Eletriptan is used to treat migraines. It helps to
relieve headache, pain, and other migraine symptoms (including nausea,
vomiting, sensitivity to light/sound). Prompt treatment helps you return to
your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications.
Eletriptan belongs to a class of drugs known as triptans. It affects a
certain natural substance (serotonin) that causes narrowing of blood
vessels in the brain. It may also relieve pain by affecting certain nerves
in the brain.
Eletriptan does not prevent future migraines or lessen
how often you get migraine attacks.
Read the Patient Information Leaflet available from your
pharmacist before you start using eletriptan and each time you get a
refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as
directed by your doctor, at the first sign of a migraine. The dosage is
based on your medical condition and response to treatment. If there is no
improvement in your symptoms, do not take 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 another dose two hours after
the first dose. For the US product, do not take more than 80 milligrams in
a 24-hour period. For the Canadian product, the manufacturer recommends a
maximum of 40 milligrams in a 24-hour period.
If you have a higher risk for heart problems (see
Precautions), your doctor may perform a heart exam before you start taking
eletriptan. He/she may also direct you to take your first dose of this
medication in the office/clinic to monitor for serious side effects (such
as chest pain). Talk to your doctor for details.
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.
Nausea, feelings of tingling/numbness, weakness,
tiredness, 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 hands/feet
Eletriptan 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 eletriptan, tell your doctor or pharmacist
if you are allergic to it; or if you have any 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:
- blood circulation problems (for example, in your legs,
arms/hands, or stomach)
- certain types of headaches (hemiplegic or basilar
migraine)
- heart problems (such as chest pain, irregular heartbeat,
previous heart attack)
- liver disease
- seizure
- stroke or "mini-stroke" (transient ischemic attack)
Certain conditions can increase your risk for heart
problems. Tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions,
including:
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- diabetes
- family history of heart disease
- overweight
- smoker
- postmenopausal (women)
- age more than 40 years (men)
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.
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.
Avoid taking certain medications that can affect the
removal of eletriptan from your body within 72 hours of taking eletriptan.
Examples include cobicistat, nefazodone, ribociclib, ritonavir, azole
antifungals (such as ketoconazole, itraconazole), macrolide antibiotics
(such as clarithromycin, erythromycin), HIV protease inhibitors (such as
nelfinavir), among others.
If you also take any ergotamine medication (such as
dihydroergotamine) or other "triptan" drugs (such as sumatriptan,
rizatriptan), separate your eletriptan dose at least 24 hours apart from
your dose of these other medications to lessen the chance of serious side
effects.
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.
Do not share this medication with others.
Certain foods, beverages, or food additives (such as red
wine, cheese, chocolate, monosodium glutamate) as well as lifestyle
patterns such as irregular eating/sleeping habits or stress may bring on a
migraine headache. Avoiding these "triggers" may help lessen migraine
attacks. 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.
Not applicable. (See How to Use section.)
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.