Eletriptan (Systemic)

Brand Names : Relpax

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For eletriptan, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to eletriptan. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Eletriptan has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that eletriptan causes birth defects and other problems. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - Eletriptan passes into human breast milk. Caution should be used if you are breast feeding. If you are breast feeding, you should discuss the risks and benefits of this medicine with your doctor.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in patients 18 years of age or older, and there is no specific information comparing use of eletriptan in children with use in other age groups.

Adolescents - Studies on this medicine have been done only on a small number of adolescents (11 to 17 years of age). However, eletriptan is not recommended for use in patients younger than 18 years of age.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. However, eletriptan has been shown to remain in the body longer in elderly patients. It has also been shown to increase blood pressure.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine. When you are taking eletriptan, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• CYP3A4 inhibitors (clarithromycin [e.g., Biaxin], itraconazole [e.g., Sporonox], ketoconazole [e.g., Nizoral], nefazodone [e.g., Serzone], nelfinavir [e.g., Viracept], ritonavir [e.g., Norvir], troleandomycin [e.g., Tao]) - Do not use eletriptan within 72 hours of taking these medicines.

• 5-hydroxytryptamine agonists (almotriptan [e.g., Axert], frovatriptan [e.g., Frova], naratriptan [e.g., Amerge], rizatriptan [e.g., Maxalt], sumatriptan [e.g., Imitrex], zolmitriptan [e.g., Zomig]) or
• Ergot-containing or ergot-type medicines (bromocriptine [e.g., Parlodel], cabergoline [e.g., Dostinex], dihydroergotamine [e.g., D.H.E. 45, Migranal], ergoloid mesylates [e.g., Hydergine], ergonovine [e.g., Ergotrate], ergotamine [e.g., Bellergal, Cafergot, Wigraine], methylergonovine [e.g., Methergine], methysergide [e.g., Sansert], pergolide [e.g., Permax]) - Taking eletriptan within 24 hours of taking these medicines may cause serious heart problems.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of eletriptan. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Basilar migraine or
• Cerebrovascular syndrome, such as
• Stroke or
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or
• Coronary artery disease, such as
• Angina (chest pain) or
• Decreased blood flow to your heart or
• Heart attack, history of, or
• Other heart conditions or
• Hemiplegic migraine or
• High blood pressure, not treated or
• Liver problems, severe or
• Peripheral vascular disease, such as
• Bowel disease or
• Raynaud's syndrome - Eletriptan should not be used if you have any of these conditions.

• Cerebrovascular event - Eletriptan should be used with caution in patients who have an increased risk of bleeding in the brain, stroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

• Coronary artery disease, predisposition to - Eletriptan and similar medicines may cause serious heart problems, especially if you have a predisposition for heart problems.

• High blood pressure, treated - Eletriptan may cause high blood pressure in patients already being treated for high blood pressure.

• Kidney problems - Eletriptan may cause increased blood pressure in patients who have kidney problems.

• Liver problems, mild or moderate - This could cause higher blood levels of eletriptan.