Relpax (Eletriptan) is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headache, pain, and other migraine symptoms (including nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light/sound). Prompt treatment helps you return to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Eletriptan belongs to a class of drugs known as triptans. It affects a certain natural substance (serotonin) that causes narrowing of blood vessels in the brain. It may also relieve pain by affecting certain nerves in the brain.

Eletriptan does not prevent future migraines or lessen how often you get migraine attacks.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, at the first sign of a migraine. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. If there is no improvement in your symptoms, do not take more doses of this medication before talking to your doctor. If your symptoms are only partly relieved, or if your headache comes back, you may take another dose two hours after the first dose. If you are using drugs for migraine attacks on 10 or more days each month, the drugs may actually make your headaches worse (medication overuse headache). Do not use medications more often or for longer than directed. Tell your doctor if you need to use this medication more often, or if the medication is not working as well, or if your headaches get worse.

Do not take Relpax if you:

- Have heart disease or a history of heart disease

- Have a history of stroke, transient ischemic attack

- Have a history or current evidence of hemiplegic or basilar migraines (if you are not sure about this, ask your doctor)

- Have peripheral vascular disease (e.g. narrowing of blood vessels to the legs, arms, stomach, intestines, or kidneys)

- Have ischemic bowel disease (inadequate blood supply to the intestine)

- Have uncontrolled blood pressure

- Have taken other migraine medications in the last 24 hours, including other triptans, ergots, or ergot-type medications

- Are allergic to Relpax or any of its ingredients

Nausea, feelings of tingling/numbness, weakness, tiredness, drowsiness, or dizziness may occur. Eletriptan can commonly cause chest/jaw/neck tightness, pain, or pressure that is usually not serious. However, these side effects are like symptoms of a heart attack, which may include chest/jaw/left arm pain, shortness of breath, or unusual sweating. Get medical help right away if these or other serious side effects occur, including: fast/irregular heartbeat, fainting, severe stomach/abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, signs of a stroke (such as weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking, sudden vision changes, confusion). This medication may increase serotonin and rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome/toxicity. The risk increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin, so tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take (see Drug Interactions section). Get medical help right away if you develop some of the following symptoms: fast heartbeat, hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, twitching muscles, unexplained fever, unusual agitation/restlessness.

How quickly does Relpax work?

Many people feel relief with Relpax in 2 hours. For some people, Relpax starts to work in 30 minutes.

Pain relief was measured in terms of headache response, defined as a reduction from severe or moderate headache to mild headache or no pain after medication.

The percentage of people achieving headache response at 2 hours after treatment was studied across 7 adult studies. Please see full Prescribing Information and Patient Information for a description of the results from these studies.

How does Relpax work?

Relpax is believed to:

- Reduce swelling of blood vessels

- Block the release of chemicals in the brain that cause more pain

- Block other symptoms of migraine pain

Does Relpax provide migraine symptom relief?

Yes, Relpax reduces migraine symptoms. Patients treated with Relpax experienced less nausea and sensitivity to sound and light compared with the placebo.