ergotamine

Generic Name: ergotamine

What is ergotamine?

Ergotamine affects vasoconstriction (narrowing of arteries and veins that supply blood to the head). Ergotamine is also involved in altering blood flow patterns that are associated with vascular headaches.

Ergotamine is used to prevent and to treat vascular headaches such as migraine and cluster headaches.

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Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ergotamine?

Some medications may increase the risk of dangerously decreased blood flow to the brain, heart, or extremities when taken with ergotamine. In rare but severe cases, gangrene or other serious problems can result. Some, but not all, of these medications are listed below in the section "What other drugs will affect ergotamine?”. Do not take any other medications during treatment with ergotamine without first talking to your doctor.

Do not take ergotamine without first talking to your doctor if you have:

  • peripheral vascular disease or poor circulation;

  • arteriosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries”;

  • high blood pressure;

  • heart disease;

  • liver disease;

  • kidney disease; or

  • a serious infection.

You may not be able to take ergotamine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Do not take ergotamine if you are pregnant or if you could become pregnant during treatment. Ergotamine is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that it is known to be very harmful if used during pregnancy. Ergotamine can induce uterine contractions, which can result in abortion, and it can restrict blood flow to the fetus.

Ergotamine passes into breast milk and can cause vomiting and diarrhea in a nursing infant. Do not take ergotamine if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take ergotamine?

Take ergotamine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Use the first dose of ergotamine at the first sign of a headache.

Place a tablet under your tongue and allow it to dissolve. Another tablet can be taken in 30 minutes if needed. A third tablet, if necessary, can be taken 30 minutes after the second.

Do not take more than three tablets in a 24-hour period. Do not take more than five tablets in 7 days. If your symptoms are not being adequately treated, talk to your doctor.

Store ergotamine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose of ergotamine?

Since ergotamine is taken on an as-needed basis, missing a dose is not usually a problem.

Where can I get more information about ergotamine?
Your pharmacist has information about ergotamine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of ergotamine?

Stop taking ergotamine and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if you experience.

  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

  • chest pain;

  • numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes;

  • muscle pain in the arms or legs;

  • leg weakness;

  • changes in heart rate;

  • swelling; or

  • itching.

Other, less serious side effects may also occur. Continue to take ergotamine and talk to your doctor if you experience nausea or vomiting.

Ergotamine may be habit forming when used for long periods of time. Larger doses may be needed for headache relief, and withdrawal effects may occur when treatment with ergotamine is stopped.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about ergotamine?

Some medications may increase the risk of dangerously decreased blood flow to the brain, heart, or extremities when taken with ergotamine. In rare but severe cases, gangrene or other serious problems can result. Some, but not all, of these medications are listed below in the section "What other drugs will affect ergotamine?”. Do not take any other medications during treatment with ergotamine without first talking to your doctor.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes; chest pain; weakness of the legs; muscle pain in the arms or legs; pain in the chest; changes in heart rate; swelling or itching.

Do not take ergotamine if you are pregnant or if you could become pregnant during treatment. Ergotamine is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that ergotamine can cause harm to an unborn baby. Ergotamine can induce uterine contractions, which can result in abortion, and it can restrict blood flow to the fetus.

What should I avoid while taking ergotamine?

Do not take more than three tablets in a 24-hour period. Do not take more than five tablets in 7 days. If your symptoms are not being adequately treated, talk to your doctor.

What other drugs will affect ergotamine?

Some medications may increase the risk of dangerously decreased blood flow to the brain, heart, or extremities when taken with ergotamine. In rare but severe cases, gangrene or other serious problems can result. The following drugs should not be taken with ergotamine or should be used only under the close supervision of a doctor:

  • another medication that contains an ergot compound such as Ergomar, D.H.E., or D.H.E. Nasal;

  • another migraine headache medicine such as almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), zolmitriptan (Zomig), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or naratriptan (Amerge)—these medicines must not be taken within 24 hours of a dose of ergotamine;

  • a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), sertraline (Zoloft), or paroxetine (Paxil);

  • a beta-blocker (medicines used to treat high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and other heart conditions) such as carteolol (Cartrol), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), nadolol (Corgard), pindolol (Visken), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol (Betapace), or timolol (Blocadren);

  • an HIV/AIDS medicine such as amprenavir (Agenerase), delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase);

  • the antibiotics erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E.E.S., E-Mycin, Eryc, others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);

  • the antifungal medicines itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral);

  • nefazodone (Serzone);

  • cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB); or

  • sibutramine (Meridia).

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with ergotamine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.

What happens if I have an overdose of ergotamine?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of an ergotamine overdose include nausea, vomiting, weakness, muscle pain, numbness in your fingers or toes, gangrene, itching, confusion, drowsiness, convulsions, and possibly death.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008