What is dihydroergotamine nasal?
Dihydroergotamine nasal causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels). It also
affects blood flow patterns that are associated with migraine and cluster headaches.
Dihydroergotamine nasal is used to treat migraine headaches. This medication will also
not prevent a migraine headache.
Dihydroergotamine nasal should not be used to treat a cluster headache.
Dihydroergotamine nasal may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this
medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking dihydroergotamine nasal?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to dihydroergotamine or other ergot
medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine), ergonovine
(Ergotrate), methylergonovine (Methergine), or methysergide (Sansert).
Do not use dihydroergotamine nasal if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have:
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angina (chest pain);
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a history of stroke or heart attack;
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arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries);
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uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension);
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severe liver disease;
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severe kidney disease; or
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a serious infection.
Before using dihydroergotamine nasal, tell your doctor if you are
allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
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uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension);
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heart disease or a history of heart surgery;
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high cholesterol;
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diabetes;
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if you are a woman who has had a hysterectomy or gone
through menopause;
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if you are a man over 40 years of age; or
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if you smoke or are overweight.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use
dihydroergotamine nasal, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can cause birth defects.
Do not
use
dihydroergotamine nasal if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you
become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using
this medication.
Dihydroergotamine nasal passes into breast milk and may be harmful to a nursing
infant. Dihydroergotamine nasal may also decrease milk production.
Do not
use dihydroergotamine nasal if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take dihydroergotamine nasal?
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in
larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions
on your prescription label.
Dihydroergotamine nasal will not treat a non-migraine headache. Do not use this
medication to treat a common headache that does not feel like your usual migraine headache.
This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these
directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Dihydroergotamine nasal comes in a bottle (vial) with a nasal sprayer attachment. Do not
open the vial and attach the sprayer until you are ready to use the medication. A new vial and
sprayer should be used for each new headache episode.
Use dihydroergotamine nasal at the first sign of a migraine headache.
Before using the medication, you must first prime the nasal sprayer by pumping 4 sprays
into the air. This will assure that there is enough medicine in the pump device to deliver the
correct dose when you spray it into your nose.
Use one spray in each nostril. Wait 15 minutes before using a second spray in each
nostril. If you still have migraine symptoms after using the medication a second time, call your
doctor.
Do not use more than 6 total sprays of dihydroergotamine nasal in any 24-hour
period. Do not use more than 8 total sprays of this medication over a period of 7 days.
Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same headache
symptoms you have. Dihydroergotamine nasal can be dangerous if it is used to treat headache in
a person who has not been diagnosed by a doctor as having true migraine headaches.
Store dihydroergotamine nasal at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Throw away the vial and sprayer after you finish using it to treat one headache episode.
What happens if I miss a dose of dihydroergotamine nasal?
Since dihydroergotamine nasal is used as needed, you are not likely to be on a daily
dosing schedule. Do not use more than 6 total sprays of dihydroergotamine nasal in any 24-hour
period. Do not use more than 8 total sprays of this medication over a period of 7 days.
Where can I get more information about dihydroergotamine nasal?
Your pharmacist has information about dihydroergotamine nasal written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of dihydroergotamine nasal?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor right away if you have any of these
serious side effects:
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sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
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sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech,
or balance;
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chest pain;
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weakness, pain, or swelling in one or both legs;
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fast, slow, or uneven heart rate;
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swelling or itching in any part of your body;
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muscle pain in your arms or legs;
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feeling light-headed, fainting; or
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numbness, tingling, or cold feeling in your fingers or toes.
Keep using the medication and talk with your doctor if you have any
of these less serious side effects:
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runny or stuffy nose;
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nose bleed;
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burning, pain, numbness, tingling, dryness, or other
irritation in your nose or throat;
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unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth; or
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nausea, vomiting.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What is the most important information I should know about dihydroergotamine nasal?
This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby.
Do not use if
you are pregnant.
Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you
become pregnant during treatment.
Dihydroergotamine nasal can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby.
Do not use this medication if you are breast-feeding a baby.
There are many other medicines that can cause serious medical
problems if you take them together with dihydroergotamine nasal.
Tell your doctor
about all the 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. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and
show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.
What should I avoid while taking dihydroergotamine nasal?
Do not use another migraine headache medicine within 24 hours before or after using
dihydroergotamine nasal. This includes almotriptan (Axert), sumatriptan (Imitrex), zolmitriptan
(Zomig), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or naratriptan (Amerge).
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with dihydroergotamine nasal and lead to
potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not
increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your
doctor.
What other drugs will affect dihydroergotamine nasal?
There are many other medicines that can cause serious medical
problems if you take them together with dihydroergotamine nasal.
Tell your doctor
about all the 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. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and
show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.
Before using dihydroergotamine nasal, tell your doctor if you are using any of the
following drugs:
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cold or allergy medications;
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amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);
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cimetidine (Tagamet);
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ciprofloxacin (Cipro);
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cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);
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metronidazole (Flagyl, Protostat);
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nicotine (Nicoderm, Nicorette);
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sibutramine (Meridia);
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zileuton (Zyflo);
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an "SSRI" antidepressant such citalopram (Celexa),
fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), nefazodone (Serzone), sertraline (Zoloft), or
paroxetine (Paxil);
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antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax),
clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), itraconazole
(Sporanox), clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or troleandomycin (Tao);
-
HIV medication such as amprenavir (Agenerase),
atazanavir (Reyataz), foramprenavir (Lexiva), delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan),
nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase)
and others; or
-
heart or blood pressure medication such as acebutolol
(Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), betaxolol (Kerlone), bisoprolol (Zebeta), carteolol (Cartrol),
carvedilol (Coreg), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), esmolol (Brevibloc), labetalol
(Normodyne, Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), penbutolol
(Levatol), pindolol (Visken), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), sotalol (Betapace), timolol
(Blocadren), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use
dihydroergotamine nasal, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect dihydroergotamine nasal. Tell your
doctor about all the 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.
What happens if I have an overdose of dihydroergotamine nasal?