Axert Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Axert Tablet (almotriptan) is a prescription triptan medicine used to treat migraine headaches that have already started. It works by narrowing blood vessels around the brain and reducing substances that cause headache pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. The brand name Axert has been discontinued in the U.S., but generic almotriptan is still available. It does not prevent migraines or reduce how often they occur.

What is Axert Tablet

Axert is a prescription medicine used to treat migraine headaches that have already started. It works by narrowing blood vessels around the brain and reducing substances in the body that cause headache pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. The brand name Axert has been discontinued in the U.S., but generic almotriptan is still available.

Axert Tablet uses

• Treats migraine attacks in adults with a history of migraine, with or without aura
• Treats migraine headache pain in adolescents age 12 to 17 with a history of migraine attacks usually lasting 4 hours or more
• Only treats a headache that has already begun; it does not prevent migraines or reduce how often they happen
• Should not be used for tension headaches, headaches that cause loss of movement on one side of the body, or headaches that differ from your usual migraines

Benefits of Axert Tablet

• Helps relieve migraine headache pain
• Reduces migraine severity
• May ease sensitivity to light
• May ease sensitivity to sound
• Helps improve daily functioning during a migraine attack

How Axert Tablet works

Axert works by narrowing widened blood vessels around the brain that cause migraine pain. It also blocks nerve endings from releasing substances that cause pain and other migraine symptoms, and it interrupts pain signals being sent to the brain.

Axert Tablet dosage

Take this medicine as soon as you notice migraine symptoms starting, and swallow the tablet whole. If your headache improves but comes back, you may take a second tablet at least 2 hours after the first, but do not take more than two tablets in a 24-hour period. If your symptoms do not improve after the first tablet, contact your doctor before taking another dose. Do not use this medicine to prevent migraines; it only treats a migraine that has already started.

Your doctor may want to give your first dose in a hospital or clinic setting to watch for side effects. Contact your doctor if you have more than four headaches in one month, or if the medicine seems to stop working as well. People 65 and older may be at greater risk for certain side effects and should talk with their doctor about this.

Available forms and strengths

• 6.25 mg oral tablets
• 12.5 mg oral tablets

Side effects of Axert Tablet

Common

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dry mouth
• Numbness, tingling, or burning in the arms, feet, or face
• Dizziness
• Sleepiness
• Mild headache (not a migraine)

Serious

• Allergic reaction: hives, trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Heart attack symptoms: chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating, feeling light-headed
• Stroke symptoms: sudden weakness on one side of the body, sudden severe headache, slurred speech or trouble understanding speech
• Circulation problems: numbness, tingling, or pale/blue-colored fingers or toes; weakness or heavy feeling in the legs; burning pain in the feet; leg cramps; hip pain
• Serotonin syndrome: agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting
• Stomach or intestinal problems: severe stomach pain (especially after eating), fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or bloody/tarry stools
• Increased blood pressure
• Medicine overuse headache if taken more often than prescribed

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart problems, a history of heart attack or stroke, or circulation problems that reduce blood supply in the body.
• Do not take this medicine within 24 hours before or after using another migraine medicine.
• This medicine should not be used for hemiplegic or basilar migraine (rare, severe types of migraine) because of a higher risk of stroke.
• People with a sulfa drug allergy may also be allergic to this medicine, so caution is needed.
• Taking this medicine with certain antidepressants (SSRIs or SNRIs) can cause a potentially life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome.
• Using this medicine more often than prescribed can make headaches worse or more frequent, a problem known as medication overuse headache.
• Pregnancy: It is not known if this medicine could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
• Breastfeeding: It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk or could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
• Kidney: Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, since this may affect whether Axert is safe for you.
• Liver: Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, since this may affect whether Axert is safe for you.
• Alcohol: It isn't known for certain how alcohol affects this medicine, but drinking alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness, and alcohol can also trigger migraines in some people.
• Driving: This medicine can affect your thinking or reactions, so be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Storage

• Store at room temperature (20–25°C)
• Keep in a dry place, away from moisture
• Protect from direct sunlight and excessive heat
• Keep in the original packaging
• Keep out of reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop using this medicine and get emergency help if you have signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating, or feeling light-headed.
• Stop the medicine and call your doctor right away if you notice numbness, tingling, or a pale or blue color in your fingers or toes.
• Stop the medicine and call your doctor right away if you have signs of blood circulation problems, like leg weakness, burning pain in the feet, leg cramps, or hip pain.
• Stop the medicine and call your doctor right away if you have signs of high serotonin levels, such as agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, or fainting.
• Stop the medicine and call your doctor right away if you have stomach or intestinal problems like severe stomach pain, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody or tarry stools.
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, seek emergency medical attention or contact a poison control center right away.

Alternatives

• Zolmitriptan
• Rizatriptan
• Sumatriptan