or
pharmacist promptly.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check
your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are
high.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- blue fingers/toes/nails
- cold sensation of hands/feet
- hearing changes
- mental/mood changes
Naratriptan can commonly cause chest/jaw/neck tightness,
pain, or pressure that is usually not serious. However, these side effects
are like symptoms of a heart attack, which may include chest/jaw/left arm
pain, shortness of breath, or unusual sweating. Get medical help right away
if these or other serious side effects occur, including:
- fast/irregular heartbeat
- fainting
- severe stomach/abdominal pain
- bloody diarrhea
- signs of a stroke (such as weakness on one side of the body,
trouble speaking, sudden vision changes, confusion)
This medication may increase serotonin and rarely cause
a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome/toxicity. The risk
increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin, so
tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take (see Drug
Interactions section). Get medical help right away if you develop some of
the following symptoms:
- fast heartbeat
- hallucinations
- loss of coordination
- severe dizziness
- severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
- twitching muscles
- unexplained fever
- unusual agitation/restlessness
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before taking naratriptan, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other triptan migraine drugs;
or it you have other allergies. This product may contain inactive
ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to
your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- heart disease (such as chest pain, heart attack, irregular
heartbeat)
- decreased blood flow in the brain (such as stroke, transient
ischemic attack)
- blood circulation disease (such as ischemic bowel disease,
Raynaud's disease)
- certain types of headaches (hemiplegic or basilar
migraine)
- kidney disease
- liver disease
Tell your doctor if you have the following risk factors
for heart disease:
- diabetes
- family history of heart disease
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- overweight
- smoker
- female after menopause
- male over age 40
If you are at high risk for heart disease, your doctor
may want to check your heart before prescribing
naratriptan.
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or
marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use
machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely.
Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana
(cannabis).
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products).
The risk of heart disease and high blood pressure
increases with age. Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects
of this drug, especially increased blood pressure and heart
problems.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only
when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your
doctor.
It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk.
Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
If you also take any ergotamine medication (such as
dihydroergotamine) or any other "triptan" drugs (such as zolmitriptan,
rizatriptan), you will need to separate your naratriptan dose from your
dose of these other medications in order to lessen the chance of serious
side effects. Ask you doctor how long you should wait between your doses of
these drugs.
The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity increases if you
are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin. Examples include
street drugs such as MDMA/"ecstasy,"St. John's wort, certain
antidepressants (including SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such
as duloxetine/venlafaxine), among others. The risk of serotonin
syndrome/toxicity may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of
these drugs.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669.
Take this medication only as needed when a migraine
occurs, as directed by your doctor. This medication should not be taken on
a regular schedule. Never increase your dose of this medication or take it
more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Certain foods/beverages or food additives (such as red
wine, cheese, chocolate, monosodium glutamate) as well as some lifestyle
patterns (such as irregular eating/sleeping habits, stress) may bring about
a migraine headache. Avoiding these "triggers" may help decrease the
frequency of migraine headaches. Consult your doctor for more
details.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as blood pressure) may be
done while you are taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab
appointments. Consult your doctor for more details.
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and
pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.