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 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 medicine only if your condition has been confirmed by a doctor as migraine headaches.
Almotriptan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
You should not take almotriptan if you have ever had heart disease, or if you have coronary artery disease, blood circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart, uncontrolled high blood pressure, ischemic bowel disease, a history of a heart attack or stroke (including "mini-stroke"), or if your headache seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches.
Do not take almotriptan within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including other "triptan" medications, or an ergot medicine such as dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine, D.H.E. 45, Migranal, Cafergot, Methergine, and others.
You should not take almotriptan if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- a history of heart disease;
- a history of heart attack or stroke, including "mini-stroke";
- coronary artery disease, circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart;
- uncontrolled high blood pressure;
- ischemic bowel disease; or
- a headache that seems different from your usual migraine headaches.
- a sulfa drug allergy;
- 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).
It is not known whether almotriptan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give this medicine to anyone under 12 years old.
Almotriptan Side Effects
Stop using almotriptan and call your doctor at once if you have:
- numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes;
- high levels of serotonin in the body--agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting;
- heart attack symptoms--chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating; or
- dangerously high blood pressure--severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, nosebleed, anxiety, confusion, severe chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, seizure.
- dry mouth;
- nausea, vomiting;
- numbness, tingling, or burning sensation;
- dizziness, drowsiness; or
- mild headache (not a migraine).
Almotriptan Interactions
- eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet), zolmitriptan (Zomig); or
- ergot medicine such as dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine, D.H.E. 45, Migranal, Cafergot, Methergine, and others.
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:
- erythromycin;
- ritonavir;
- antifungal medicine--itraconazole, ketoconazole;
- an MAO inhibitor--isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others;
- an SNRI antidepressant--desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor); or
- an SSRI antidepressant--citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, trazodone, vilazodone, Celexa, Desyrel, Lexapro, Luvox, Paxil, Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax, Viibryd, Zoloft.
Never use more than your recommended dose. Overuse of migraine headache medicine can make headaches worse. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your migraine attacks.
Your doctor may want to give your first dose of this medicine in a clinic setting to quickly treat any serious side effects that occur.
Take almotriptan as soon as you notice headache symptoms, or after an attack has already begun.
After taking a tablet: If your headache goes away and comes back, take a second tablet two (2) hours after the first. Do not take more than two (2) almotriptan tablets in 24 hours. If your symptoms have not improved, contact your doctor before taking any more tablets.
If your headache does not completely go away after taking the first tablet, call your doctor before taking any more tablets.
Contact your doctor if you have more than four headaches in one month (30 days).
If you use almotriptan long-term, your heart function may need to be checked using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG).
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose could cause high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, or seizure).
Since almotriptan is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. Call your doctor promptly if your symptoms do not improve after using almotriptan.
After taking an almotriptan tablet, you must wait two (2) hours before taking a second tablet. Do not take more than two (2) almotriptan tablets in 24 hours.
Almotriptan Pictures
