eletriptan hydrobromide
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Relpax. It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Relpax against the benefits it is expected to have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Read this leaflet carefully before you start Relpax and keep it with your medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Relpax is used for
Relpax is used to treat a migraine attack.
Symptoms of a migraine include headache, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, sensitivity to light and sensitivity to sound.
Some people with migraine also get an "aura", which is a warning sign of temporary change in eyesight or speech, sometimes associated with vomiting.
Relpax is effective in relieving migraine with or without aura.
Relpax does not work in other types of headache, which are not migraine.
Relpax should be taken as early as possible after the migraine headache starts, but is also effective if taken at a later stage during the migraine.
It does not work if taken during the aura phase, before the headache starts. It is not effective in preventing migraine attacks.
Relpax contains the active ingredient eletriptan hydrobromide. It belongs to a group of medicines called serotonin agonists. It is thought that these medicines work by reducing the size of swollen blood vessels around the brain that may be involved in migraine.
Your doctor, however, may prescribe Relpax for another purpose.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Relpax has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take Relpax
When you must not take it
Do not take Relpax if:
1. you have an allergy to:
Relpax
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
2. you have a headache different from your usual migraine
Instead, check with your doctor.
If you have a headache different from your usual pattern, it may be related to a serious condition (such as stroke or aneurysm) and taking Relpax may be harmful.
3. you have severe liver problems
4. you have high blood pressure that is difficult to treat
5. you have, or have had, heart or blood vessel disease or signs of these conditions. These may include:
angina, stroke, heart attack
dizzy or fainting spells
pains in the chest
cold hands or feet
pain in the calves when walking
6. you have taken, within the last 24 hours:
medicines similar to Relpax such as sumatriptan
7. you have taken or plan to take, within the next 24 hours:
ergotamine (a medicine used to treat migraine) or medicines derived from ergotamine like dihydroergotamine or methysergide
8. you have taken, within the last 48 hours:
either of the following antibiotics: erythromycin or clarithromycin
either of the following antifungals: ketoconazole or itraconazole
any of the following protease inhibiting drugs: amprenavir, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, nelfinavir
an antidepressant called nefazodone
Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you are not sure if you are taking any of these medicines.
Do not take Relpax if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Do not take Relpax if the expiry date (EXP) or use by date printed on the pack has passed, even though the tablets may look alright.
Do not give Relpax to children or adolescents under 17 years of age.
If you are not sure if you should be taking Relpax, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
You must tell your doctor if:
1. you have any allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances such as foods, dyes or preservatives
2. you have ever been told you may have an increased risk of heart or blood vessel disease
Heart and blood vessel disease and high blood pressure sometimes do not cause any symptoms, so some people do not know if they have these problems.
Before deciding whether you should take Relpax, your doctor will check you for risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes, family history of CAD, post menopause in females and age over 40 years in males.
3. you have any other health problems including liver or kidney problems
4. you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or intend to become pregnant or breast-feed
Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using Relpax during pregnancy or while breast-feeding. You may be advised to stop breast-feeding for 24 hours after taking Relpax.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of these things, tell them before you start taking Relpax.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or your pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking:
other medicines for migraine
certain antibiotics such as erythromycin and clarithromycin
certain antifungals such as ketoconazole and itraconazole
medications which may lead to increased serotonin levels, including anti-depressants, such as Nefazodone
certain protease inhibiting drugs, used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, called amprenavir, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir and nelfinavir
St John's Wort (botanical name Hypericum Perforatum), a herbal remedy used to treat mood disorders
You may need different amounts of Relpax or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines. They also have a more complete list of medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Relpax.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if you are taking any of these medicines.
How to take Relpax
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the packaging, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
The usual dose of Relpax is 40 mg.
The dose may be increased to 80 mg.
Do not take more than 2 doses of Relpax in any 24 hour period.
Do not take more than a total of 160 mg in one day.
Taking too much of this type of medicine can lead to constant daily headaches.
If you have problems with your kidneys, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose for you.
How to take it
Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water, either with or without food.
When to take it
Take Relpax as soon as possible after the start of the migraine attack.
It will also work if taken later during the attack.
Do not take a second dose of Relpax within 2 hours of taking the first dose.
If, after initial relief, your migraine comes back, take a second tablet. In this case, wait at least 2 hours between the first tablet and the second.
If Relpax does not relieve your migraine, do not take a second dose for the same attack.
A migraine not relieved by the first dose will probably not be relieved by a second dose either.
You may take something else for the pain, but do not take medicine containing ergotamine, dihydroergotamine or methysergide after taking Relpax.
If the initial dose of Relpax does not relieve your migraine, you may use Relpax on another occasion to treat another migraine attack.
Relpax will not prevent a migraine attack. If you take it during the "aura period", which occurs just before you get the headache, it will not be effective.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or go to Accident and Emergency (Casualty) at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Relpax. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Serious heart problems may occur after an overdose.
Keep telephone numbers of these places handy.
While you are taking Relpax
Things you must do
Check with your doctor if your migraine headaches are worse, or if they are occurring more often than before you started Relpax.
Headaches that are not relieved by Relpax are sometimes caused by conditions that need other treatment.
If you become pregnant while taking Relpax, tell your doctor immediately.
If you are taking other medicines for migraine such as ergotamine, dihydroergotamine or methysergide, wait at least 24 hours after your Relpax dose before taking them.
If you are about to start any new medicines, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Relpax.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Relpax.
Be sure to keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked.
Things you must not do
Do not give Relpax to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you or their symptoms seem similar.
Do not take Relpax to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Relpax affects you.
A migraine itself, or treatment with Relpax, may make you drowsy or dizzy.
Avoid driving, using machinery (or doing anything that may be dangerous) if you become drowsy during a migraine or after taking Relpax.
Be careful drinking alcohol if you suffer from migraine headaches.
Drinking alcohol can make headaches worse, or may cause new headaches to occur. People who suffer from severe headaches should probably avoid alcoholic drinks, especially during a headache.
Side effects
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you have any problems while taking Relpax, even if you do not think the problems are connected with the medicine or are not listed in this leaflet.
Like other medicines, Relpax can cause certain side effects. If they occur, most are likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident or Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
chest pain or an uncomfortable feeling in the chest, which may spread to the arms or neck
palpitations, fast heart beat
headache not relieved by Relpax
swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
These symptoms may be serious and need urgent medical attention.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and if they worry you:
numbness and/or tingling, weakness
stomach pain or cramps, dry mouth, indigestion, tight or sore throat or difficulty in swallowing, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting
dizziness, drowsiness
flushing, sweating
chills, pain
muscle tightness, a spinning sensation
weakness, lack of energy
back pain
These side effects are usually mild. Some of these side effects may be due to the migraine itself.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some people.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not get any of them.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even if it is not on this list.
After taking Relpax
Storage
Keep your tablets where young children cannot reach them.
A locked cupboard at least one and a half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep Relpax in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Do not store it, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of their packaging, they may not keep well.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Relpax, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Relpax tablets come in two strengths:
Relpax 40 mg - orange, round tablets, marked REP40 on one side and Pfizer on the other
Relpax 80 mg - orange, round tablets, marked REP80 on one side and Pfizer on the other
These are available in blister packs of 4 tablets.
Ingredients
Active ingredient
The active ingredient in Relpax is eletriptan hydrobromide.
Relpax 40 mg contains 40 mg eletriptan per tablet
Relpax 80 mg contains 80 mg eletriptan per tablet
Other ingredients
cellulose
lactose
croscarmellose sodium
magnesium stearate
titanium dioxide
hypromellose
glycerol triacetate
sunset yellow FCF
