Migraine is not just a headache, as anyone who has experienced it knows. The throbbing pain, the inability to see light, sound, and nausea can make your day miserable, right? So, at a time like this, your doctor may have prescribed you a pill called Eletriptan (often known by the brand name Relpax). Today, let's talk about this medication, how to use it, and what you need to be careful about.
What exactly is Eletriptan?
Simply put, Eletriptan is a medication that is used to control the pain and other symptoms of migraines. It belongs to a class of drugs called triptans .
Imagine, when you have a migraine, some of the blood vessels in your brain dilate, or widen, unnecessarily. And pain signals flow to the brain. Eletriptan does two main things:
1. Blood vessels that have become unnecessarily wide are narrowed again .
2. Blocks pain signals to the brain.
This is how things like migraine pain and nausea are reduced.
But it's important to remember that Eletriptan is not a medication that prevents migraines. It is only used to control the symptoms of a migraine once it has occurred .
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before giving you Eletriptan, it is important that your doctor is fully aware of your health condition. This is because using this medicine with certain medical conditions can be dangerous. Therefore, if you have any of the following conditions, be sure to tell your doctor.
| Your situation | Why should you inform? |
|---|---|
| Heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol | This medicine can affect the heart because it narrows blood vessels. |
| Having a previous stroke or heart rhythm disorder | There is a risk of recurrence of these conditions due to the effectiveness of the medication. |
| If you have diabetes or are a smoker | Special care is needed because the risk of heart disease is higher with these risk factors. |
| Liver or kidney disease | The dosage may need to be changed as it may affect the process of removing the medicine from the body. |
| Circulatory problems in the fingers and toes | This medicine may make the condition worse. |
| If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding | It is imperative to discuss the possible effects on the baby with the doctor. |
| If you have allergies to other medications, foods, or substances | To confirm whether you are allergic to Eletriptan or any of its ingredients. |
How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is usually used as follows:
- As soon as you feel a migraine starting, swallow the dose prescribed by your doctor (e.g. 1 tablet) with a glass of water.
- If the headache does not subside after 2 hours or if it returns, you can take another pill only if your doctor has given you permission .
- Do not exceed the maximum dosage prescribed by your doctor within 24 hours for any reason.
- This medicine is not meant to be taken daily. Take it only when a migraine occurs.
What to do if you take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
Other medicines that should not be used with Eletriptan
This is very important. Eletriptan can cause very dangerous side effects when taken with certain other medications. So tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking (including vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements).
Never use Eletriptan with the following medications.
| Drugs that should never be taken with Eletriptan | |
|---|---|
| Other migraine medications | Other triptans such as sumatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, ergot alkaloids such as ergotamine, dihydroergotamine |
| Antifungals | Medications like Ketoconazole and Itraconazole |
| Some antibiotics | Clarithromycin, Telithromycin |
| Some medications for HIV or Hepatitis | Antiviral drugs |
Additionally, some medications for depression, anxiety (especially SSRIs, SNRIs), and MAOIs can interact with Eletriptan. Therefore, it is very important to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking.
Things to be careful about when taking this medicine
- Drowsiness and dizziness: You may feel a little drowsy and dizzy when taking this medicine. Therefore, do not do anything that requires alertness, such as driving or operating machinery, until you know exactly how this medicine affects you.
- Changing positions: Don't go from standing to sitting suddenly. Especially if you're older, change positions slowly. Otherwise, you could get dizzy and fall.
- Dry mouth: Dry mouth is common. You can control this by chewing sugar-free gum and drinking plenty of water.
- Medication Overuse Headache: This is something that many people don't know. If you take migraine medication for more than 10 days a month, your migraines may get worse. So, keep a diary of the days you get migraines and the days you take the medication. If you feel like your migraines are getting more frequent, talk to your doctor.
Side effects of the medicine
Like any medicine, Eletriptan can have side effects. Some are serious, some are common. It is important to be aware of these.
| Type of side effect | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that require immediate medical attention | |
| Allergic Reaction | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing. |
| Symptoms of a heart attack | Tightness or pain in the chest, shoulders, arms, or jaw, nausea, difficulty breathing, cold sweats, fainting. |
| Symptoms of a Stroke | Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the face, arm, or leg, difficulty speaking, confusion, difficulty walking, severe headache. |
| Serotonin Syndrome | Confusion, rapid heartbeat, muscle stiffness, tremors, excessive sweating, fever, vomiting, diarrhea. |
| Sudden increase in blood pressure | Severe headache, chest pain, difficulty breathing. |
| Other serious symptoms | Sudden and severe stomach pain, vomiting, fever, bloody diarrhea, vision loss, seizures, Raynaud's phenomenon (fingers turn pale, blue, then red). |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Common side effects | Dizziness, drowsiness, lethargy, dry mouth. |
How should you store medicine?
- Keep out of reach of children and pets .
- Store at room temperature (between 15-30 degrees Celsius).
- Throw away expired medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Eletriptan is a medication used when a migraine occurs , not a medication that prevents it from occurring.
- Be sure to tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you have and all medications you take (including vitamins).
- If you experience serious side effects such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or numbness on one side of your face, go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
- Do not use this type of medication for more than 10 days per month. Doing so may worsen migraines.
- This medicine is for you only. Never give it to others. Follow your doctor's instructions.
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