Cafergot
Caffeine + Ergotamine
Drug Class and Mechanism of Action of Cafergot
Cafergot is a combination of caffeine and ergotamine, both of these are vasoconstrictor (constricts blood vessels). The combination acts by constricting blood vessels in the brain and thereby reducing pain in migraine headache.
Therapeutic Uses of Cafergot
Cafergot is used in the treatment of migraines, migraine variants and certain other headaches. It can also be used in other medical conditions as determined by your doctor.
Direction of use of Cafergot
Cafergot is taken as directed by your doctor as follows and consult your doctor or other health care provider if you have any doubt about how to take Cafergot:
- It can be taken on full stomach or on empty stomach.
- It is used only during attacks of migraine.
- Take it at the first sign of migraine and if there is no improvement you may have to take another dose of Cafergot as per direction of your doctor. Second dose should not be taken within 30 minutes of the first dose.
- Do not take more than 10 tablets of Cafergot in one week of migraine attack or more than 6 tablets in an attack without consulting your doctor.
- The amount of Cafergot in blood may be affected if you eat grape or grape fruit juice. You should consult your doctor if you have grape fruit in your diet.
Dose of Cafergot, if Missed
If you miss a dose of Cafergot and you have headache than take it as soon as you remember. 2 doses of Cafergot should not be taken at a time and do not take second dose within 30 minutes of the first dose.
How to Store Cafergot
Cafergot is stored at room temperature i.e. in between 68 to 77 degree F. It should be stored in a dry container away from moisture, heat, light etc. Keep it out of reach of pets and children.
More Information About Cafergot
If there is no improvement of migraine even after taking Cafergot consult your doctor. Cafergot should be used by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with anyone.
Precautions to be Taken While Taking Cafergot
Do not use Cafergot if you have any of the following medical conditions and consult your doctor:
- If you are pregnant or plan to get pregnant.
- If you are allergic to any of the ingredients of Cafergot.
- If you are on medications like azole antifungal (ketokonazole, itraconazole), HIV protease inhibitors (nelfinavir, ritonavir, indinavir, delavirdine), macrolide antibiotic (clarithromycin, erythromycin), or selective 5-HT antagonist like sumatriptan, eletriptan etc.
- If you are suffering from peripheral vascular disease, coronary heart (artery) disease, hypertension, liver problem, kidney problems, or severe infection (sepsis).
Important notes:
- Pregnancy and lactation: during pregnancy Cafergot should not be used. If you think you are pregnant, consult your doctor immediately and it should not be used during labor/delivery. Cafergot is secreted in the breast milk and you should consult your doctor about the risk to your baby if you are breast feeding.
- Safety and effectiveness of Cafergot is not established in children, so use it with extreme caution in children.
- Cafergot is not for long term daily use, so do not exceed the prescribed dose or do not take it longer than prescribed. If it is used for long duration its efficacy is reduced and side effects also increase.
- Cafergot is effective in migraine type of headache only, so do not use it in other type of headache. It is not useful in treating other types of headache.
- If you are addicted to nicotine (cigarette or other form of tobacco) consult your doctor before using Cafergot, because nicotine can increase the side effects of Cafergot.
Possible Adverse Effects
Consult your doctor if any of the common side effects are bothering you. Common side effects are nausea, vomiting, worsening of symptoms etc.
Get immediate medical help if you are suffering from any of the severe side effects:
- Blue color of the fingers or toes (due to vasoconstriction in the periphery), hallucinations, dizziness, seizure, mood changes; numbness or tingling of the hands, feet, or skin; severe or persistent nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, weak pulse, irregular heart beat, headache, leg cramp, muscle pain, generalized weakness and allergic reaction (itching, breathlessness, chest tightness, swelling of tongue, lips, face, mouth etc.)