What is Relpax?
Relpax (eletriptan) is a headache medicine that narrows blood vessels around the brain. Eletriptan also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.
Relpax is used to treat migraines with or without aura in adults.
Health Benefits
Relpax can help to relieve the pain of migraines and other types of headaches. It can also help to reduce the symptoms of migraines, such as nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.
Side Effects
The most common side effects of Relpax include:
Dizziness
Nausea
Tingling or warmth sensation
Muscle weakness
Less common side effects include:
Chest pain or tightness
Shortness of breath
Pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest
If you experience any of these side effects, contact your doctor immediately.
Rare side effects include:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, throat, or tongue); strange thoughts or behaviors. If you experience any of these rare side effects, contact your doctor immediately.
Relpax may also cause other side effects. Contact your doctor if you experience any unusual or bothersome side effect.
Dosage
The recommended dose of Relpax is 40 mg taken at the first sign of a migraine headache. If your migraine headache improves after you take eletriptan but returns or worsens after a while, you may take a second dose 2 hours after the first dose. Do not take more than 80 mg in 24 hours.
Interactions
Relpax may interact with other medications. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Mechanism of Action
The exact mechanism of action of Relpax is unknown. It is thought to work by narrowing blood vessels around the brain and by reducing substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.
Relpax may be use as preventive therapy for migraines when taken on a regular basis. Ask your doctor if this is an option for you.
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption: Eletriptan is rapidly and completely absorbed following oral administration, with peak plasma concentrations reached in approximately 2 hours.
Distribution: The mean apparent volume of distribution of eletriptan is about 21 L/kg. Plasma protein binding is about 55%.
Metabolism and Excretion: Eletriptan is extensively metabolized by monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzymes, both type A and type B. The primary metabolites are the indole acetic acid derivative and the N-desmethyl metabolite, which have no agonist activity at 5-HT1B/1D receptors. These metabolites are not pharmacologically active and do not contribute to the pharmacologic effect of eletriptan. Eletriptan and its metabolites are eliminated primarily by hepatic metabolism with minimal renal excretion. The mean elimination half-life is about 5 hours.
Alternatives to Relpax
There are many alternative medications available to treat migraines and other types of headaches. Some of these alternatives include:
Ibuprofen
Aspirin
Tylenol
Excedrin Migraine
Caffeine
Naproxen
Sumatriptan
Rizatriptan
Topiramate
If you experience side effects from Relpax, or if the medication does not relieve your migraine pain, talk to your doctor about other options. There are many effective treatments available and your doctor can help you find the one that is best for you.
Is Aspirin more effective than Relpax?
There is no definitive answer to this question as each person responds to medications differently. Some people find that aspirin is more effective for their migraines, while others find that Relpax works better for them. If you are experiencing side effects from Relpax, or if the medication is not relieving your migraine pain, talk to your doctor about other options. There are many effective treatments available and your doctor can help you find the one that is best for you.
