Relpax

Pronunciation: EL-e-TRIP-tan
Generic Name: Eletriptan
Brand Name: Relpax

Relpax is used for:

Treating acute migraine headaches. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Relpax is a 5-HT₁ agonist. It works by narrowing the blood vessels in the brain and thereby reducing pressure and pain in the brain. A migraine headache is thought to be caused by widened blood vessels exerting pressure on the brain.

Do NOT use Relpax if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Relpax


• you have uncontrolled high blood pressure


• you have hemiplegic or basilar migraine headaches or severe liver problems


• you have a history of heart problems, ischemic heart disease (eg, angina), a heart attack, a stroke, a transient ischemic attack (TIA, mini-stroke), brain blood vessel problems, or other circulation or blood vessel problems (eg, ischemic bowel disease)


• you have taken certain azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole, itraconazole), certain HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir, nelfinavir), certain macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin, clarithromycin, troleandomycin), nefazodone, or telithromycin within the last 72 hours


• you have taken an ergot alkaloid (eg, ergotamine) or another 5-HT₁ agonist (eg, sumatriptan) within the last 24 hours

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Relpax:

Some medical conditions may interact with Relpax. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have gone through menopause or have had a hysterectomy


• if you have a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver problems, diabetes, or other types of headaches (eg, cluster headaches)


• if you are overweight, you smoke, or you are older than 40 years of age


• if a member of your family has had heart problems, blood vessel problems, or a stroke

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Relpax. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (eg, fluoxetine) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) (eg, duloxetine) because the risk of a serious side effect called serotonin syndrome may be increased


• Azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole, itraconazole), ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir, nelfinavir), macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin, clarithromycin, troleandomycin), nefazodone, telithromycin, verapamil, or another 5-HT₁ agonist (eg, sumatriptan) because they may increase the risk of Relpax's side effects

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Relpax may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Relpax:

Use Relpax as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Relpax by mouth with or without food.


• Swallow Relpax whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.


• Take Relpax with a full glass of water (8 oz/240 mL).


• It is best to take a dose of Relpax as soon as you notice symptoms of a migraine attack.


• If your migraine symptoms go away and then come back, you may take a second dose as directed by your doctor. Wait at least 2 hours between doses.


• If your symptoms do NOT improve after the first dose, do not take a second dose for the same attack. Contact your doctor.


• Do not take more than 2 tablets in a 24-hour period or treat more than 3 headaches within 30 days without checking with your doctor.


• If you miss a dose of Relpax and you still have a headache, follow your doctor's dosing instructions. Contact your doctor if you are unsure what to do if you miss a dose. Do not take Relpax more often then prescribed. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Relpax.

Important safety information:

• Relpax may cause dizziness or drowsiness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Relpax with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• If Relpax does not stop or decrease the severity of your migraine attack or if your symptoms become worse, check with your doctor.


• Relpax is intended to relieve acute migraine headaches. Do not use it to prevent or reduce the number of attacks you experience. Use Relpax only to treat an actual migraine attack. If you have a headache that is different than your usual migraine attacks, check with your doctor before using Relpax.


• Do not take more medicine than prescribed unless advised to do so by your doctor or health care provider.


• Rarely, serious heart problems (eg, heart attack, irregular heartbeat) have been reported within a few hours of using Relpax. Contact your doctor at once if fast or irregular heartbeat; chest, jaw, or neck pain or numbness; numbness of an arm or leg; severe stomach pain, dizziness, or vomiting; fainting; or vision changes occur. Discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor.


• Serotonin syndrome is a possibly fatal syndrome that can be caused by Relpax. Your risk may be greater if you take Relpax with certain other medicines (eg, SSRIs, SNRIs). Symptoms may include agitation; confusion; hallucinations; coma; fever; fast or irregular heartbeat; tremor; excessive sweating; and nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms.


• Use Relpax with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.


• Relpax should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 18 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: It is not known if Relpax can cause harm to the fetus. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Relpax while you are pregnant. Relpax is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Relpax, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Relpax:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; flushing; headache; nausea; weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody or black, tarry stools; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; numbness and tingling of hands or feet; pain, tightness, or pressure in the jaw, neck, or chest; pounding in the chest; shortness of breath; stomach pain; symptoms of a heart attack (eg, chest pain; numbness of an arm or leg; sudden, severe headache or vomiting; vision changes); symptoms of a stroke (eg, confusion, one-sided weakness, slurred speech, vision changes); unusual or worsening headache; very cold or blue fingers or toes; wheezing.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Relpax side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include bluish skin; clumsiness; enlarged pupils; inactivity; incoordination; redness in the arms and legs; seizure; slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat; slowed breathing; unusual dizziness or drowsiness.

Proper storage of Relpax:

Store Relpax at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Relpax out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Relpax, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Relpax is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Relpax. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Relpax resources

• Relpax Side Effects (in more detail)
• Relpax Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Relpax Drug Interactions
• Relpax Support Group
• 41 Reviews for Relpax - Add your own review/rating

• Relpax Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Relpax Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Relpax Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Relpax Consumer Overview

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