What is naratriptan?
Naratriptan is a headache medicine that narrows blood vessels around the brain. Naratriptan also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.
Naratriptan is used to treat migraine headaches. Naratriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.
Naratriptan 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.
Naratriptan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about naratriptan?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to naratriptan, 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, severe liver or kidney disease, 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 naratriptan within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Migergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), or methylergonovine (Methergine).
Before taking naratriptan, 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).
Naratriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.
If your headache does not go away after taking a naratriptan tablet, or if the headache goes away and then comes back, call your doctor before taking a second tablet. You must wait at least four (4) hours after you have taken the first tablet before you take the second tablet. Do not take more than two (2) naratriptan tablets in 24 hours.
If your symptoms have not improved after taking 2 tablets in 24 hours, contact your doctor before taking any more tablets.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using naratriptan?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to naratriptan, 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;
severe liver disease;
severe kidney disease;
ischemic bowel disease; or
a headache that seems different from your usual migraine headaches.
To make sure you can safely take naratriptan, 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 naratriptan will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
Your name may need to be listed on a naratriptan pregnancy registry when you start using this medication.
Naratriptan can pass into breast milk and may 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 younger than 18 or older than 65.