Eletriptan

Conditions Treated

Eletriptan is used to treat the symptoms of migraine headache (severe throbbing headache that sometimes comes along with nausea and sensitivity to sound and light). Eletriptan is in a class of medications called selective serotonin receptor agonists. It works by reducing swelling of blood vessels in the brain, stopping pain signals from being sent to the brain, and blocking the release of certain natural substances that cause pain, nausea, and other symptoms of migraine. Eletriptan does not prevent migraine attacks or reduce the number of headaches you have.

Possible Side Effects

What Side Effects Can This Cause?

Eletriptan may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• weakness
• upset stomach
• heartburn
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• headache
• dry mouth
• stomach pain or cramps

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:

• tightness, pain, pressure, or heaviness in the chest, throat, neck, and/or jaw
• slow or difficult speech
• dizziness or faintness
• weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
• severe stomach pain
• bloody diarrhea
• rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
• difficulty breathing
• paleness or blue color of the fingers and toes
• pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet

Eletriptan may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Usage Instructions

How Should This Medication Be Used

Eletriptan comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken at the first sign of a migraine attack. If your symptoms improve after you take eletriptan but return after 2 hours or longer, you may take a second tablet. However, if your symptoms do not improve after you take eletriptan, do not take a second tablet before calling your doctor. Do not take more than two eletriptan tablets in any 24-hour period. Call your doctor if you need to take eletriptan more than three times a month. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take eletriptan exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. You may take your first dose of eletriptan in a doctor's office or other medical facility where you can be monitored for serious reactions.

What Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Talk to your doctor about drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.

Are There Any Special Instructions

Before taking eletriptan, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to eletriptan or any other medications. do not take eletriptan within 24 hours of another selective serotonin receptor agonist such as almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or ergot-type medications such as bromocriptine (Parlodel), cabergoline (Dostinex), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergoloid mesylates (Germinal, Hydergine), ergonovine (Ergotrate), ergotamine (Bellergal-S, Cafergot, Ergomar, Wigraine), methylergonovine (Methergine), methysergide (Sansert), and pergolide (Permax). Do not take eletriptan within 72 hours of clarithromycin (Biaxin), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), nefazodone (Serzone), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), and troleandomycin (TAO). tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: cimetidine (Tagamet); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); danazol (Danocrine); delavirdine (Rescriptor); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); fluconazole (Diflucan); indinavir (Crixivan); isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid); metronidazole (Flagyl); selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft); selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), sibutramine (Meridia),and venlafaxine (Effexor); verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); and zafirlukast (Accolate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you smoke, if you or any family members have or have ever had heart disease, if you have gone through menopause (change of life), and if you have or have ever had a heart attack; angina (chest pain); high blood pressure; stroke or 'mini-stroke'; high cholesterol; diabetes; circulation problems such as ischemic bowel disease; or kidney or liver disease. you should know that eletriptan may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. talk to your doctor about your headache symptoms to make sure they are caused by migraine. Eletriptan should not be used to treat hemiplegic or basilar migraine or headaches caused by other conditions (such as cluster headaches).