relpax

Relpax (eletriptan) is a headache medicine that narrows blood vessels around the brain. Eletriptan also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.

Relpax is used to treat migraine headaches. Relpax will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

Relpax should not be used to treat a common tension headache, a headache that causes loss of movement on one side of your body, or any headache that seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches. Use this medication only if your condition has been confirmed by a doctor as migraine headaches.

Eletriptan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information

You should not take Relpax if you have any history of heart disease, or if you have angina, blood circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe liver disease, ischemic bowel disease, a history of a heart attack or stroke, or if your headache seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches.

Do not take Relpax within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Migergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), or methylergonovine (Methergine). Do not use Relpax within 72 hours before or after taking ketoconazole (Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Xolegal), itraconazole (Sporanox), nefazodone, clarithromycin (Biaxin), ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra), or nelfinavir (Viracept).

Do not use Relpax within 72 hours before or after taking: clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazodone, ritonavir, or nelfinavir.

Before taking Relpax, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder, or coronary heart disease (or risk factors such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).

Before using eletriptan

You should not use Relpax if you are allergic to eletriptan, or if you have:

• coronary heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart;

• a history of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke, including "mini-stroke";

• severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;

• severe liver disease;

• ischemic bowel disease; or

• a headache that seems different from your usual migraine headaches.

To make sure you can safely take Relpax, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• liver disease;

• kidney disease;

• high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder; or

• risk factors for coronary artery disease (such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Relpax will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

Eletriptan can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give Relpax to anyone under 18 years old.

How should I use Relpax?

Take Relpax exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Your doctor may want to give your first dose of this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting to see if you have any serious side effects.

Take Relpax as soon as you notice headache symptoms.

After taking a tablet: If your headache does not completely go away, or goes away and comes back, take a second tablet 2 hours after the first. Do not take more than 80 mg of Relpax in 24 hours. If your symptoms have not improved, contact your doctor before taking any more tablets.

Call your doctor if your headache does not go away at all after taking the first Relpax tablet.

Never use more than your recommended dose. Overuse of migraine headache medicine can make headaches worse.

Do not take migraine headache medication for longer than 10 days in any 1 month. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your migraine attacks.

If you use Relpax long-term, your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG). This will help your doctor determine if it is still safe for you to take Relpax.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Relpax is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. Call your doctor promptly if your symptoms do not improve after using Relpax.

After taking an Relpax tablet, you must wait 2 hours before taking a second tablet. Do not take more than 80 mg of Relpax in 24 hours.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Relpax dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Migraine:

In the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura:

40 mg orally once

or

20 mg orally once

If after the initial dosage, the headache improves but then returns, a repeat dose may be beneficial. If a second dose is needed, it should be taken at least two hours after the initial dose.

The maximum daily dose should not exceed 80 mg.

The safety of treating an average of more than three headaches in a thirty day period has not been established.

What should I avoid?

Do not take Relpax within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including:

• almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or

• ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Bellergal, Ergomar, Cafergot, Migergot, Wigraine), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

Do not use Relpax within 72 hours before or after taking any of the following medicines:

• itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral);

• nefazodone;

• clarithromycin (Biaxin); or

• ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept).

Relpax may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Relpax side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Relpax: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Relpax and call your doctor at once if you have:

• fast, slow, or uneven heart rate;

• sudden severe stomach pain (especially after meals), constipation or diarrhea, weight loss;

• fever, diarrhea that is bloody;

• numbness, tingling, cold feeling or burning pain in your feet or toes;

• tightness or heavy feeling in your legs, pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes;

• heart attack symptoms--chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;

• signs of a stroke--sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;

• dangerously high blood pressure--severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure; or

• high levels of serotonin in the body--agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting.

Common Relpax side effects may include:

• dizziness, drowsiness;

• nausea; or

• weakness, tired feeling.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Relpax?

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Relpax, especially an antidepressant, such as:

• citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro);

• desvenlafaxine (Khedezla, Pristiq), venlafaxine (Effexor);

• duloxetine (Cymbalta);

• fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil);

• fluvoxamine (Luvox);

• milnacipran (Savella);

• sertraline (Zoloft); or

• trazodone (Desyrel, Oleptro), vilazodone (Viibryd).

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with eletriptan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.