Cafergot (Ergotamine Tartrate and Caffeine) Drug Center: Guide to Drug Information for Professionals, Patients and Caregivers at RxList

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May 25, 2012

Cafergot

Prescription Migraine Medications »

Migraine medications overview

Migraine is a serious, potentially life-threatening neurological disease that affects nearly 32 million Americans, the majority of whom are women. The hallmark symptom of migraine is an escalating, often unbearable, debilitating headache that is commonly described as intense throbbing or pulsating pain in one area of the head. The pain may be accompanied by extreme sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting. In some people, migraines are preceded by visual disturbances known as auras that may include flashing lights, zigzag lines, or temporary blindness.

Migraine medications do not cure migraines. Instead, migraine drugs treat the symptoms using one of two approaches. Some migraine drugs relieve symptoms. Other migraine drugs are used to prevent a migraine attack.

Many migraine sufferers rely on simple pain relievers to get through an attack. These range from over-the-counter analgesics like acetaminophen to an...

Read the Prescription Migraine Medications article »

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Cafergot

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Cafergot Drug Center

Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

Prescribing Information

For Patients

Cafergot (ergotamine tartrate and caffeine) is used to treat a migraine type headache. This medication will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent migraine headaches or reduce the number of attacks. Cafergot should not be used to treat common tension headaches or any headache that seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches. Cafergot is a combination of two drugs, caffeine, a stimulant, and ergotamine an ergot alkaloid. This medication may be available in generic form. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, restlessness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.

Dosage of Cafergot should start at the first sign of an attack. Adult dose is 2 tablets at the start of an attack; 1 additional tablet every 1/2 hour, if needed for full relief (maximum 6 tablets per attack, 10 per week). Do not use Cafergot within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, macrolide antibiotics, protease inhibitors, or azole antifungals. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Cafergot and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Cafergot may harm a fetus and must not be used during pregnancy. It is recommended that men and women use two effective forms of birth control (e.g., condoms, birth control pill) while taking this medication. This drug may pass into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug.

Our Cafergot (ergotamine tartrate and caffeine) Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information as well as related drugs, user reviews, supplements, and diseases and conditions articles.

What is Prescribing information?

The FDA package insert formatted in easy-to-find categories for health professionals and clinicians.

Cafergot Prescribing Information: Indications & Dosage

Ergotamine tartrate Structural Formula Illustration

CAFERGOT® (ergotamine tartrate and caffeine tablets, USP) are indicated as therapy to abort or prevent vascular headache, e.g., migraine, migraine variants, or so-called "histaminic cephalalgia."

Read the complete drug monograph for Cafergot »

What is Cafergot Prescribing Information?

Drug Description - Indications & Dosage - Side Effects & Drug Interactions - Warnings & Precautions - Contraindications - Medication Guide and More

What is Patient information?

Easy-to-read and understand detailed drug information and pill images for the patient or caregiver from Cerner Multum.

Cafergot Patient Information: Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using caffeine and ergotamine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
fast or slow heart rate;
muscle pain in your arms or legs;
leg weakness;
numbness or tingling and a pale or b...

Read the complete patient information for Cafergot »

What is Cafergot Patient Information?

Possible Side Effects - Images - What Is - How Should I Take It - What If I Miss a Dose - What Should I Avoid and More

What is Consumer information?

A concise overview of the drug for the patient or caregiver from First DataBank.

Cafergot Consumer Information: Uses

This combination medication is used to treat or prevent a certain type of headache (vascular headaches such as migraine headaches and cluster headaches). Ergotamine helps narrow widened blood vessels in the head, which reduces the throbbing effects of vascular headaches. Caffeine increases the effects of ergotamine by increasing the absorption of ergotamine and also by narrowing the widened blood vessels in the head.

HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor.

Dosage is based on your medical conditio...

Read the complete consumer information for Cafergot »