Relpax

eletriptan, eletriptan hydrobromide

Relpax, or eletriptan, is in a class of drugs called Triptans and is used to relieve pain from migraines.

While side effects cannot be anticipated, some common reactions include chest tightness or pressure, dizziness, dry mouth, headache, nausea, sleepiness, tingling, weakness.

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 Relpax 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 April 2007, Pfizer, maker of Relpax, updated the product’s label to include information about the development of serotonin syndrome when taking Relpax with SSRIs.

Other triptan drugs include:

• Amerge (naratriptan)
• Axert (frovatriptan)
• Imitrex (sumatriptan)
• Frova (frovatriptan)
• Maxalt (rizatriptan)
• 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)