Naratriptan

Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (nar' a trip tan)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Naratriptan is used to treat the symptoms of migraine headaches (severe, throbbing headaches that sometimes are accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to sound or light). Naratriptan is in a class of medications called selective serotonin receptor agonists. It works by narrowing blood vessels around the brain, stopping pain signals from being sent to the brain, and stopping the release of certain natural substances that cause pain, nausea, and other symptoms of migraine. Naratriptan does not prevent migraine attacks or reduce the number of headaches you have.


How should this medicine be used?

Naratriptan comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken at the first sign of a migraine headache. If your symptoms improve after you take naratriptan but return after 4 hours or longer, you may take a second tablet. However, if your symptoms do not improve after you take naratriptan, do not take a second tablet before calling your doctor. Your doctor will tell you the maximum number of tablets you may take in a 24-hour period. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take naratriptan exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

You may take your first dose of naratriptan in a doctor's office or other medical facility where you can be monitored for serious reactions.

Call your doctor if your headaches do not get better or occur more frequently after taking naratriptan.

If you take naratriptan more often or for longer than the recommended period of time, your headaches may get worse or may occur more frequently. You should not take naratriptan or any other headache medication for more than 10 days per month. Call your doctor if you need to take naratriptan to treat more than four headaches in a 1-month period.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking naratriptan,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to naratriptan any other medications, or any of the ingredients in naratriptan tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • do not take naratriptan if you have taken any of the following medications in the past 24 hours: other selective serotonin receptor agonists such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex, in Treximet), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or ergot-type medications such as bromocriptine (Parlodel), cabergoline, dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergoloid mesylates (Hydergine), ergonovine (Ergotrate), ergotamine (Cafergot, Ergomar), methylergonovine (Methergine), methysergide (Sansert), and pergolide (Permax).
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetaminophen (Tylenol); antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); oral contraceptives (birth control pills); selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, in Symbyax), fluvoxamine, paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft); and selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta), sibutramine (Meridia), and venlafaxine (Effexor). Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the following medications or have stopped taking them within the past two weeks: isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl), and tranylcypromine (Parnate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you more carefully for side effects.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart disease; a heart attack; angina (chest pain); irregular heartbeats; stroke or 'mini-stroke'; circulation problems such as varicose veins, blood clots in the legs, Raynaud's disease (problems with blood flow to the fingers, toes, ears, and nose), or ischemic bowel disease (bloody diarrhea and stomach pain caused by decreased blood flow to the intestines); Your doctor may tell you not to take naratriptan.
  • tell your doctor if you smoke or are overweight; if you have or have ever had high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or kidney or liver disease; if you have gone through menopause (change of life); or if any family members have or have ever had heart disease or stroke.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you plan to be sexually active while you are taking this medication, talk to your doctor about effective methods of birth control. If you become pregnant while taking naratriptan, call your doctor.
  • you should know that naratriptan may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
  • talk to your doctor about your headache symptoms to make sure they are caused by migraine. Naratriptan should not be used to treat certain types of migraine headaches (hemiplegic or basilar migraines) or other types of headaches (such as cluster headaches).

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

Naratriptan may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
weaknesstirednessupset stomachnauseadizzinessfeeling warm or coldSome side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
tightness, pain, pressure, or heaviness in the chest, throat, neck, or jawrapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeatshortness of breathbreaking out in a cold sweatlightheadednessweakness or numbness or an arm or legslow or difficult speechdifficulty breathing or swallowingswelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legshoarsenesshivesrashitchingsudden or severe stomach painbloody diarrheaconstipationvomitingpaleness or blue color of fingers or toespain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.


Drug Category/Class

  • Analgesics
  • Serotonin Antagonists
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • Nervous System
  • Selective Serotonin (5Ht1) Agonists
  • Antimigraine Preparations
  • Selective serotonin (5HT1) agonists
Prescribed For the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults.
Weight :335.464
Structure Naratriptan
Generic Drug Naratriptan prescribed For the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults.
Formula

C17H25N3O2S

Naratriptan has 2 Brands listed


Naratrex (1 mg)Naratrex (2.5 mg)

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