Eletriptan tablets

What are eletriptan tablets?

ELETRIPTAN (Relpax®) helps to relieve a migraine attack (an intense, throbbing headache often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light and noise). A migraine may start with or without aura (an unusual feeling or change in vision that warns you of an attack). Eletriptan works by reducing swelling around the blood vessels in your brain and by blocking release of a chemical from your nerve endings. Eletriptan is not used for migraine prevention. Generic eletriptan tablets are not yet available.

What should my health care professional know before I take eletriptan?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• bowel disease or colitis

• diabetes

• family history of heart disease

• fast or irregular heartbeat

• headaches that are different from your usual migraine

• heart or blood vessel disease, angina (chest pain), or previous heart attack

• high blood pressure

• high cholesterol

• history of stroke, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs or 'mini-strokes'), or intracranial bleeding

• liver disease

• overweight

• poor circulation

• postmenopausal or surgical removal of uterus and ovaries

• Raynaud's syndrome

• seizure disorder

• tobacco smoker

• unusual or allergic reaction to eletriptan, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take eletriptan tablets by mouth with water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Eletriptan is taken when the migraine attack starts; it is not for everyday use. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply since eletriptan is not for regular use.

What drug(s) may interact with eletriptan?

Do not take eletriptan with any of the following:

• amiodarone, cimetidine, dalfopristin; quinupristin, diltiazem, metronidazole, nicardipine, norfloxacin, quinine, verapamil, zafirlukast, and zileuton - do not take within 72 hours of taking eletriptan.

• amphetamine

• certain antibiotics known as macrolides (clarithromycin, erythromycin, and troleandomycin) - do not take within 72 hours of taking eletriptan.

• certain antidepressants (nefazodone, fluoxetine, or fluvoxamine) - do not take within 72 hours of taking eletriptan.

• cocaine

• dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergoloid mesylates, methysergide, or ergot-type medication (examples: bromocriptine, pergolide) - do not take within 24 hours of taking eletriptan.

• almotriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan - do not take within 24 hours of taking eletriptan.

• grapefruit juice

• imatinib, STI-571 - do not take within 72 hours of taking eletriptan.

• medicines for weight loss such as dexfenfluramine, dextroamphetamine, fenfluramine, or sibutramine

• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as phenelzine (Nardil®), tranylcypromine (Parnate®), isocarboxazid (Marplan®), and selegiline (Carbex®), Eldepryl®) - do not take eletriptan within 2 weeks of stopping MAOI therapy.

• some antifungals (clotrimazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole or voriconazole) - do not take within 72 hours of taking eletriptan.

• some medicines used for HIV infection or AIDS (such as amprenavir, delavirdine, efavirenz, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir) - do not take within 72 hours of taking eletriptan.

Eletriptan may also interact with the following medications:

• cough syrup or other products containing dextromethorphan

• dextroamphetamine

• dopamine agonists

• feverfew

• lithium

• medicines for mental depression, anxiety or mood problems, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (such as buspirone, citalopram, duloxetine, mirtazapine, paroxetine, sertraline, trazodone, tricyclic antidepressants, or venlafaxine)

• meperidine

• St. John's wort

• tryptophan

Tell your physician or health care provider about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking eletriptan?

Only take eletriptan for a migraine headache. Take it if you get warning symptoms or at the start of a migraine attack. Eletriptan is not for regular use to prevent migraine attacks. Do not take it if your headache symptoms are different than your usual attacks; consult your doctor first.

Do not take migraine products that contain ergotamine while you are taking eletriptan because this combination can affect your heart. Be sure to check with your health care professional about any other potential drug interactions with eletriptan before you take eletriptan for the first time.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how eletriptan affects you. To reduce dizzy or fainting spells, do not sit or stand up quickly. Alcohol can increase drowsiness, dizziness and flushing. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

Smoking cigarettes may increase the risk of heart-related side effects from using eletriptan.

What side effects may I notice from taking eletriptan?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber as soon as possible:

• a headache that is different or more severe than the usual migraines you have

• blurred vision

• chest, neck, or throat pain, tightness

• dizziness or faintness

• fast or irregular heart beat, palpitations

• feeling of chest heaviness or pressure

• seizures or convulsions

• severe stomach pain and cramping, bloody diarrhea

• shortness of breath, wheezing, or difficulty breathing

• tingling, pain, or numbness in the face, hands or feet

• unusual reaction or swelling of the skin, eyelids, face, or lips

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• back pain

• drowsiness

• dry mouth

• feeling warm or chilled, flushing, or redness of the face

• heartburn

• nausea, vomiting, or stomach upset

• tiredness or weakness

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Protect from light and moisture. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.