almotriptan

What is the most important information I should know about almotriptan?

Do not take almotriptan within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine.

What is almotriptan?

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

Almotriptan is used to treat migraine headaches in adults and in adolescents who are at least 12 years old. Almotriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using almotriptan?

• severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;
• past or present heart problems;
• history of coronary artery disease, angina, (chest pain), heart attack, or stroke, including "mini-stroke";
• a blood vessel disorder or circulation problems that cause a lack of blood supply within the body; or
• a headache that seems different from your usual migraine headaches.

To make sure almotriptan is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a sulfa drug allergy;
• liver or kidney 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 heart disease, or being older than 40 and a man).

How should I take almotriptan?

Your doctor may want to give your first dose of this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting to quickly treat any serious side effects that occur.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take almotriptan as soon as you notice migraine symptoms.

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

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

If you use almotriptan 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 almotriptan.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while using almotriptan?

• medicines like almotriptan--eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, and others; or
• ergot medicine--dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine.

What are the possible side effects of almotriptan?

• numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes;
• blood circulation problems --weakness or heavy feeling in your legs, burning pain in your feet, leg cramps, hip pain, numbness or tingling in your legs;
• high levels of serotonin in the body --agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting; or
• stomach or intestinal problems --severe stomach pain (especially after eating), fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloody or tarry stools.

Common side effects may include:

• dry mouth;
• nausea, vomiting;
• numbness, tingling, or burning sensation;
• dizziness, drowsiness; or
• mild headache (not a migraine).

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.

What other drugs will affect almotriptan?

• medicine to treat depression;
• medicine to treat a psychiatric disorder;
• a narcotic (opioid) medication; or
• medicine to prevent nausea and vomiting.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you have used within the past 14 days, and all medicines you start or stop using during your treatment with almotriptan, especially:

• ritonavir;
• antifungal medicine --itraconazole, ketoconazole; or
• an MAO inhibitor --isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

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

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about almotriptan.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 12.02. Revision date: 7/19/2017.