Almotriptan

Information about Almotriptan

Almotriptan uses

Almotriptan is used in the treatment of Acute migraine headache. It relieves the symptoms of migraine and prevents the attack from becoming worse.

How almotriptan works

Migraine headaches are thought to result from the dilatation of blood vessels in the brain and release of vasoactive and pro-inflammatory peptides (chemical messenger) from sensory nerve endings. Almotriptan is a selective serotonin receptor agonist. It works by constricting (narrowing) these blood vessels and prevents the release of the chemical messenger in the nerve endings, thereby relieving the migraine headaches.

Common side effects of almotriptan

Dizziness, Nausea, Paresthesia (tingling or pricking sensation), Sleepiness, Fatigue, Headache, Vomiting, Muscle pain, Bone pain, Chest pain, Palpitations, Coronary vasospasm, Myocardial infarction, Tachycardia

Available Medicine for Almotriptan

  • ₹231 to ₹444
    MSN Laboratories
    2 variant(s)
  • ₹44 to ₹84
    Lupin Ltd
    2 variant(s)
  • ₹84 to ₹176
    Eigen Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd
    2 variant(s)
  • ₹192
    MSN Laboratories
    1 variant(s)

Expert advice for Almotriptan

  • You have been prescribed Almotriptan for treatment of migraine headaches.
  • Some tips that may help avoid a migraine attack:
    • Have your meals at the same time everyday
    • Avoid bright lights and extreme temperatures
    • Avoid loud music and noisy places
    • Avoid chocolates, cheese, processed food, alcohol and smoking
    • Get enough sleep and avoid stress
  • It may cause sleepiness. Don't drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.
  • Notify your doctor if your migraine occurs more often after starting the medication.
  • Notify your doctor if you have stomach pain, headache, bloody diarrhoea or worsening high blood pressure.
  • Inform your doctor if you have a history of heart disease or stroke.
  • This medication does not prevent migraine attacks from happening.

Frequently asked questions for Almotriptan

Almotriptan

Q. How often can I take Almotriptan?
The maximum daily dose is two tablets within 24 hours. However, a gap of at least 2 hours between first and second dose needs to be maintained.
Q. Can I take ibuprofen with Almotriptan?
Almotriptan may take 2-3 hours to show its effect, wait for it to work. If still there is no considerable improvement then you can take NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen), but do not take additional triptans for relief.
Q. Can Almotriptan be used for migraine prophylaxis or cluster headaches?
Almotriptan is not used for the prevention of migraine attacks or cluster headaches. However, it should only be used in cases where a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established.
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Q. How many times can I take Almotriptan in a month?
Almotriptan is safe if you are taking this medicine for four migraine episode in a 30-day period. However, it has not been established that the medicine is safe if used for treating an average of more than four migraine episodes in a 30-day period.
Q. What should I tell my doctor?
Before taking Almotriptan, you should inform your doctor if you have a heart disease or any risk factor associated with it (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, family history of heart disease, men over 40 years of age, or a postmenopausal women), mild to moderate liver disease, or severe kidney disease. The doctor should be informed if your headache is associated with dizziness, difficulty in walking, lack of coordination, or weakness in the leg and arm. Along with that, it is important to inform your doctor if you are taking medicines such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (e.g., sertraline, escitalopram oxalate, and fluoxetine) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) (e.g., venlafaxine), and duloxetine for depression.
Q. Does migraine run in families?
Yes, Migraines may run in families. Migraines occur more often in women than men. It has been observed that some women, but not all, have fewer migraine attacks when they are pregnant.
Q. Is Almotriptan a narcotic? Does it have abuse potential?
No, Almotriptan is neither a narcotic nor does it have abuse potential. It is an antimigraine agent which belongs to a class of compounds known as selective serotonin receptor agonists.

Content on this page was last updated on 26 March, 2021, by Dr. Varun Gupta (MD Pharmacology)