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 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 medication 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.
What is the most important information I should know about almotriptan?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to almotriptan, if you have any history of heart disease, or if you have coronary heart disease, angina, 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, 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 eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or ergot medicine such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Migergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), or methylergonovine (Methergine).
Before taking almotriptan, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder, or coronary heart disease (or risk factors such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having 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).
Also tell your doctor if you are also taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor).
Almotriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.
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.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using almotriptan?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to almotriptan, or if you have:
coronary heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart;
a history of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke, including "mini-stroke";
severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;
ischemic bowel disease; or
a headache that seems different from your usual migraine headaches.
To make sure you can safely take almotriptan, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
liver disease;
kidney disease;
high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder; or
coronary heart disease (or risk factors such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having 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).
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether almotriptan will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
It is not known whether almotriptan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give this medicine to anyone under 12 years old.