Axert

almotriptan

Axert, or almotriptan, is in a class of drugs called Triptans. It is used to relieve pain from migraines, including those that are accompanied by an aura (a set of symptoms that include visual disturbances, speech difficulties, tingling, numbness and weakness).

While side effects cannot be anticipated, some common reactions include dry mouth, headache, nausea, sleepiness, tingling or burning feeling.

In July 2006, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public heath advisory warning of a potential life-threatening problem known as serotonin syndrome, which may develop in patients who take Axert while taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, popular anti-depressants. Both types of drugs are designed to boost the levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain.

In May 2007, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, maker of Axere, updated the pill’s website to warn of its association with serotonin syndrome, mainly when taken together with selective SSRIs.

Other triptan drugs include:

• Amerge (naratriptan)
• Frova (frovatriptan)
• Imitrex (sumatriptan)
• Maxalt and Malaxt MLT (rizatriptan)
• Relpax (eletriptan)
• Zomig and Zomig ZMG (zolmitriptan)

Some SSRIs that may cause serotonin syndrome when combined with triptan drugs include:

• Celexa (citalopram)
• Fluvoxamine
• Lexapro (escitalopram)
• Paxil (paroxetine)
• Prozac (fluoxetine)
• Symbyax (olanzapine/fuloxetine)
• Zoloft (sertraline)