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

Quick overview

Naratriptan Tablet, generically known as naratriptan hydrochloride, is a prescription triptan medicine used for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults. It is not used to prevent migraines and is not intended for cluster headache or certain rare migraine types. It works by narrowing widened blood vessels in the head and blocking the release of pain-causing chemicals, relieving headache pain along with nausea, light sensitivity, and sound sensitivity.

What is Naratriptan Tablet

Naratriptan is a prescription migraine medicine belonging to the triptan class. It is used only to treat a migraine attack that has already started, not to prevent migraines.

Naratriptan Tablet uses

• Acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults
• Not for prevention of migraine
• Not for cluster headache, hemiplegic, basilar, or ophthalmoplegic migraine

Benefits of Naratriptan Tablet

• Relieves migraine headache pain
• Reduces nausea associated with migraine
• Reduces sensitivity to light (photophobia)
• Reduces sensitivity to sound (phonophobia)

How Naratriptan Tablet works

Migraine headache is thought to be caused by widening of blood vessels in the head and release of certain chemicals that cause inflammation and pain. Naratriptan narrows these blood vessels and blocks the release of these pain-causing chemicals, which relieves the headache and other migraine symptoms.

Naratriptan Tablet dosage

Naratriptan can be taken with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with water. Take it as soon as possible after migraine symptoms begin, but it can still work if taken later. If the first dose does not work, do not take a second dose for the same attack without talking to your doctor. If the headache comes back or only partly improves, a second dose may be taken after waiting at least 4 hours. Do not use more than recommended in a 24-hour period.

This medicine is not recommended for use in children or adolescents under 18 years of age or for adults over 65 years of age. If you have kidney or liver disease, take only as directed by your doctor. Avoid taking within 24 hours of another migraine medicine such as other triptans or ergotamine-type medicines.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet (1 mg)
• Tablet (2.5 mg)

Side effects of Naratriptan Tablet

Common

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness/sleepiness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling)
• Pain or tightness in jaw, neck, or throat
• Feeling weak, tired, or unwell
• Numbness or tingling (paresthesia)
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Ear, nose, and throat infections

Serious

• Chest pain, pressure, or heaviness, which may signal a heart problem
• Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeats
• Signs of a heart attack such as chest pain spreading to jaw or shoulder, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea
• Signs of a stroke such as sudden weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, vision problems, or severe headache
• Numbness, tingling, or pale/blue color in fingers or toes (poor circulation)
• Severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, constipation, fever, or weight loss (bowel blood flow problems)
• Dangerously high blood pressure with symptoms like severe headache, blurred vision, chest pain, confusion, or nosebleed
• Serotonin syndrome: agitation, hallucinations, fast heartbeat, loss of coordination, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Severe allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Medication overuse headache with frequent use

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take this medicine if you have heart disease, a history of heart attack, stroke, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or certain blood vessel or circulation problems, because of risk of serious heart events.
• Do not take naratriptan within 24 hours before or after taking another triptan or an ergotamine-type medicine, as this can cause dangerous additive effects on blood vessels.
• Taking this medicine with certain antidepressants (SSRIs or SNRIs) can cause a rare but life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome.
• Using migraine medicine too often can actually make headaches worse or more frequent.
• This medicine is not recommended for people over 65 or for children and teenagers under 18, as safety and effectiveness have not been established in these groups.
• It is not known if naratriptan is safe to use during pregnancy. It should only be used if the potential benefit to the mother outweighs the possible risk to the baby, and only after discussing this with your doctor.
• It is not known if naratriptan passes into human breast milk, so caution is advised if considering use while breastfeeding.
• People with severe kidney problems should not take this medicine. Those with mild to moderate kidney impairment need a lower dose and should use caution.
• People with severe liver problems should not take this medicine. Those with mild to moderate liver impairment need a lower dose and should use caution.
• Studies did not find an interaction between naratriptan and alcohol, but alcohol may still trigger migraines in some people.
• This medicine can cause drowsiness and affect alertness or coordination. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you.

Storage

• Store between 15-30°C, away from heat and light
• Keep in a safe place where children cannot see or reach it
• If your medication has expired, do not use it; throw it away
• If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, do not keep any leftover medicine unless your doctor tells you to
• Dispose of unused medicine carefully, such as through a medication take-back program

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to the jaw or shoulder, shortness of breath, sweating, or nausea.
• Get emergency help right away if you notice signs of a stroke, such as sudden numbness or weakness especially on one side of the body, sudden severe headache, or slurred speech.
• Seek medical help right away if you have symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or throat, trouble breathing, or hives.
• Get medical help if you develop signs of serotonin syndrome, such as agitation, hallucinations, fast heartbeat, fever, loss of coordination, or severe nausea and vomiting.
• Seek medical care if you experience sudden or severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, or other signs of reduced blood flow to the bowel.
• Contact your doctor if your blood pressure rises or you have symptoms of dangerously high blood pressure, such as severe headache, chest pain, or vision changes.
• In case of a suspected overdose, contact a health care provider or your local poison control center right away, even if there are no symptoms yet.

Alternatives

• Zolmitriptan
• Rizatriptan
• Sumatriptan