Eletriptan
Generic Relpax
Eletriptan (el e TRIP tan) is a generic medication prescribed for migraine. Eletriptan belongs to a group of drugs called serotonin receptor agonists. Another name for this group is triptans.
Eletriptan (el e TRIP tan) is a generic medication prescribed for migraine. Eletriptan belongs to a group of drugs called serotonin receptor agonists. Another name for this group is triptans.
- Generic
- • Tablet
- • 40mg
- • 6 Tablets
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Intro
Introduction
Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Melissa Badowski, PharmD D. MPH, FCCP
Updated on August 12, 2023
Eletriptan (el e TRIP tan) is a generic medication prescribed for migraine. Eletriptan belongs to a group of drugs called serotonin receptor agonists. Another name for this group is triptans.
Side effects
Side effects of eletriptan
Eletriptan may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of eletriptan 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 eletriptan’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for eletriptan listed in the “Resources” section.
Mild side effects
More common mild side effects reported with some forms of eletriptan are listed below.
This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about eletriptan’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for eletriptan 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.
Eletriptan oral tablet’s mild side effects include:
- dizziness
- lack of energy
- nausea
- sleepiness
- mild allergic reaction*
* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for eletriptan” section.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects of eletriptan are listed below.
This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about eletriptan’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for eletriptan 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, eletriptan’s serious side effects include:
- bleeding in your brain
- blood circulation problems, such as Raynaud’s syndrome and lack of blood flow to the digestive system
- heart problems, such as heart attack and angina (chest pain)
- heart rhythm problems
- medication-overuse headaches from taking eletriptan too many days of the month
- sensations of tightness, pain, or pressure in the jaw, neck, throat, or chest that may not be related to heart problems
- serotonin syndrome (too much serotonin in your body), which can be life threatening
- severely high blood pressure
- stroke
- severe allergic reaction*
* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for eletriptan” section.
FAQs
Common questions about eletriptan
Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about eletriptan.
What brand names are available for eletriptan?
Relpax is the brand-name version of generic eletriptan.
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 compared to brand-name drugs.
You can find out more about this by talking with your doctor or pharmacist.
How does eletriptan compare with sumatriptan?
Eletriptan and sumatriptan are both triptan medications. Doctors prescribe them to treat migraine. These drugs have similar dosing, side effects, and warnings. Eletriptan is only available as an oral tablet. Sumatriptan comes as an oral tablet, nasal spray, and an injection you give under the skin. This can give you more flexibility in how you take the medication.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about how these two medications compare.
Is eletriptan a narcotic?
No, eletriptan isn’t a narcotic. Narcotics are also called opioid pain relievers.
Doctors sometimes prescribe narcotics to treat migraine headache pain. But narcotics carry the risk of misuse (taking a drug in a way other than how it’s prescribed) and dependence. With dependence, your body needs the drug to function as usual. Due to this risk, narcotics are controlled substances.
Unlike narcotics, eletriptan isn’t a controlled substance and doesn’t carry a risk of misuse or dependence.
You can learn more about this by talking with your doctor or pharmacist.
How does eletriptan work? And how long does it take to start working?
Eletriptan’s mechanism of action (how the drug works) is to increase levels of a chemical called serotonin. This causes blood vessels to narrow, which is thought to help stop migraine. It also helps stop the release of other chemicals that cause migraine symptoms, such as pain and nausea.
Eletriptan should start working to relieve migraine headache within 2 hours. The usual dosage allows you to repeat the dose if eletriptan hasn’t worked after 2 hours. Your doctor will tell you how you should take eletriptan.
If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interactions and warnings
Interactions and warnings for eletriptan
Below, you’ll find information about eletriptan’s possible interactions and warnings.
Interactions of eletriptan
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 eletriptan, 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 eletriptan” section below.
Warnings for eletriptan
Some people should not take eletriptan, and others should take it cautiously.
Eletriptan could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether eletriptan is a safe option for you.
Ask your doctor about specific warnings for eletriptan, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:
- current health, including any allergies to medications
- past health conditions or surgeries
Allergic reaction
Eletriptan can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction to eletriptan or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe eletriptan. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.
A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:
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 eletriptan, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Overdose of eletriptan
If you take eletriptan by mouth, you should not take more eletriptan than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
If you think you’ve taken too much eletriptan, 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 eletriptan
Information about eletriptan and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.
Eletriptan and pregnancy
It’s not known whether eletriptan should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Eletriptan and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether eletriptan should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Uses
Uses of eletriptan
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as eletriptan for certain conditions. Approved uses for eletriptan are described below.
Use for migraine
Doctors may prescribe eletriptan oral tablet for treating migraine. It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a short-term treatment for migraine. Talk with your doctor if you need to take eletriptan for more than three episodes in a month.
With migraine, you feel severe pain, throbbing, or pounding on one side of your head. You may also have other symptoms, such as nausea, fatigue (low energy), or sensitivity to lights or sounds. Some people experience an aura (changes in vision or other senses) before a migraine starts. Migraine headaches can last several hours to a few days. While eletriptan can’t prevent migraine, it can help treat one that has already started.
Doctors may not prescribe eletriptan oral tablet in certain situations, such as for people with the following:
- certain rare kinds of migraine headaches, such as basilar or hemiplegic migraine
- heart disease
- heart rhythm problems
- high blood pressure that isn’t managed with medications
- ischemic bowel disease (low blood flow to the digestive tract)
- past stroke or ministroke
- peripheral vascular disease (a circulation problem)
- recent use of certain medications, including some migraine medications
Ask your doctor
What to ask your doctor
Let your doctor know if you have questions about eletriptan 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 eletriptan?
- Do any of my other medications interact with eletriptan?
- Am I at higher risk of side effects from eletriptan than other people?
Resources
Resources
- Eletriptan hydrobromide tablet, film coated. (2020). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/62dc12ce-4f19-41c6-9593-3cae29f04af1/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.
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