ergotamine and heart valve damage

Posted By Kay on November 02, 1998 at 17:23:26:







Is there a chance of heart valve damage from use of ergotamine tartrate (cafergot suppositories?  I am a 37-year old female who takes 1/3 to 1/4 of a suppository every day to keep migraines at bay.  I know I am experiencing rebound headaches and am trying to taper off my usage.  I only take about 1 full suppository every week (sometimes 2 per week).  The maximum recommended dosage is 5 per week.  I seem to get winded easily at times.  I have had an EKG (normal) and a treadmill test (normal) and wonder if I should request an echocardiogram.  I cannot find documentation on cases of this valve damage.  However, the articles I have read on phen-fen and Redux suggest that the damaged valves resemble those of ergot-induced valvular disease.  Can you give me any advice?