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Cafergot is a combination product of Ergotamine and Caffeine, used to treat vascular headaches. So what is the effect of the drug Cafergot and how should patients use this product?
1. What disease does Cafergot treat?
Cafergot is a product of Novartis, prepared in the form of anal suppositories with ingredients including 2 active ingredients: Ergotamine tartrate 1mg and Caffeine 100mg.
Cafergot is used to treat or prevent vascular headaches, including migraines and cluster headaches. The effect of the drug Cafergot is to help narrow the dilated blood vessels in the head area, thereby helping to reduce vascular headaches. The caffeine component in the drug Cafergot supports to increase the effect of the other ingredient, Ergotamine.
Note that the suppository form is only used when the patient cannot take it by mouth (eg due to persistent nausea and vomiting).
2. How to use the drug Cafergot
How to take the drug Cafergot :
The patient takes the drug out of the package and inserts 1 capsule of Cafergot directly into the anus as directed by the doctor; Then lie still to hold the tablet in place for a few minutes and avoid having a bowel movement for an hour or so for the active ingredient to be fully absorbed; If the Cafergot suppository is exposed to heat and softens, cool the patient (in cold water) before opening and inserting the anus. Dosage of the drug Cafergot:
The specific dose of the drug Cafergot depends on the disease condition and the patient's ability to respond; Cafergot works best if it is used when the headache first occurs, if the headache gets worse the medicine may not work as well; Cafergot is usually used only when needed, which means it shouldn't be used for a long time every day; The maximum dose is 2 Cafergot pills for a headache and a maximum of 5 Cafergot pills for 1 week. Some notes when using the drug Cafergot:
Cafergot can cause withdrawal syndrome, especially when used regularly for a long time or used in high doses. The manifestation of withdrawal syndrome is the return of headache when the patient stops taking the drug Cafergot suddenly with a different nature from the initial headache and may persist for a few days. Patients should report to the doctor immediately if any of the above occurs; If you take this medicine for your migraine attacks for 10 days or more a month, it can make your headache symptoms worse (called an overuse headache). Therefore, patients should not use Cafergot more often or for longer than prescribed by their doctor, and tell the doctor if the medicine is not working well or when the headache gets worse.
3. Side effects of the drug Cafergot
Common side effects when using Cafergot are nausea, vomiting, restlessness, trouble sleeping and dizziness. If any of the side effects related to Cafergot persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist right away.
Some serious side effects of the drug Cafergot need immediate medical intervention, including:
Pain, rectal bleeding; slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat; Tingling, pain, cold in the limbs; Muscle pain, muscle weakness; Stomachache; Symptoms of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of urine) Patients need immediate medical attention if any of these very serious side effects occur, including:
Chest pain; Vision changes; Mistake; Speak slowly. Very serious allergic reactions to Cafergot are very rare. However, people should get emergency medical attention if they have symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching with swelling of the face/tongue/throat, severe dizziness or trouble breathing.
4. Cafergot drug interactions
If Cafergot is used concurrently with a "triptan" migraine medication (eg, Sumatriptan, Rizatriptan), the patient should take the two drugs apart to reduce the risk of serious side effects.
Some products may contain Caffeine or ingredients that may increase heart rate or blood pressure when taken together with Cafergot. Therefore, patients should talk to their pharmacist about the products they are using and how to use them safely, especially cough and cold medicines, dietary supplements or headache medicines. other.
Cafergot may interfere with certain tests, including dipyridamole-thallium imaging tests, urine catecholamine levels, urine 5-HIAA levels... Therefore, please inform your doctor. doctor knew he was using this product before performing the above tests.
5. Note before using the drug Cafergot
Before using Cafergot, patients should talk to their doctor about a history of allergy to Ergotamine, Caffeine, other Ergot Alkaloids (eg, Dihydroergotamine) or other xanthine drugs (eg Theophylline) and any other xanthine drugs (e.g. Theophylline) any other allergic condition.
Before using Cafergot, patients must inform their doctor or pharmacist of their previous medical history, especially of peripheral vascular diseases (such as arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, Raynaud's disease), high blood pressure, malnutrition, coronary artery disease, stroke, heart attack, irregular heartbeat, liver disease, kidney disease, severe infection, severe itching, diarrhea, diabetes or other problems about the stomach.
Cafergot can cause dizziness, especially when taken with alcohol. Patients should absolutely not drive, use machines or do anything that requires alertness while they are dizzy.
Smoking while using Cafergot can increase your risk of serious side effects such as heart problems (including chest pain, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat) and decreased blood flow to brain/arm/leg.
Cafergot should not be used during pregnancy because it can harm the unborn baby. Patients should discuss with their doctor the use of reliable forms of birth control (such as condoms, birth control pills).
Cafergot may be excreted in breast milk and may cause undesirable effects in a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding while using Cafergot is not recommended.