WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
RELPAX should only be used where a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established.
Myocardial Ischemia, Myocardial Infarction, and Prinzmetal's Angina
RELPAX is contraindicated in patients with ischemic or vasospastic CAD. There have been rare reports of serious cardiac adverse reactions, including acute myocardial infarction, occurring within a few hours following administration of RELPAX. Some of these reactions occurred in patients without known CAD. RELPAX may cause coronary artery vasospasm (Prinzmetal's angina), even in patients without a history of CAD.
Perform a cardiovascular evaluation in triptan-naïve patients who have multiple cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., increased age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, obesity, strong family history of CAD) prior to receiving RELPAX. Do not use RELPAX if there is evidence of CAD or coronary artery vasospasm [see Contraindications (4) ]. For patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors who have a negative cardiovascular evaluation, consider administering the first RELPAX dose in a medically-supervised setting and performing an electrocardiogram (ECG) immediately following administration of RELPAX. For such patients, consider periodic cardiovascular evaluation in intermittent long-term users of RELPAX.
Arrhythmias
Life-threatening disturbances of cardiac rhythm including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation leading to death have been reported within a few hours following the administration of 5-HT1 agonists. Discontinue RELPAX if these disturbances occur. RELPAX is contraindicated in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or arrhythmias associated with other cardiac accessory conduction pathway disorders [see Contraindications (4) ].
Chest, Throat, Neck and/or Jaw Pain/Tightness/Pressure
Sensations of tightness, pain, and pressure in the chest, throat, neck, and jaw commonly occur after treatment with RELPAX and are usually non-cardiac in origin. However, perform a cardiac evaluation if these patients are at high cardiac risk. RELPAX is contraindicated in patients with CAD or Prinzmetal's variant angina [see Contraindications (4) ].
Cerebrovascular Events
Cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and stroke have occurred in patients treated with 5-HT1 agonists, and some have resulted in fatalities. In a number of cases, it appears possible that the cerebrovascular events were primary, the 5-HT1 agonist having been administered in the incorrect belief that the symptoms experienced were a consequence of migraine, when they were not.
Before treating headaches in patients not previously diagnosed as migraineurs, and in migraineurs who present with symptoms atypical of migraine, other potentially serious neurological conditions need to be excluded. RELPAX is contraindicated in patients with a history of stroke or TIA [see Contraindications (4) ].
Other Vasospasm Reactions
RELPAX may cause non-coronary vasospastic reactions, such as peripheral vascular ischemia, gastrointestinal vascular ischemia and infarction (presenting with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea), and Raynaud's syndrome. In patients who experience symptoms or signs suggestive of a vasospastic reaction following the use of any 5-HT1 agonist, rule out a vasospastic reaction before receiving additional RELPAX doses [see Contraindications (4) ].
Medication Overuse Headache
Overuse of acute migraine drugs (e.g. ergotamine, triptans, opioids, or combination of these drugs for 10 or more days per month) may lead to exacerbation of headache (medication overuse headache). Medication overuse headache may present as migraine-like daily headaches or as a marked increase in frequency of migraine attacks. Detoxification of patients, including withdrawal of the overused acute migraine drugs and treatment of withdrawal symptoms (which often includes a transient worsening of headache) may be necessary.
Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin syndrome may occur with RELPAX, particularly during co-administration with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors [see Drug Interactions]. Serotonin syndrome symptoms may include mental status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, hyperthermia), neuromuscular aberrations (e.g., hyperreflexia, incoordination), and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). The onset of symptoms usually occurs within minutes to hours of receiving a new or a greater dose of a serotonergic medication. Discontinue RELPAX if serotonin syndrome is suspected.
Increase in Blood Pressure
Significant elevation in blood pressure, including hypertensive crisis with acute impairment of organ systems, has been reported on rare occasions in patients treated with 5-HT1 agonists, including patients without a history of hypertension. Monitor blood pressure in patients treated with RELPAX. RELPAX is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled hypertension [see Contraindications (4) ].
Anaphylactic/Anaphylactoid Reactions
There have been reports of anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid, and hypersensitivity reactions including angioedema in patients receiving RELPAX. Such reactions can be life threatening or fatal. In general, anaphylactic reactions to drugs are more likely to occur in individuals with a history of sensitivity to multiple allergens. RELPAX is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity reaction to RELPAX [see Contraindications (4) ].
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category C: There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. In reproductive toxicity studies in pregnant animals, oral administration of eletriptan was associated with developmental toxicity (decreased fetal and pup weights and an increased incidence of fetal structural abnormalities) at clinically relevant plasma exposures. RELPAX should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus
When pregnant rats were administered eletriptan during the period of organogenesis at doses of 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg/day, fetal weights were decreased and the incidences of vertebral and sternebral variations were increased at 100 mg/kg/day (approximately 12 times the maximum recommended human dose [MRHD] of 80 mg/day on a mg/m2 basis). The 30 and 100 mg/kg/day doses were also maternally toxic, as evidenced by decreased maternal body weight gain during gestation. The no-effect dose for developmental toxicity in rats was 30 mg/kg/day, which is approximately 4 times the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis.
When doses of 5, 10, or 50 mg/kg/day were given to pregnant rabbits throughout organogenesis, fetal weights were decreased at 50 mg/kg/day, which is approximately 12 times the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis. The incidences of fused sternebrae and vena cava deviations were increased at all doses. Maternal toxicity was not evident at any dose. A no-effect dose for developmental toxicity in rabbits was not established; the lowest dose tested (5 mg/kg/day) is similar to the MRHD on a mg/m2 basis.
Nursing Mothers
Eletriptan is excreted in human milk. Caution should be exercised when RELPAX is administered to a nursing woman.
Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
The efficacy of RELPAX Tablets (40 mg) in patients 11–17 was not established in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 274 adolescent migraineurs [see Clinical Studies]. Adverse reactions observed were similar in nature to those reported in clinical trials in adults. Postmarketing experience with other triptans includes a limited number of reports that describe pediatric patients who have experienced clinically serious adverse reactions that are similar in nature to those reported rarely in adults. Long-term safety of eletriptan was studied in 76 adolescent patients who received treatment for up to one year. A similar profile of adverse reactions to that of adults was observed. The long-term safety of eletriptan in pediatric patients has not been established.
Geriatric Use
Blood pressure was increased to a greater extent in elderly subjects than in young subjects. The pharmacokinetic disposition of eletriptan in the elderly is similar to that seen in younger adults [see Clinical Pharmacology]. In clinical trials, there were no apparent differences in efficacy or the incidence of adverse reactions between patients under 65 years of age and those 65 and above.
Hepatic Impairment
The effect of severe hepatic impairment on RELPAX metabolism has not been evaluated. RELPAX is not recommended for use in patients with severe hepatic impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology].
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