Is Ergomar (ergotamine) a controlled substance?

No. Ergomar (ergotamine) isn't a [controlled substance](https://www.goodrx.com/drugs/medication-basics/what-are-controlled-substances). Controlled substances have a known risk of misuse or [physical dependence](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/substance-use-disorder/addiction-vs-dependence). Still, some people have misused Ergomar (ergotamine) or become physically dependent on it. So to stay safe, don't take more than what's prescribed to you. Talk to your prescriber if you have concerns. You can also talk to them about other [options for migraine relief](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/migraine/treatment-guide) if you think you're starting to take too much Ergomar (ergotamine).

Is Ergomar (ergotamine) a triptan?

No, Ergomar (ergotamine) isn't a [tripan](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/migraine/best-triptan-for-migraine). It's an [ergot medication](https://www.goodrx.com/classes/ergot-derivatives). Both triptans and ergot medications help with migraines. But studies show that [triptans might work better](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1586/14737175.2013.832851) than Ergomar (ergotamine). For this reason, triptans are [usually preferred](https://headachejournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/head.14153) over Ergomar (ergotamine). Talk to a healthcare professional to find the best option for you.

Can you take Ergomar (ergotamine) for cluster headaches?

Ergomar (ergotamine) is only approved for migraine headaches. But the [European Academy of Neurology](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ene.15956) says that it might help with short-term prevention of [cluster headaches](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/headaches/what-does-a-cluster-headache-feel-like). Keep in mind that this is [off-label](https://www.goodrx.com/drugs/medication-basics/off-label-drug-prescriptions). In general though, Ergomar (ergotamine) is [rarely used for cluster headaches](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7018790/) because of its serious risks. Talk to a healthcare professional about options for cluster headaches.

Is Ergomar (ergotamine) safe to take during pregnancy?

No, it's not safe to take Ergomar (ergotamine) while pregnancy. This medication can cause less blood to flow through the placenta and to your baby. Based on animal studies, it's possible that this can affect your baby's growth. This medication can also cause uterine contractions. You can use a reliable form of [birth control](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/birth-control) to prevent accidental pregnancy if you can have children and are sexually active. Talk to your prescriber or obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) for [safer options](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/headaches/what-take-headache-while-pregnant).

Ergomar

ergotamine

Used for Cluster Headache, Migraine

Ergomar (ergotamine) treats migraines. It's an ergot medication. It works by lessening inflammation in the brain and calming certain parts of the brain. Ergomar (ergotamine) is a brand-name medication that comes as sublingual tablets for adults. You place it under the tongue to dissolve as soon as you feel like you're about to have a migraine or headache. Side effects include nausea and vomiting.

Reviewed by:

Aileen Chu, PharmD, BCPS

Cydnee Ng, PharmD

Last reviewed on March 11, 2025

What is Ergomar (ergotamine)?

What is Ergomar (ergotamine) used for?

Treatment of migraines

How Ergomar (ergotamine) works

Ergomar (ergotamine) is an ergot medication. It tightens the blood vessels in the brain, which lessens inflammation in the brain. It also calms certain parts of the brain. By working in these two ways, Ergomar (ergotamine) helps relieve headache.

Drug facts

Common Brands	Ergomar
Drug Class	Ergot derivative
Controlled Substance Classification	Not a controlled medication
Generic Status	No lower-cost generic available
Availability	Prescription only

Common Brands

Ergomar

Drug Class

Ergot derivative

Controlled Substance Classification

Not a controlled medication

Generic Status

No lower-cost generic available

Availability

Prescription only

Side effects of Ergomar (ergotamine)

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

Nausea
Vomiting
Numbness or tingling
Weakness

Less Common Side Effects

Muscle pain
Vertigo (feeling like your surroundings are spinning)
Fast or slow heartbeat
High blood pressure

Ergomar (ergotamine) serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

Stroke: sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, facial drooping, difficulty speaking, loss of balance, blurry vision, confusion
Poor blood flow to hands and feet: pain, numbness, coldness, pale color in the hands or feet, weakness in arms or legs

Source: DailyMed

The following Ergomar (ergotamine) side effects have also been reported

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Burning, pain, tingling, or color changes in the hands, arms, legs, or feet
Heart attack—pain or tightness in the chest, shoulders, arms, or jaw, nausea, shortness of breath, cold or clammy skin, feeling faint or lightheaded
Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
Increase in blood pressure
Raynaud syndrome—cool, numb, or painful fingers or toes that may change color from pale, to blue, to red
Seizures
Stroke—sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, trouble speaking, confusion, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache, change in vision
Sudden or severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting
Vision loss

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

Dizziness
General discomfort and fatigue
Nausea
Vomiting

Get your GoodRx coupon

Avg retail price

$1557.85(Save 46.02%)

GoodRx discount

$840.93

See prices

Pros and cons of Ergomar (ergotamine)

Pros

Dissolves under the tongue, so it's easy to take
Can take a second tablet 30 minutes after you first take it if you need more relief
Can take on an as-needed basis

Cons

Doesn't work as well as triptans
Not recommended for preventing migraines
Not for daily or long-term use

Pharmacist tips for Ergomar (ergotamine)

Take Ergomar (ergotamine) as soon as you feel a headache or migraine coming on. If you need more relief, you can take another tablet 30 minutes later.
Use dry hands to place the Ergomar (ergotamine) tablet under your tongue and let it dissolve. Don't crush or swallow the tablet.
You can take Ergomar (ergotamine) with or without food. But avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice because it can cause more side effects.
Take Ergomar (ergotamine) only when needed. Don't take more than 3 tablets in a day and don't take more than 5 tablets in a week. Taking it too often can lead to more side effects, including worsened headaches (rebound headaches). Taking Ergomar (ergotamine) long term can also cause your body to depend on the medication.
Ergomar (ergotamine) can cause weakness. Make sure you know how the medication affects you before driving or operating heavy machinery.
Don't take Ergomar (ergotamine) at the same time as or within 24 hours of a triptan like sumatriptan (Imitrex). Taking them too close together can tighten your blood vessels too much. This can lead to dangerously high blood pressure, and in serious cases, a heart attack or stroke.
Make sure your prescriber and pharmacist know about all the medications you take. Your care team can help you watch out for dangerous drug interactions. Certain medications can raise your risk of serious side effects from Ergomar (ergotamine).

Common questions about Ergomar

Take 1 tablet of Ergomar as soon as you feel like you're about to have a migraine or headache. The medication might not work as well if you wait take it when your migraine gets more severe. You can take a second tablet after at least 30 minutes after your first if you need more relief. But don't take more than 3 tablets (6 mg) in 24 hours or more than 5 tablets (10 mg) in a week.

No. Ergomar isn't a controlled substance. Controlled substances have a known risk of misuse or physical dependence. Still, some people have misused Ergomar or become physically dependent on it. So to stay safe, don't take more than what's prescribed to you. Talk to your prescriber if you have concerns. You can also talk to them about other options for migraine relief if you think you're starting to take too much Ergomar.

No, Ergomar isn't a tripan. It's an ergot medication. Both triptans and ergot medications help with migraines. But studies show that triptans might work better than Ergomar. For this reason, triptans are usually preferred over Ergomar. Talk to a healthcare professional to find the best option for you.

Yes, Ergomar can cause high blood pressure. This is because the medication can tighten the blood vessels in the body. Let your prescriber know if you have a history of high blood pressure or other heart problems before starting Ergomar. They can make sure it's safe for you to take.

Ergomar is only approved for migraine headaches. But the European Academy of Neurology says that it might help with short-term prevention of cluster headaches. Keep in mind that this is off-label. In general though, Ergomar is rarely used for cluster headaches because of its serious risks. Talk to a healthcare professional about options for cluster headaches.

No, it's not safe to take Ergomar while pregnancy. This medication can cause less blood to flow through the placenta and to your baby. Based on animal studies, it's possible that this can affect your baby's growth. This medication can also cause uterine contractions. You can use a reliable form of birth control to prevent accidental pregnancy if you can have children and are sexually active. Talk to your prescriber or obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) for safer options.

Talk to your prescriber or your child's pediatrician before taking Ergomar if you're breastfeeding. This medication can pass into breast milk. It might cause side effects in babies. These include vomiting, diarrhea, a weak pulse, and unstable blood pressure. Talk to a healthcare professional about the risks and benefits of taking this medication while breastfeeding. If you need other feeding options, you can also talk to a lactation consultant.

Risks and warnings for Ergomar (ergotamine)

Ergomar (ergotamine) 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.

Poor blood flow through the body

Risk factors: Taking more Ergomar (ergotamine) than prescribed

Although rare, Ergomar (ergotamine) can cause your blood to flow poorly through the body. It can happen at recommended doses and for the recommended amount of time. But it's more likely if you've taken too much medication.

Poor blood flow to the hands and feet can cause paleness, coldness, and numbness. If not treated right away, this can lead to tissue death (gangrene). What's more, poor blood flow to the brain can cause stroke.

Tell your prescriber right away if you have numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes, muscle pain in the arms or legs, or weakness in the legs. These can be signs of poor blood flow. Call 911 right away if you have signs of a stroke, like numbness or weakness on one side of the body, facial drooping, or trouble speaking or walking.

Fibrosis (scarring)

Risk factors: Taking Ergomar (ergotamine) for a long tiime

In rare cases, people taking medications containing ergotamine and caffeine have developed fibrosis (scarring) in the stomach, lungs, or heart. This might be more likely to happen with long-term use of the medication.

To be safe, take Ergomar (ergotamine) only as needed. Talk to your prescriber about your options if you feel like you need to take this medication every day.

Harm to an unborn baby

Risk factors: Currently pregnant

Don't take Ergomar (ergotamine) if you're pregnant. This medication can harm an unborn baby because it can affect blood flow to the placenta. It can also cause early contractions.

Ergomar (ergotamine) dosage

The average cost for 20 sublingual tablets of 2mg of Ergomar (ergotamine) is $840.93 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 46.02% off the average retail price of $1,557.85.

Sublingual tablet

Dosage	Quantity	Price as low as	Price per unit
2mg	20 sublingual tablets	$840.93	$42.05

Typical dosage for Ergomar (ergotamine)

Place a 2 mg tablet under the tongue as soon as you feel like you're about to have a migraine or headache. Wait for the tablet to dissolve before swallowing the medication.

If your migraine or headache doesn't fully go away, you can take another tablet 30 minutes after your first dose. Don't take more than 6 mg (3 tablets) in 24 hours.

Don't take more than 10 mg (5 tablets) in a week.

How much does Ergomar (ergotamine) cost?

To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.

Ergomar (brand)

GoodRx lowest price

$840.93

(save 46.02%)

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Ergomar (ergotamine) 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 Ergomar (ergotamine) will not be safe for you to take.

Take medications that strongly interact with Ergomar (ergotamine). Examples include macrolide antibiotics like clarithromycin and protease inhibitors like ritonavir (Norvir)
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as heart disease
High blood pressure
Kidney problems
Liver problems
Sepsis
Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant

What are alternatives to Ergomar (ergotamine)?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Ergomar (ergotamine). Compare a few possible alternatives below.

Ergomar (ergotamine)

Used for:

Treatment of migraines

$840.93Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

Dihydroergotamine

Used for:

Migraine headaches
Cluster headaches – injection form only

$150.40Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

Cafergot (ergotamine / caffeine)

Used for:

Headache pain caused by swollen or widened blood vessels (vascular headaches)

$112.30Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

Ergomar (ergotamine) images

This medicine is Green, Round Sublingual Imprinted With "Lb2".Green Round Lb2 - Ergomar 2mg Sublingual Tablet

References

Best studies we found

Ailani, J., et al. (2021). The American Headache Society Consensus Statement: Update on integrating new migraine treatments into clinical practice. Headache.

Brandt, R. B., et al. (2020). Pharmacotherapy for cluster headache. CNS Drugs.

DrugBank. (n.d.). Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A4 inhibitors (strong).

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

Ergomar