Eletriptan: Uses, indications and precautions when using

This is an automatically translated article.

Eletriptan belongs to the group of triptan drugs, which affect serotonin (a natural chemical in the body) that narrows blood vessels in the brain. The drug can also relieve pain by affecting certain nerves in the brain. Timely medication treatment helps you return to normal activities soon and reduces the need for other pain relievers.

1. What are the effects of Eletriptan?

Eletriptan is used to treat migraine headaches. Not only does it help with headaches, it also controls the accompanying symptoms of a migraine, including nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light/sound. However, eletriptan is not used to prevent migraine recurrence or reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.

2. Eletriptan . User Manual

Read the instructions for use on the drug information leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking eletriptan and each time you receive a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist for answers.
At the first sign of a migraine, you can take eletriptan as directed by your doctor, with or without food. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. If your symptoms do not improve, do not self-medicate with additional doses without consulting your doctor. In case the symptoms are only partially relieved, or the headache comes back, you can take an additional dose 2 hours after taking the first dose. For products made in the United States, 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 are at high risk for heart problems, your doctor may do a heart test before you start taking eletriptan. Your healthcare provider may also direct you to take your first dose in the clinic to watch for serious side effects (such as chest pain). Talk to your doctor for more details.
If you use migraine medicine for 10 days or more each month, the headache may be more severe. This condition is called a drug abuse headache. Therefore, do not use the medicine more often or for a longer time than directed. Tell your doctor if you need to increase your dose, the medicine is not working as well, or if the headache is getting worse.

3. Side effects when using Eletriptan

Users may experience side effects such as nausea, tingling/numb feeling, weakness, fatigue, drowsiness or dizziness. If unwanted symptoms persist or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist right away.
It should be noted that when you were prescribed Eletriptan, your doctor had judged that the benefits of treatment outweighed the risk of side effects. There are still many cases of using this drug safely, without serious side effects. This medicine can increase blood pressure, so check your blood pressure often and let your doctor know if the results are high.
You also need to tell your doctor right away if you experience serious side effects, including:
Blue fingers/toes/nails Cold hands/feet. Eletriptan can also cause chest/jaw/neck tightness, but the pain is usually not serious. These side effects resemble symptoms of a heart attack, such as chest/jaw/left arm pain, shortness of breath, or unusual sweating. Get medical help right away if these side effects or other serious symptoms 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, difficulty speaking, sudden vision changes, confusion).
Eletriptan can increase serotonin, but rarely causes severe serotonin toxicity syndrome. Your risk of this condition is increased if you are also taking other medicines that increase serotonin, so tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines you take. Seek medical help right away if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Fast heartbeat Hallucinations Loss of motor coordination Severe dizziness Severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea Muscle twitching Fever unknown cause Unusual agitation/restlessness. Very rarely, a serious allergic reaction to eletriptan has occurred. However, get medical help right away if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Rash Itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat) Severe dizziness Difficulty breathing. Also, if you experience side effects other than those listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist for help.

4. Caution when using Eletriptan

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to eletriptan or any other allergic condition. This product may contain inactive (inactivated) ingredients, which may cause allergic reactions or other problems. Drug users can ask the pharmacist for more details.
You also need to tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history before taking the medicine, especially of:
Blood circulation problems (e.g. in the legs, arms/hands or stomach). ) Certain types of headaches (hemiplegia or migraine) Heart problems (such as chest pain, irregular heartbeat, history of flare-ups of heart attack) Liver disease Epilepsy Stroke or transient ischemic attack. Certain conditions can increase your risk of heart disease, including:
High blood pressure High cholesterol Diabetes Family history of heart disease Being overweight Smoking Women after menopause Men over 40. Eletriptan may make you dizzy, drowsy, or blurred vision. Using alcohol or marijuana can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Therefore, do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires alertness and clear vision until you are safe. Talk to your prescriber if you are using marijuana or alcohol.
Before surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (such as prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, 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 eletriptan, especially high blood pressure and heart problems. During pregnancy, the drug should be used only when clearly needed and carefully weighed by your doctor about the risks versus benefits. Eletriptan may pass into breast milk. Therefore, users should consult their doctor before breast-feeding.

5. Eletriptan interactions with other drugs

Drug interactions can change the way Eletriptan works or increase your risk of serious side effects. Make a list of all the medications you take (including prescription/over-the-counter and herbal medicines), and then share them with known doctors and pharmacists. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine without your doctor's approval.
Avoid taking certain medicines that can affect the elimination of eletriptan from the body for 72 hours after taking this medicine. Example:
Cobicistat Nefazodone Ribociclib azole antifungals such as ketoconazole / itraconazole Macrolide antibiotics such as clarithromycin / erythromycin Some hepatitis C virus protease inhibitors such as boceprevir / telaprevir HIV protease inhibitors such as nelfinavir / rito. If you are also taking ergotamine (such as dihydroergotamine) or other triptan medicines (such as sumatriptan, rizatriptan), separate the doses of eletriptan from the doses of these medicines at least 24 hours apart to reduce the risk of side effects. serious side effects.
As mentioned, the risk of serotonin toxicity syndrome is increased if you are also taking other medications that increase serotonin. Examples include:
Drugs / "ecstasy" St. John's Wort Certain antidepressants (including SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine) Risk of serotonin toxicity may be higher when you start or increase the dose of these medicines.

6. Some notes when using Eletriptan

6.1. Overdose If you have overdosed on eletriptan, call a poison control center right away. If serious symptoms such as fainting or shortness of breath develop, call 911.
6.2. Remarks Do not take eletriptan with other drugs. Certain foods, beverages, or food additives (such as red wine, cheese, chocolate, MSG) as well as irregular eating/sleeping habits or stress can cause pain. first half. Avoiding these “triggers” can help alleviate migraine attacks, making the most of the medication. You may be asked to have periodic tests (such as blood pressure) to monitor the progress of your disease or check for side effects.
6.3. Storage Store the drug at room temperature, away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets. Discard the product appropriately when it has expired or is no longer needed. Do not flush eletriptan down the toilet or down the drain unless directed to do so.
Regularly visit the website of Vinmec International General Hospital to get more information about health and medicine. If there are questions, customers send questions to receive advice from experts.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: webmd.com