Ergotamine and Caffeine

Antimigraine Preparations · Ergot alkaloid/Xanthine

Indications

Migraine, migraine variants.

Dosage

Adults: 1 or 2 tab at onset of attack; max 4 tab daily, 10 tab in any one wk. Children: Not recommended.

Adverse Effects

Nausea, leg weakness, muscle pain. Circulatory impairment (discontinue immediately).

Risk Factor (Pregnancy/Lactation)

Pregnancy: Contraindicated in pregnancy. Lactation: Contraindicated or not recommended. Contraindications: Coronary, peripheral or occlusive vascular disease, severe hypertension, hepatic or renal impairment, sepsis.

Interactions

Erythromycin, beta-blockers.

Advice to Patient

Take with or without meals. Contact prescriber if there is numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes, unusual muscle pain, weakness in the legs, chest pain, very fast or slow heart rate, swelling or itching. Avoid grapefruit juice during therapy.

Pharmacokinetics

ERGOTAMINE: Absorption: Incompletely absorbed from GI tract. Metabolism: Hepatic. Bioavailability: Oral: 1-5%. Half-life elimination: Biphasic. Initial: 2 hrs. Terminal: 21 hrs. Time to peak, plasma: Oral: 1-2 hrs. Excretion: Faeces (mainly). Urine (4%). CAFFEINE: Metabolism: Hepatic. Half-life elimination: Neonates: 72-96 hrs. Children >9 mths and Adults: 5 hrs. Time to peak, serum: Oral: Within 30 mins-2 hrs. Excretion: Neonates =1 mth: 86% excreted unchanged in urine. Infants >1 mth and Adults: In urine, as metabolites.

Compiled by Healify Pharmacy from published drug references. How we compile it →

Always consult a pharmacist or doctor.