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In this Article

• What is almotriptan (Axert)?
• What are the possible side effects of almotriptan (Axert)?
• What is the most important information I should know about almotriptan (Axert)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using almotriptan (Axert)?
• How should I use almotriptan (Axert)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Axert)?
• What happens if I overdose (Axert)?
• What should I avoid while using almotriptan (Axert)?
• What other drugs will affect almotriptan (Axert)?
• Where can I get more information?

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using almotriptan (Axert)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to almotriptan, or if you have:

• a history of heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, heart attack, or stroke, including "mini-stroke";
• severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure; or
• a headache that is not like other headaches you have had.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take almotriptan:

• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• ischemic bowel disease;
• heart disease, high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder;
• coronary artery disease (or risk factors that include diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high blood pressure or 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 this medication is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking almotriptan, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether almotriptan passes into breast milk or if it could 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 almotriptan (Axert)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Never take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Overuse of migraine headache medicine can actually make your headaches worse. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

Take almotriptan 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 almotriptan 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 two (2) almotriptan tablets 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 four headaches in one month (30 days).

If you use almotriptan long-term, your doctor may want to check your heart function periodically 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. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store almotriptan at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.