Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

Eletriptan is a selective serotonin receptor agonist. It works by reducing inflammation and reversing the widening of blood vessels in the brain, thereby stopping a migraine headache. It is often used to treat a migraine attack after it begins. It will not prevent a migraine.

How should I take or use this medication?

• Follow your doctor’s instructions as to how many tablets to take when the attack starts.
• If your migraine improves but comes back, wait at least 2 hours before taking the next dose. Do not take more than 80mg per day.
• Do not use eletriptan too frequently (limit to 10 days of use per month), as it can cause medication overuse headache (migraine/headache may worsen). Inform your doctor if you need to take eletriptan to treat more than 3 headaches in a 1 month period.
• You may take this medication with or without food.
• If the tablets did not give you enough help with your migraine, consult your doctor.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
• You have a history of heart condition or stroke, uncontrolled blood pressure, blood circulation disorders, kidney or liver diseases.
• You are allergic to antibiotic that contains sulfonamide.
• You are taking taking medications under the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) e.g. fluoxetine, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) e.g. venlafaxine or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) e.g. isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine.
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.

What are some common side effects of this medication?

• Dizziness, drowsiness, weakness

• Do not drive or use machinery.
• Do not drink alcohol when taking this medication.
• Pain or tightness in your throat or jaw
• If pain is intense and does not go away, please seek medical attention.
• Nausea, abdominal pain
• Dry mouth

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome such as:

• Feeling agitated and restless, other mental changes such as hallucination
• Heavy sweating, shivering
• Fast heart rate, irregular heartbeat
• Rigid or twitching muscles
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea

Signs and symptoms of a heart attack:

• Discomfort in the middle of your chest that lasts for a few minutes or goes away and comes back
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
• Chest pain or chest discomfort that feels like an uncomfortable heavy pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

Avoid taking different triptans or triptan combination products (e.g. zolmitriptan, sumatriptan, etc.), or medications containing ergotamine (e.g. Caffox, Cafergot) or dihydroergotamine within 24 hours after taking eletriptan.

Certain antifungals and antimicrobials should be avoided within 72 hours after taking eletriptan. Consult your doctor if you have been prescribed ketoconazole, clarithromycin, itraconazole, ritonavir, nelfinavir, nefazodone or iroleandomycin.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely?

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