Relpax (eletriptan) is a headache medicine that narrows blood vessels around the brain. Eletriptan also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms. Relpax is used to treat migraine headaches. Relpax will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

Important information about Relpax

Relpax should not be used to treat a common tension headache, a headache that causes loss of movement on one side of your body, or any headache that seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches. Use this medication only if your condition has been confirmed by a doctor as migraine headaches.

You should not take Relpax if you are allergic to eletriptan, if you have any history of heart disease, or if you have coronary heart disease, angina, blood circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart, uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe liver disease, ischemic bowel disease, a history of a heart attack or stroke, or if your headache seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches.

Do not take Relpax within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Migergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), or methylergonovine (Methergine). Do not use Relpax within 72 hours before or after taking ketoconazole (Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Xolegal), itraconazole (Sporanox), nefazodone, clarithromycin (Biaxin), ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra), or nelfinavir (Viracept).

Before taking Relpax, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder, or coronary heart disease (or risk factors such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).

Also tell your doctor if you are also taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor).

Relpax will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

After taking an Relpax tablet, you must wait two (2) hours before taking a second tablet. Do not take more than 80 mg of Relpax in 24 hours.

Before using Relpax

You should not use Relpax if you are allergic to eletriptan, or if you have:

coronary heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart;

a history of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke, including “mini-stroke”;

severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;
severe liver disease;

ischemic bowel disease; or

a headache that seems different from your usual migraine headaches.

To make sure you can safely take Relpax, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

liver disease;
kidney disease;

high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder; or

coronary heart disease (or risk factors such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Relpax will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Relpax. Eletriptan can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medicine to anyone under 18 years old.

How should I use Relpax?

Take Relpax exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Overuse of migraine headache medicine can actually make your headaches worse.

Take Relpax as soon as you notice headache symptoms, or after an attack has already begun.

Your doctor may want to give your first dose of this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting to see if you have any serious side effects.

Take one Relpax tablet whole with a full glass of water.

After taking a tablet: If your headache does not completely go away, or goes away and comes back, take a second tablet two (2) hours after the first. Do not take more than 80 mg of Relpax in 24 hours. If your symptoms have not improved, contact your doctor before taking any more tablets.

Contact your doctor if you have more than three headaches in one month (30 days).

If you use Relpax long-term, your doctor may want to check your heart function using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG), a machine that measures electrical activity of the heart. This will help your doctor determine if it is still safe for you to use this medication. Visit your doctor regularly.

Store Relpax at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Relpax is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. Call your doctor promptly if your symptoms do not improve after using Relpax.

After taking an Relpax tablet, you must wait two (2) hours before taking a second tablet. Do not take more than 80 mg of Relpax in 24 hours.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Overdose could cause high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, or seizure).
What should I avoid while using Relpax?

Do not take Relpax within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including:

almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or

ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Migergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

Do not use Relpax within 72 hours before or after taking any of the following medicines:

ketoconazole (Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Xolegal), itraconazole (Sporanox);

nefazodone;

clarithromycin (Biaxin); or

ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept).

Relpax may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.