Almotriptan

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Brittany Duke, PharmD RPh
Updated on September 22, 2023

Almotriptan (al moh TRIP tan) is a generic medication prescribed for migraine headache in adults and certain children. Almotriptan belongs to a group of drugs called serotonin receptor agonists. The common name for this group of drugs is triptans.

Side effects of almotriptan

Almotriptan may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of almotriptan and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about almotriptan’s side effects ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for almotriptan listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with some forms of almotriptan are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about almotriptan’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for almotriptan listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Almotriptan oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• dizziness
• dry mouth
• nausea or vomiting
• sleepiness
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for almotriptan” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of almotriptan are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about almotriptan’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for almotriptan listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, almotriptan’s serious side effects include:

• bleeding in the brain
• blood circulation problems, including Raynaud’s syndrome (a condition that causes decreased blood flow to the fingers) and lack of blood flow to the digestive system
• heart problems, including heart rhythm problems and heart attack
• overuse headaches from using almotriptan too often
• sensations of pain, pressure, heaviness, or tightness in the chest, jaw, neck, or throat that may not be related to heart problems
• serotonin syndrome (too much of the chemical serotonin in the body), which can be life threatening
• stroke
• very high blood pressure
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for almotriptan” section.

Common questions about almotriptan

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about almotriptan.

What brand names are available for almotriptan?

Almotriptan is a generic medication. It used to be available as the brand-name drug Axert, but that medication is no longer available.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs typically cost less than brand-name drugs.

To find out more about the brand name version of almotriptan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is almotriptan similar to sumatriptan?

Yes, almotriptan is similar to sumatriptan. They’re both serotonin receptor agonists, also called triptan drugs. So they have similar uses, side effects, and warnings. They both treat migraine headaches. But sumatriptan also has approval for treating cluster headache episodes (a very painful headache that happens in cycles or clusters).

Also, they’re both available as oral tablets. But sumatriptan also comes as a nasal (nose) spray and an injection that’s given under the skin.

You can learn more about how these two drugs compare by talking with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does almotriptan work? And how long does it take to start working?

Almotriptan’s mechanism of action (how it works) is to increase the levels of a natural chemical in your body called serotonin. Serotonin causes your blood vessels to narrow and reduces swelling in the brain. It’s thought that these actions are probably what helps almotriptan relieve migraine headache pain.

Almotriptan should start to relieve migraine headache pain within about 2 hours. The recommended dosage allows you to repeat the dose in 2 hours if necessary. Your doctor will let you know if it’s safe for you to repeat the dose.

If you’d like to know more about how almotriptan works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Uses of almotriptan

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as almotriptan for certain conditions. Approved uses for almotriptan are described below.

Use for migraine

Doctors may prescribe almotriptan oral tablet for treating migraine headache. It’s used for this purpose in adults and children ages 12–17 years who have migraine headache episodes that often last 4 hours or longer. It’s usually prescribed as a short-term treatment during a migraine headache episode.

With a migraine headache, most people have severe pain, pounding, or throbbing on one side of the head. Other symptoms can also occur, such as:

• fatigue (low energy)
• nausea
• sensitivity to light or sound

Some people may have an aura before the migraine headache starts. An aura is usually a change in one of your senses, such as seeing flashes of lights or feeling tingly.

Migraine headaches can last for a few hours to several days. Almotriptan can help relieve pain and other symptoms. But it won’t work to prevent a migraine headache.

Doctors may not prescribe almotriptan oral tablet in certain situations, such as when:

• you don’t have a clear diagnosis of migraine headache
• you have a cluster headache (a very painful headache that happens in cycles or clusters)

Interactions and warnings for almotriptan

Below you’ll find information about almotriptan’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of almotriptan

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take almotriptan, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for almotriptan” section below.

Warnings for almotriptan

Some people should not take almotriptan, and others should take it cautiously.

Almotriptan could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether almotriptan is a safe option for you. These warnings may differ based on the form of almotriptan you take.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for almotriptan, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Almotriptan can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to almotriptan or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe almotriptan. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to almotriptan, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of almotriptan

If you take almotriptan by mouth, you should not take more almotriptan than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much almotriptan, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and almotriptan

Information about almotriptan and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Almotriptan and pregnancy

It’s not known whether almotriptan should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Almotriptan and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether almotriptan should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about almotriptan or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• How should I take almotriptan?
• Will almotriptan interact with any of my other medications?
• How does almotriptan compare to other triptan drugs?
• What is the most important information I should know about almotriptan?

Resources

• Almotriptan tablets, for oral use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/6fa380c4-c885-4743-85bf-88819ae68645/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.