D. H. E. 45 (Dihydroergotamine) Drug Overview of Drug Interactions and Missed Dose for Patients and Caregivers at RxList

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May 26, 2012

DHE 45

Migraine »

What is a migraine headache?

A migraine headache is a form of vascular headache. Migraine headache is caused by vasodilatation (enlargement of blood vessels) that causes the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around the large arteries of the brain. Enlargement of these blood vessels stretches the nerves that coil around them and causes the nerves to release chemicals. The chemicals cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. The increasing enlargement of the arteries magnifies the pain.

Migraine attacks commonly activate the sympathetic nervous system in the body. The sympathetic nervous system is often thought of as the part of the nervous system that controls primitive responses to stress and pain, the so-called "fight or flight" response, and this activation causes many of the symptoms associated with migraine attacks; for example, the increased sympathetic nervous activity in the intestine causes nausea, vomiting,...

Read the Migraine article »

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D. H. E. 45

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D. H. E. 45 Consumer (continued)

DRUG INTERACTIONS: See also Warning section and How to Use section.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Some products that may interact with this drug include: certain beta blockers (e.g., propranolol), decongestants (e.g., pseudoephedrine), delavirdine, dopamine, efavirenz, drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove ergotamine from your body (such as fluconazole, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, clotrimazole, nefazodone, zileuton), drugs listed in Warning section, nicotine (e.g., nicotine gum, nicotine patches, tobacco), nitrates (e.g., isosorbide, nitroglycerin), other ergot alkaloids (e.g., methysergide), sibutramine.

If you also take "triptan" migraine drugs (e.g., sumatriptan, rizatriptan), you will need to separate your "triptan" dose from your dose of this medication to reduce the risk of serious side effects. Ask your doctor how long you should wait between your doses of these drugs.

Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids, other migraine medications) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents should call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe dizziness/drowsiness, loss of feeling in the fingers/toes, rapid/weak heartbeat, bluish hands/feet, seizures.

NOTES: Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., heart tests) may be performed to monitor your progress.

Certain foods/beverages or food additives (e.g., red wine, cheese, chocolate, monosodium glutamate, alcohol) as well as some lifestyle patterns (e.g., irregular eating/sleeping habits, stress) may bring about a migraine headache. Avoiding these "triggers" may help decrease the frequency of migraine headaches. Consult your doctor for more details.

MISSED DOSE: Not applicable.

STORAGE: Consult the product instructions and your pharmacist for storage details. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.