eletriptan
Eletriptan, also known by its brand name Relpax, is a triptan that's a first-choice treatment option for adults who have migraine attacks with or without aura. This medication is available as a tablet that's taken by mouth at the first sign of a migraine attack. The dosage can be repeated 2 hours later if the migraine comes back or doesn't go away. Side effects include making you sleepy and dizzy. Eletriptan (Relpax) is available as a lower-cost generic.
What is Eletriptan (Relpax)?
What is Eletriptan (Relpax) used for?
- Treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults
How Eletriptan (Relpax) works
Eletriptan (Relpax) is a triptan. It relieves migraines by attaching to serotonin receptors in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical in the body that's thought to play a role in causing migraines.
When eletriptan (Relpax) attaches to the serotonin receptors in the brain, it tightens the blood vessels there and lessens blood vessel swelling that can cause migraine pain. The medication also interrupts other pain signals from your nerves, which helps further relieve migraine pain.
Drug facts
More on Eletriptan (Relpax) essentials
Side effects of Eletriptan (Relpax)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Dizziness (up to 6%)
- Sleepiness (up to 6%)
- Nausea (up to 5%)
- Body weakness (up to 5%)
- "Pins and needles" feeling in the arms or legs (3%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Flushing or feeling of warmth
- Heartburn
- Stomach pain, cramps, or pressure
- Chest tightness, pain, or pressure
- Throat tightness or difficulty swallowing
Eletriptan (Relpax) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Heart problems: heart attack, severe headache, chest pain, trouble breathing, irregular heartbeat
- Extremely high blood pressure: severe headache, confusion, shortness of breath, chest pain, changes in vision
- Stroke: sudden weakness on one side of your body, severe headache, changes in your speech or vision, confusion
- Narrowing of blood vessels in the body: bloody diarrhea; severe stomach pain; partial or permanent blindness; vision problems; tightness, weakness, numbness of legs or feet
- Serotonin syndrome: fast heart rate, dizziness, sweating, flushing, tremor (shakiness), muscle stiffness or twitching, uncoordinated movement, hallucinations
- Severe allergic reaction: hives, trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat
The following Eletriptan (Relpax) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Chest discomfort
dizziness
headache
nosebleeds
numbness or tingling in the face, arms or legs
pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back or neck
sweating
vision problems
vomiting
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach pain
agitation
bloody diarrhea
confusion
difficulty in speaking
fainting
fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
inability to move arms, legs, or facial muscles
overactive reflexes
pain in the arms legs, or lower back, especially pain in calves or heels upon exertion
pale, bluish-colored, or cold hands or feet
paleness or cold feeling in fingertips and toes
poor coordination
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
restlessness
seizures
severe or sudden headache
shivering
slurred speech
sudden loss of coordination
sweating
talking or acting with excitement you cannot control
tingling or pain in the fingers or toes when exposed to cold
trembling or shaking
twitching
unusual tiredness or weakness
weak or absent pulses in the legs
weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Lack or loss of strength
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Eletriptan (Relpax)
Pros
- Might provide migraine pain relief for a longer period of time than other triptans
- One of the first-choice options for short-term treatment of migraines
- Starts to work after 30 minutes
- Available as a lower-cost, generic
Cons
- Only available as a tablet that's swallowed whole
- Not recommended for people with severe liver damage
- Not known if it's safe or works well for children
- Not used for preventing migraines or treating other types of headaches
Pharmacist tips for Eletriptan (Relpax)
- Take eletriptan (Relpax) at the first sign of a migraine. You can take the medication with or without food.
- If your migraine comes back or if it doesn't completely go away after at least 2 hours since you've taken eletriptan (Relpax), you can take a second dose of the medication. Don't take a second dose of eletriptan (Relpax) any sooner than 2 hours from your previous dose because this can cause more side effects, like sleepiness and dizziness.
- You might feel some tightness, pressure, or pain in the chest, throat, jaw, or neck area after you take eletriptan (Relpax). This feeling usually doesn't last long and goes away. Keep in mind that these symptoms are very similar to those of a heart attack or other heart problems. Get medical help right away if this sensation worsens or if it doesn't go away.
- It's possible for eletriptan (Relpax) to make you sleepy, dizzy, or weak. Don't drive or do anything that you need to pay attention for until you know how this medication affects you.
- It's best to avoid alcohol while you're taking eletriptan (Relpax). Alcohol can worsen side effects like sleepiness and dizziness, as well as raise your likelihood of having another migraine.
- Eletriptan (Relpax) isn't meant to be used to treat more than 3 migraines per month. It's not clear whether it's safe to take the medication to treat a lot of migraines over a month. Talk to your prescriber if you finish your entire month's supply of eletriptan (Relpax) before it's time for your next refill or if you have more than 3 migraines in a month. Your prescriber can discuss with you about other treatment options or medications to help prevent migraine.
- Write down when you have headaches and how often you take eletriptan (Relpax) and any other migraine medications. It's important to keep track of how many days you need to take migraine medication in a month. This is because taking migraine medications too often (for 10 or more days per month) can cause your headaches to get worse (medication overuse headaches).
- Give your healthcare team and pharmacist an updated list of all the medications and over-the-counter products you're taking or planning to take. Some drug interactions with eletriptan (Relpax) can be harmful. Your prescriber might adjust the dose of your medications or switch you to different medications to avoid these interactions.
- Let your care team know if you're breastfeeding. It's expected for there to be low levels of eletriptan (Relpax) in breast milk if you take the medication while you're nursing. Because it's unclear whether this is safe for your baby, the manufacturer recommends to avoid breastfeeding for 24 hours after you take a dose of eletriptan (Relpax). Discuss with your care team about risks and benefits of taking this medication while breastfeeding.
More on Eletriptan (Relpax) tips
Common questions about Eletriptan
Relpax starts to provide migraine pain relief after about 30 minutes. But it can take up to 2 hours for you to be completely pain free.
It's generally considered safe to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) with Relpax. These pain relievers don't interact with Relpax. Taking Relpax with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can potentially work better to relieve migraines than taking any of these medications alone. But keep in mind that these other pain relievers might not be safe for everyone because they have their own risks (e.g., liver risks, heart risks, kidney problems). Before you use other pain medications with Relpax, speak with your primary care provider to make sure it's safe for you to do so.
You can take up to two doses of Relpax within a 24-hour period to help treat a migraine. Make sure to take the second dose at least 2 hours after the first if you need more migraine relief. Also, only take Relpax for up to three migraines in a 30-day period; it's not known how safe it is to take the medication too many times. Speak with your prescriber about other treatment options to help if you still have a migraine after you've taken two doses of Relpax in a day or if you've already used the medication for three migraines in a month.
No, you can't cut the Relpax tablets in half (or at all) because they don't have a score line (an indented line in the middle of the tablet). Trying to cut a non-scored tablet can be unsafe. It can also be difficult to evenly cut, even if you're using a pill splitter, which can cause you to take the wrong dose. Talk to your prescriber if you're having trouble swallowing Relpax.
Eletriptan and sumatriptan are both triptans. Triptans are a class of medications that are first-choice treatment options for migraine. Both medications are taken at the first sign of a migraine. But eletriptan only comes as tablets, whereas sumatriptan comes in many different formulations (e.g, tablets, injection under the skin, nasal spray, nasal powder). Studies show that eletriptan might provide more migraine relief than sumatriptan within two hours of taking the medication. Studies also found that an eletriptan dose might relieve migraine pain for a longer period of time than a sumatriptan dose. Talk to your care team if you have more questions about comparing eletriptan to sumatriptan.
Alcohol doesn't appear to interact with Relpax or affect how the medication works. But it's still best to avoid alcohol while you're taking Relpax because alcohol can raise your risk for or worsen side effects from the medication, such as sleepiness, dizziness, and nausea. Alcohol can also trigger migraines. Talk to a member of your care team if it's not possible for you to avoid alcohol. They can provide resources or recommend certain treatment programs to help you quit drinking alcohol.
Speak with your prescriber or obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) if you can take Relpax while pregnant. It isn't completely clear how safe Relpax is during pregnancy. To be safe, it's best to always discuss the risks and benefits of taking Relpax during pregnancy with your prescriber or OB-GYN.
No. Although Relpax is a medication that helps with pain (specifically related to migraines), it isn't a narcotic. Narcotics refer to opioid or opiate pain medications. And Relpax isn't an opioid medication.
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Risks and warnings for Eletriptan (Relpax)
Eletriptan (Relpax) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Heart problems and high blood pressure
- Risk factors: History of heart problems | Age older than 65 | People who are considered obese | Diabetes | High blood pressure | Smoking
Although rare, some people have reported serious and sometimes life-threatening heart problems, such as heart attack and heart rhythm problems, within a few hours after they took eletriptan (Relpax). In addition, eletriptan (Relpax) might raise your blood pressure to dangerously high levels.
If you have a history of heart or blood circulation problems, talk to your cardiologist or primary care provider first to make sure eletriptan (Relpax) is as safe for you as possible. Depending on your medical history, you might not be able to take eletriptan (Relpax).
Periodically check your blood pressure if you're taking eletriptan (Relpax). Let your healthcare team know if your blood pressure is higher than usual. Get emergency help right away if you experience a heart attack, severe headache, chest pain, or irregular heartbeat.
Stroke or other brain injury
Some people who've taken triptans like eletriptan (Relpax) have had life-threatening strokes or bleeding in the brain. For this reason, you won't be able to take this medication if you've had a stroke in the past. Let your primary care provider know about your medical history.
Symptoms of stroke or other brain injuries include sudden weakness on one side of the body, severe headaches, drooping face, trouble breathing, or changes in your speech or vision. These symptoms can be similar to migraine symptoms, so strokes can be mistaken for a migraine. Stop taking eletriptan (Relpax) and get medical help as soon as possible if you notice symptoms of a stroke, especially if you haven't had a migraine before.
Extreme narrowing of blood vessels
Eletriptan (Relpax) can cause extreme narrowing of the blood vessels in different parts of your body. Depending on the location, this can lead to serious stomach problems (e.g., stomach pain, bloody diarrhea), vision problems, and changes in sensation in your hands and feet. Sometimes, it can cause symptoms similar to Raynaud's phenomenon, which can look like color changes in your hands and feet (can turn pale or more reddish depending on how much blood is flowing through). Don't take any more eletriptan (Relpax) until you see a member of your healthcare team if you notice these symptoms after you take the medication. They can check out what's going on.
Worsened headaches if eletriptan (Relpax) is taken too often
Taking more than the recommended dose of migraine medications, including eletriptan (Relpax), or taking them too often can cause them to not work as well. This can lead to having more migraine-like headaches or having migraine attacks more often. Let your primary care provider know if you're taking multiple migraine medications and if you need to take them for more than 9 days per month. Also, let them know if you have more than 3 migraine headaches a month while you're taking eletriptan (Relpax). Your primary care provider can talk with you about better options to help with migraines.
Serotonin syndrome
- Risk factors: Taking other medications that raise serotonin levels
Some people who take eletriptan (Relpax) have developed a rare, but potentially life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. This condition happens when there's too much serotonin in the brain.
Let your healthcare team know about all the medications you take before you start eletriptan (Relpax), as well as any medications you plan to take. Your risk for serotonin syndrome can be higher if you take eletriptan (Relpax) with other medications that can raise your serotonin levels, such as certain antidepressants, mental health medications, and other migraine medications.
Get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as fast heart rate, sweating, muscle stiffness or spasms, fever, and confusion.
Eletriptan (Relpax) dosage
Typical dosage for Eletriptan (Relpax)
The typical dose is 20 mg or 40 mg by mouth once as a single dose for migraine pain. Don't take more than 40 mg for a single dose.
If your migraine comes back or if it doesn't completely go away, you can take another dose 2 hours after the first dose.
The maximum dose is 80 mg per day.
Interactions between Eletriptan (Relpax) and other drugs
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. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Almotriptan
- Boceprevir
- Bromocriptine
- Clarithromycin
- Cobicistat
- Conivaptan
- Dihydroergotamine
- Ergonovine
- Ergotamine
- Frovatriptan
- Idelalisib
- Indinavir
- Itraconazole
- Ketoconazole
- Linezolid
- Methylergonovine
- Methysergide
- Naratriptan
- Nefazodone
- Nelfinavir
- Posaconazole
- Ritonavir
- Rizatriptan
- Saquinavir
- Sumatriptan
- Telaprevir
- Telithromycin
- Tranylcypromine
- Troleandomycin
- Voriconazole
- Zolmitriptan
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alfentanil
- Amitriptyline
- Amoxapine
- Amphetamine
- Benzhydrocodone
- Benzphetamine
- Buprenorphine
- Butorphanol
- Ceritinib
- Citalopram
- Codeine
- Crizotinib
- Desvenlafaxine
- Dextroamphetamine
- Dihydrocodeine
- Dolasetron
- Duloxetine
- Duvelisib
- Escitalopram
- Fenfluramine
- Fentanyl
- Fluoxetine
- Fluvoxamine
- Fosnetupitant
- Granisetron
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Hydroxytryptophan
- Ivosidenib
- Larotrectinib
- Lasmiditan
- Lefamulin
- Levomilnacipran
- Levorphanol
- Lisdexamfetamine
- Lithium
- Lorcaserin
- Lorlatinib
- Lumacaftor
- Meperidine
- Metaxalone
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- Methylene Blue
- Milnacipran
- Mirtazapine
- Morphine
- Morphine Sulfate Liposome
- Nalbuphine
- Netupitant
- Ondansetron
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Palonosetron
- Paroxetine
- Pentazocine
- Reboxetine
- Remifentanil
- Sertraline
- Sibutramine
- St John's Wort
- Sufentanil
- Tapentadol
- Tramadol
- Trazodone
- Venlafaxine
- Vilazodone
- Vortioxetine
- Ziprasidone
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Eletriptan (Relpax) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Eletriptan (Relpax) will not be safe for you to take.
- Coronary artery disease
- History of heart attack
- Coronary artery vasospasm, such as Prinzmetal's angina
- Certain conditions that cause an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmias), such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
- History of stroke or transient ischemic attack ("mini-stroke")
- Types of migraines called hemiplegic or basilar migraine
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Ischemic bowel disease)
- Use of ergot-containing or ergot-type medications like dihydroergotamine (Migranal) or other triptans in the last 24 hours
- Use of ketoconazole, itraconazole (Sporanox), clarithromycin, nefazodone, ritonavir (Norvir), or Viracept (nelfinavir) within at least 72 hours
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