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| Pronunciation |
|
 (NAR
a trip
tan) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Amerge® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Serotonin 5-HT1D Receptor Agonist |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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|
- If you have an allergy to naratriptan or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Ischemic bowel disease,
coronary artery disease or risk factors for coronary disease (male, high
cholesterol, diabetes, overweight, smoking, positive family history), heart
attack, poorly controlled high blood pressure, severe kidney disease, severe
liver disease.
- If you have taken another serotonin antagonist (rizatriptan,
sumatriptan, zolmitriptan) or ergotamine-containing product within the past 24
hours.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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|
- This medicine is used to get rid of or decrease the pain and symptoms
of a migraine headache. It is not
used to prevent future attacks.
- It may take 1-3 hours to feel the full benefits of this
medicine.
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| How does it work? |
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- Naratriptan works by squeezing certain blood vessels in the brain and
preventing irritation/inflammation.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Swallow tablet whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
- Take with liquids as early as possible after the attack has started.
- If no headache relief by 4 hours after the first dose, then take
another dose.
- Do not take more than 5 mg as a total daily dose.
- Do not take within 24 hours of other migraine medication without
consulting healthcare provider.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- This medicine is taken on an as needed basis, not on a regularly
scheduled one. It can be taken any time during the course of the headache, but
sooner is better.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Can worsen headache.
- Do not take if you have a history of angina (chest pain from the
heart), heart spasms, heart attack, or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- Do not take within 24 hours of other headache medicines. Talk with
healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are taking any medicines for
depression, like monoamine oxidase inhibitors. These include isocarboxazid,
phenelzine, and tranylcypromine. Certain medicines do not mix well with this
medicine.
- Use caution if you have risk factors for heart disease (high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, overweight, diabetes, cigarette smoking, a male
>40 years of age, other family members with heart disease, postmenopausal
women). Talk with healthcare provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Feeling sleepy, lightheaded, or dizzy. Avoid driving, doing other
tasks or activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine
affects you.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Numbness or tingling of hands or
feet.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Return of headache. Talk with healthcare provider if it changes from
usual course or if it does not get better with this
medicine.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
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- No relief of headache after treatment.
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Chest pain, tightness, or heaviness, throat pain or tightness, rapid
heartbeat, or difficult breathing.
- Too tired or sleepy.
- Passing out, fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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