Skip navigation | ||
|
||
Other drug names: | A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9 |
Contents of this page: | |
In the U.S.—
|
Almotriptan ( al-moh-TRIP-tan) is used to treat severe migraine headaches. Many people find that their headaches go away completely after they take almotriptan. Other people find that their headaches are much less painful, and that they are able to go back to their normal activities even though their headaches are not completely gone. Almotriptan often relieves other symptoms that occur together with a migraine headache, such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound.
Almotriptan is not an ordinary pain reliever. It will not relieve any kind of pain other than migraine headaches. This medicine is usually used for people whose headaches are not relieved by acetaminophen, aspirin, or other pain relievers.
Almotriptan has caused serious side effects in some people, especially people who have heart or blood vessel disease. Be sure that you discuss with your doctor the risks of using this medicine as well as the good that it can do.
Almotriptan is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For almotriptan, the following should be considered:
Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to almotriptan. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy—Almotriptan has not been studied in pregnant women. However, in some animal studies, almotriptan caused harmful effects to the fetus. These unwanted effects usually occurred when almotriptan was given in amounts that were large enough to cause harmful effects in the mother.
Breast-feeding—It is not known whether almotriptan passes into human breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children— Studies on this medicine have been done only in patients 18 years of age and older, and there is no specific information comparing use of almotriptan in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of almotriptan in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine, especially other prescription medicine for migraine headaches, or if you smoke tobacco.
Do not use almotriptan for a headache that is different from your usual migraines. Instead, check with your doctor.
To relieve your migraine as soon as possible, use almotriptan as soon as the headache pain begins. Even if you get warning signals of a coming migraine (an aura), you should wait until the headache pain starts before using almotriptan. Using almotriptan during the aura probably will not prevent the headache from occurring. However, even if you do not use almotriptan until your migraine has been present for several hours, the medicine will still work.
Lying down in a quiet, dark room for a while after you use this medicine may help relieve your migraine.
If you feel much better after a dose of almotriptan, but your headache comes back or gets worse after 2 or more hours, you may use one additional dose of almotriptan.
Your doctor may direct you to take another medicine to help prevent headaches. It is important that you follow your doctor's directions, even if your headaches continue to occur. Headache-preventing medicines may take several weeks to start working. Even after they do start working, your headaches may not go away completely. However, your headaches should occur less often, and they should be less severe and easier to relieve. This can reduce the amount of almotriptan or pain relievers that you need. If you do not notice any improvement after several weeks of headache-preventing treatment, check with your doctor.
Dosing—
The dose of almotriptan will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of almotriptan. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
Storage—
To store this medicine:
Drinking alcoholic beverages can make headaches worse or cause new headaches to occur. People who suffer from severe headaches should probably avoid alcoholic beverages, especially during a headache.
Some people feel drowsy or dizzy during or after a migraine, or after taking almotriptan to relieve a migraine. As long as you are feeling drowsy or dizzy, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. Some of these effects, such as nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, and general feeling of illness or tiredness, often occur during or after a migraine, even when almotriptan has not been used. Most of the side effects caused by almotriptan go away within a short time (less than 2 hours). However, check with your doctor if these side effects continue or are bothersome.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Copyright© 2003 Thomson MICROMEDEX. All rights reserved. USP DI® and Advice for the Patient® are registered trademarks of USP used under license to Micromedex, a business of Thomson Healthcare Inc. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
Home | Health Topics | Drug Information | Encyclopedia | Dictionary | News | Directories | Other Resources | |
Copyright | Privacy | Accessibility | Selection Guidelines U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 National Institutes of Health | Department of Health & Human Services |
Page last updated: 22 October 2004 |