Ergotamine+Caffeine

When should one not use Ergotamine+Caffeine

• If you are allergic to ergotamine, caffeine, or any of the other ingredients in Ergotamine+Caffeine.
• If you are suffering from kidney or liver disease.
• If you are suffering from chest pain, coronary heart disease, or high blood pressure.
• If you are suffering from inflammation of the arteries located in the head (temporal arteritis).
• If you are suffering from a blood disorder called porphyria which affects the liver, skin, or blood.
• If you have impaired blood circulation or cramp-like pains in the leg caused by bad circulation.
• If you have an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
• If you are taking medicines used to treat bacterial infections like quinupristin, dalfopristin, azithromycin, erythromycin, or clarithromycin.
• If you are taking medicines used to treat viral infections like protease inhibitors e.g. amprenavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir, or indinavir.
• If you are taking medicines used to treat fungal infections like ketoconazole or itraconazole.
• If you are taking medicines used to treat ulcers like cimetidine. If you are not sure what these medicines are, please confirm with your doctor.
• If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding.

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Muscle pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Itching

Other General Warnings

• You are allergic to ergotamine or other ingredients of Ergotamine+Caffeine.
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• You are planning for surgery.
• You have any pre-existing medical condition such as hepatitis, anaemia, heart disease, swollen prostate gland, glaucoma etc.
• You are having problems while urinating.
• You develop cold, tingling, numbness of hands and feet.
• You are addicted to alcohol.
• You are already taking other medications like medicines for hypertension, migraine, brain-related medicines, antifungal medicines, anti-HIV medicines, etc.
• You are elderly.

How Does It Work?

• Ergotamine+Caffeine is a combination medicine containing ergotamine and caffeine as active ingredients.
• Ergotamine is a vasoconstrictor that works by constriction or narrowing the blood vessels in the head region and reducing the supply of blood to the head. This helps to ease the symptoms of migraine like headaches.
• Caffeine also has a similar effect on blood vessels, it also narrows the blood vessels, thereby reducing the blood flow. It is also said to help increase the absorption of ergotamine making it more effective.

Interactions with other medicines

• Some medicines can affect the way Ergotamine+Caffeine works or this medicine itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
• Tell your doctor about all the medicines, supplements, or herbals you are currently taking or might take to avoid any possible interactions.
• Concomitant use of this medicine with liver enzyme (CYP 3A4) inhibitors (ritonavir, nelfinavir, indinavir, amprenavir, azithromycin, erythromycin, clarithromycin) can cause acute ergot toxicity.
• This medicine should be used cautiously along with the medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats (mexiletine).
• Macrolide antibiotics (e.g. clarithromycin, erythromycin) tend to increase the concentration of Ergotamine+Caffeine in the system, thus concomitant use of macrolide antibiotics along with ergotamine containing medicines is contraindicated.
• Quinoline antibacterials such as ciprofloxacin, medicines used to treat fits (phenytoin), medicines used to treat mood disorders (fluvoxamine), medicines used to reduce alcohol addiction (disulfiram), hormonal supplements like oestrogen and progesterone may reduce the elimination of this medicine from the body.
• Other medicines used to treat brain and mood disorders increase the side effects like drowsiness and sleepiness of this medicine.
• Medicines such as atropine when used along with Ergotamine+Caffeine lead to side effects like a dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, irregular heartbeats, hot and flushed skin, and increased pressure in the eyes.
• Medicines used to treat irregular heartbeats (beta-blockers) when given along with Ergotamine+Caffeine may lead to constriction of the blood vessels.

Interactions with food items

Overdose

Missed a Dose