Almotriptan

Quick migraine facts

• 1 in 5 women suffer from migraines
• 1 in 15 men suffer from migraines
• Migraines last between 4 - 72 hours
• There are 190,000 migraine attacks every day in the UK
• Around 10 million people in the UK suffer from migraines

Sources: NHS England | NICE | NHS

What is Almotriptan?

Almotriptan tablets are an effective medication to help people who are suffering from migraine attacks. This medicine is often sold under the brand name Almogran.

It is only available to buy on prescription and can be taken by adults over the age of 18.

Almotriptan narrows the blood vessels in the brain, which are believed to cause migraines when they widen. This relieves the throbbing headache that comes with this condition.

What is Almotriptan used to treat?

Taking Almotriptan tablets will provide fast-acting relief from the pain associated with migraine headaches. Almotriptan belongs to a group of medicines called triptans. Triptans are specifically prescribed to relieve the pain caused by migraine headaches.

If you require additional pain relief, you can take Almotriptan alongside over the counter painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen.

How does Almotriptan work?

It is not completely understood what the cause of a migraine is, but the throbbing pain is believed to be a result of the brain's blood vessels widening. Almotriptan is a serotonin receptor agonist, meaning that it stimulates the brain's serotonin receptors, reducing the inflammatory response caused by migraines by causing the blood vessels to narrow.

It is most effective when taken at the onset of a migraine attack, but if you are not able to take it until later on during a migraine episode, it should still be effective. However, taking Almotriptan will not prevent a migraine, so you should not use the medicine for this purpose.

How to take Almotriptan

Ideally, you should take Almotriptan at the first sign of a migraine attack; but it will still provide relief if taken later into an attack.

Take one 12.5mg tablet at the onset of an attack. Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.

If your symptoms do not go away or come back, you can take a second dose after two hours.

Do not take more than two tablets in 24 hours.

If your symptoms persist, speak to your doctor.

Always read the patient information leaflet for comprehensive instructions on how your medicine should be taken. Ask your doctor if you are not sure.

Who can take Almotriptan?

Almotriptan is not a suitable treatment for everyone to take.

Do not take Almotriptan tablets if you are allergic to almotriptan or any of the other ingredients in the tablets.

If you have ever suffered from any diseases that restrict the blood supply to your heart, Almotriptan is not suitable for you. These include:

• Heart attack
• Chest pain or discomfort that happens with stress or activity
• Heart problems without any pain
• Severe high blood pressure
• Mild or moderate high blood pressure that is not controlled
• You have ever had a stroke or a reduction in blood flow to the brain
• You have ever had obstruction of the large arteries in your arms or legs
• You are already taking any other treatment for migraines, such as ergotamine or other serotonin antagonists
• You have severe liver disease

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if:

• Your headache symptoms are different to your normal migraine attacks. They may include vertigo or short-term paralysis on one side of your body
• Your type of migraine has not been diagnosed
• You are allergic to sulphonamides (antibacterial medicines that are used in the treatment of urinary tract infections)
• You suffer from severe kidney disease
• You have liver disease
• You are over the age of 65
• You are at risk of heart disease, such as having uncontrolled high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, a family history of heart disease, postmenopausal women or men over 40 years old
• You are taking antidepressants classed as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or SNRIs (serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors)

This medication is only to be taken by adults over the age of 18. It is not suitable for children.

Can you buy Almotriptan over the counter?

Almotriptan is a prescription-only medicine (POM), so you cannot buy it over the counter.

Can you buy Almotriptan online in the UK?

To buy Almotriptan online from Medicine Direct, you will first need to complete our confidential online consultation questionnaire; this is so that one of our registered prescribers can make sure Almotriptan is safe for you to take.

If you place your order by 2pm, we can offer you next day delivery on your medication.

Never buy any medicine online unless it is from a pharmacy that is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council, like Medicine Direct. Our doctors and pharmacists are all registered with the General Medical Council, meaning they can prescribe medicine just like your local GP.

Almotriptan alternatives

Many alternative medicines are available to order from our pharmacy if Almotriptan is not suitable for you. We also stock other triptan medicines, including Sumatriptan and Rizatriptan, which will work in the same way as Almotriptan to relieve your symptoms. These medicines are only available on prescription, but you can buy them from our pharmacy after filling out our questionnaire so a prescriber can review your answers.

The likes of Anadin Extra and Migraleve Pink do not need a prescription to purchase and are also available from our pharmacy after an online consultation.

You can view our full range of migraine treatments by visiting the Migraine product page on our site.