What is naratriptan?
Naratriptan (brand name: Amerge®) is a triptan medication that helps lessen all of the symptoms of an acute migraine headache, not just that horrible head pain. It can also reduce dizziness, nausea, and light and/or sound sensitivity.
What will it do for me?
Naratriptan helps you get back to your life faster. Instead of waiting out a migraine attack in a dark room, you can use naratriptan to ease your symptoms.
How does it help?
Research indicates that the blood vessels around your brain over-expand during an acute migraine headache. So naratriptan narrows those vessels—a process scientists call “vasoconstriction.” It also works to decrease inflammation in the nerves and quiet the loud pain signals that cause severe head pain.
How do I get naratriptan?
Naratriptan is a prescription medicine so you’ll need to talk to your doctor first to make sure it’s right for you. Get started today with a Cove doctor consultation.
How should I take it?
Right away—in other words, at the very first sign of a migraine headache. You should take naratriptan with water, but food is optional.
What should I be cautious of?
If any of the below looks familiar, definitely talk to your doctor before taking naratriptan. Drug interactions and side effects can be unpleasant. Here are some risk factors to consider:
- You’re on other medications.
- You’ve had angina, heart attack, chest pain, or other heart conditions.
- You’ve had a stroke or TIA.
- You’ve had a stroke-like migraine (hemiplegic migraine).
- You’ve been told you’ve had a brainstem migraine (basilar migraine).
- You have poor circulation.
- You have uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- You have certain heart arrhythmias (irregular rhythms).
- You have severe liver disease.
- You’re taking other acute prescription migraine medication.
Can I take naratriptan with other migraine medications?
Don’t take naratriptan with any other triptans. Other kinds of pain relievers are ok, and so are preventive medications. If you’re not sure if naratriptan will interact with another medication you’re taking, consult with your doctor.
What happens if I can’t take it right away?
Take it as soon as you can, because the sooner you take it, the sooner it can start fighting back against your migraine headache.
Where should I keep my naratriptan?
Keep it in a dry place at a cool room temperature.
Are there any possible side effects?
Many people using naratriptan do not experience serious side effects. Some people experience dizziness, warmth, tingling, and non-heart related chest discomfort. If you’re experiencing any of these adverse effects, you should discontinue use and contact your health care professional.
What other triptans are available?
There are currently six other triptan drugs prescribed in the United States in addition to naratriptan: almotriptan (generic Axert®), eletriptan (generic Relpax®), frovatriptan (generic Frova®), rizatriptan (generic Maxalt®), sumatriptan (generic Imitrex®), and zolmitriptan (generic Zomig®).
In addition to naratriptan, Cove also currently offers oral eletriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan.
The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely upon the content provided in this article for specific medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor.
Eletriptan, naratriptan, and zolmitriptan are oral medications indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults and is not used to prevent migraines. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using this drug while you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. Call your doctor right away if you have allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, chest pain or chest tightness, signs and symptoms of a dangerous change in heartbeat or heart rhythm like chest pain; dizziness; fast, irregular heartbeat; palpitations; feeling faint or lightheaded; falls; breathing problems. Call your doctor right away if you have signs and symptoms of a stroke like changes in vision; confusion; trouble speaking or understanding; severe headaches; sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg; trouble walking; dizziness; loss of balance or coordination. Call your doctor right away if you have signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome like irritable; confusion; diarrhea; fast or irregular heartbeat; muscle twitching; stiff muscles; trouble walking; sweating; high fever; seizures; chills; vomiting. You can read more about eletriptan’s side effects, warnings, and precautions here. Full prescribing information for eletriptan is available here. You can read more about naratriptan’s side effects, warnings, and precautions here. Full prescribing information for naratriptan is available here. You can read more about zolmitriptan’s side effects, warnings, and precautions here. Full prescribing information for zolmitriptan is available here. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit MedWatch: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Sumatriptan and rizatriptan are oral medications indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults and not for the prophylactic therapy of migraine attacks or for the treatment of cluster headache. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using either of these drugs while you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. Call your doctor right away if you have chest, throat, neck, or jaw tightness, pain, pressure, or heaviness; break out in a cold sweat; shortness of breath; a fast heartbeat; a heartbeat that does not feel normal; or very bad dizziness or passing out. Very bad and sometimes deadly brain blood vessel problems like stroke have rarely happened with this drug. Call your doctor right away if you have weakness on 1 side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, drooping on 1 side of the face, or change in eyesight. You can read more about sumatriptan’s side effects, warnings, and precautions here. Full prescribing information for sumatriptan is available here. You can read more about rizatriptan side effects, warnings, and precautions here. Full prescribing information for rizatriptan is available here. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit MedWatch: https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
