Ergotamine Medicines, Oral/Rectal/Inhalation

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: ergot alkaloid

Generic and brand names: ergotamine and caffeine, oral; ergotamine and caffeine, rectal; ergotamine, inhalation; ergotamine, oral; ergotamine, rectal; Cafatine; Cafergot; Cafergot; Cafetrate; Ercaf; Ergostat; Medihaler Ergotamine; Wigraine; Wigraine

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to relieve the pain of migraine headaches and other types of throbbing headaches in progress. It also helps to prevent these headaches from occurring. The medicine comes in tablets, suppositories, and aerosols.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your health care provider if you have any other illnesses. Certain conditions may affect your response to this medicine.

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking this medicine, contact your health care provider right away.

How do I use it?

Use this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes. Do not increase the dosage or use it more often than prescribed unless your health care provider approves. Taking too much of this medicine may cause serious reactions. For best results, use the medicine at the first sign of a migraine, then lie down in a dark, quiet room.

To use a suppository, remove the foil wrapper and moisten the suppository with water. If the suppository is too soft to insert easily, run cold water over it or put it in ice water until it is firm. If it is too dry or hard, moisten it with warm water. Lie on your left side and bend your right knee up toward your chest. Gently push the suppository into your rectum deep enough so that it will not come out.

What should I watch out for?

Alcohol can make headaches worse. Do not drink alcohol during migraines.

This medicine may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and can see clearly.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Chest pain, vision problems, confusion, anxiety, itchy skin, depression, strange feelings in or discoloration of fingers or toes, swelling, breathing problems, body aches, cold hands or feet, skin blisters, weakness, irregular heartbeat.

Other: Dizziness, diarrhea, nausea.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• corticosteroids (cortisone type drugs)
• digitalis, digoxin (Lanoxin), and digitoxin (Crystodigin)
• estrogens (including birth control pills)
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxazid (Marplan). Do not take an MAO inhibitor and this medicine within 14 days of each other.
• quinidine (Quinora, Quinidex, Quinaglute)
• sedatives such as phenobarbital (Solfoton), butabarbital (Butisol), and amobarbital (Amytal)
• tranquilizers such as diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), lorazepam (Ativan), and alprazolam (Xanax)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan).

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine.

Smoking cigarettes may interfere with the effectiveness of this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.