Ergotamine

About Ergotamine

This belongs to the group of medicines known as Ergot Alkaloids

Ergotamine is used to treat migraine headaches and some other types of throbbing headaches.

Research has shown that migraine can be caused by the swelling of blood vessels around the brain. Ergotamine eases the pain associated with migraine by narrowing these blood vessels.

Ergotamine is available combined with caffeine or other ingredients, in tablet and suppository form.

It is also sometimes known as: Cafergot. You may notice the use of either of these names on the packaging of your medicine.

Before Taking Ergotamine

Before taking Ergotamine make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• if you are pregnant, trying for a baby, or breast-feeding
• if you suffer from heart or circulatory problems
• if you suffer from liver, kidney or thyroid problems
• if you suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) or porphyria
• if you have any kind of infection
• if you experience tingling or numbness in your extremities (fingers and toes)
• if you have ever had an allergic reaction to this or any other medicine
• if you are taking any other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal or complementary medicines

How to Take Ergotamine

• Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor.

If you have been prescribed Ergotamine and caffeine suppositories

• As soon as you feel you are getting a migraine, insert ONE suppository into the rectum as directed by your doctor. If this provides no relief, ONE further suppository may be inserted into the rectum.
• Never use more than TWO suppositories in 24 hours and leave at least FOUR days before using any more Ergotamine suppositories.
• Never use more than FOUR suppositories in one week.

If you have been prescribed Ergotamine and caffeine tablets

• As soon as you feel you are getting a migraine, take ONE or TWO tablets as directed by your doctor.
• Never take more than FOUR tablets in 24 hours and leave at least FOUR days before taking any more Ergotamine tablets.
• Never take more than EIGHT tablets in one week.

IMPORTANT: If these doses provide no relief, or if migraine recurs, take further advice from our doctor or pharmacist. You should never use Ergotamine preparations more than TWICE in one month.

Getting the most from your treatment

• Never take more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you or someone else has taken an overdose of Ergotamine contact your doctor or go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital at once. Always take the container with you, if possible, even if it is empty.
• Before taking any 'over-the-counter' medicines, check with your pharmacist which medicines are safe for you to take alongside Ergotamine.
• Before having any kind of surgery, including dental or emergency treatment, or when you visit a different doctor about any other medical condition, tell the doctor, dentist or surgeon that you are taking a preparation that contains Ergotamine.
• Ergotamine is for you. Never give it to others, even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.
• Ergotamine can cause dizziness. Make sure your reactions are normal before driving, operating machinery or doing any other jobs which could be dangerous if you were not fully alert.

Can Ergotamine cause problems?

Along with their needed effects all medicines can cause unwanted symptoms. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following symptoms continue or become troublesome.

Feeling or being sick, dizziness, tummy pain, diarrhoea, muscle cramps, chest pain.

Important: If you experience numbness or tingling of the extremities (fingers and toes) do not take any more Ergotamine and contact your doctor at once.

If you experience any other worrying or troublesome symptoms, which you think may be due to this medicine, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store Ergotamine

• Keep out of reach of children.
• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct light and heat.
• Never keep out of date or unwanted medicines. Discard them safely out of the reach of children or take them to your local pharmacist who will dispose of unwanted medicines for you.

© EMIS and Cegedim Pharmacy Services Ltd 2005   Updated: 30/06/2005   

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