Cafatine

 
Generic Name: caffeine and ergotamine

Brands: Cafatine, Cafergot, Cafetrate, Ercaf, Migergot, Wigraine

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What is the most important information I should know about Cafatine?

· Some medications may increase the risk of dangerously decreased blood flow to the brain, heart, or extremities when taken with Cafatine. In rare but severe cases, gangrene or other serious problems can result. Some, but not all, of these medications are listed below in the section "What other drugs will affect Cafatine?". Do not take any other medications during treatment with Cafatine without first talking to your doctor.

· Contact your doctor immediately if you experience numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes, chest pain, weakness of the legs, muscle pain in the arms or legs, pain in the chest, changes in heart rate, swelling or itching.

· Do not take Cafatine if you are pregnant or if you could become pregnant during treatment. Cafatine is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that Cafatine can cause harm to an unborn baby. Cafatine can induce uterine contractions, which can result in abortion, and it can restrict blood flow to the fetus.

· Do not use more than six tablets or two suppositories per headache. Do not use more than ten tablets or five suppositories in seven days. If your symptoms are not being adequately treated, talk to your doctor.

 

What is Cafatine?

· Cafatine both cause vasoconstriction (narrowing) of arteries and veins that supply blood to the head.

· Cafatine is used to prevent and to treat vascular headaches such as migraine and migraine-like headaches.

· Cafatine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

 

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Cafatine ?

· Some medications may increase the risk of dangerously decreased blood flow to the brain, heart, or extremities when taken with Cafatine. In rare but severe cases, gangrene or other serious problems can result. Some, but not all, of these medications are listed below in the section "What other drugs will affect Cafatine?". Do not take any other medications during treatment with Cafatine without first talking to your doctor.

· Do not take Cafatine without first talking to your doctor if you have:     ·peripheral vascular disease or poor circulation;     ·arteriosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries";     ·high blood pressure;     ·heart disease;     ·liver disease;     ·kidney disease; or     ·a serious infection.

· You may not be able to take Cafatine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

· Do not take Cafatine if you are pregnant or if you could become pregnant during treatment. Cafatine is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that Cafatine can cause harm to an unborn baby. Cafatine can induce uterine contractions, which can result in abortion, and it can restrict blood flow to the fetus.

· Cafatine may pass into breast milk and harm a nursing infant. Do not take Cafatine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

 

How should I take Cafatine?

· Take Cafatine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

· Take Cafatine at the first sign of an attack.

· For the oral tablets, two tablets should be taken at the first sign of a vascular headache; followed by one additional tablet every half hour if needed, up to six tablets per attack.

· Use the rectal suppositories as directed by your doctor. One suppository should be administered at the first sign of a vascular headache; followed by one additional suppository after one hour if needed, up to two suppositories per attack.

· Do not use more than six tablets or two suppositories per headache. Do not use more than ten tablets or five suppositories in seven days. If your symptoms are not being adequately treated, talk to your doctor.

· Store Cafatine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

 

What happens if I miss a dose?

· Since Cafatine is taken on an as-needed basis, missing a dose is not usually a problem.

 

What happens if I overdose?

· Seek emergency medical attention.

· Symptoms of a Cafatine overdose include nausea, vomiting, numbness in the fingers or toes, confusion, drowsiness, convulsions, and possibly death.

 

What should I avoid while taking Cafatine?

· Do not take more than six tablets per headache. Do not take more than ten tablets in 7 days. If your symptoms are not being adequately treated, talk to your doctor.

 

What are the possible side effects of Cafatine?

· Stop taking Cafatine and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if you experience.     ·an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);     ·chest pain;     ·numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes;     ·muscle pain in the arms or legs;     ·leg weakness;     ·changes in heart rate;     ·swelling; or     ·itching.

· Other, less serious side effects may also occur. Continue to take Cafatine and talk to your doctor if you experience nausea or vomiting.

· Cafatine may be habit forming when used for long periods of time. Larger doses may be needed for headache relief, and withdrawal effects may occur when Cafatine therapy is stopped.

· Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

 

What other drugs will affect Cafatine?

· Some medications may increase the risk of dangerously decreased blood flow to the brain, heart, or extremities when taken with Cafatine. In rare but severe cases, gangrene or other serious problems can result. The following drugs should not be taken with Cafatine or should be used only under the close supervision of a doctor:     ·another medication that contains an ergot compound such as Ergomar, D.H.E., or D.H.E. Nasal;     ·another migraine headache medicine such as almotriptan (Axert), sumatriptan (Imitrex), zolmitriptan (Zomig), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or naratriptan (Amerge)--these medicines must not be taken within 24 hours of a dose of Cafatine;     ·a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), sertraline (Zoloft), or paroxetine (Paxil);     ·a beta-blocker (which are used to treat high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and other heart conditions) such as carteolol (Cartrol), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), nadolol (Corgard), pindolol (Visken), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol (Betapace), or timolol (Blocadren);     ·an HIV/AIDS medicine such as amprenavir (Agenerase), delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase);     ·the antibiotics erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E.E.S., E-Mycin, Eryc, others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);     ·the antifungals medicines itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral);     ·nefazodone (Serzone);     ·cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB); or     ·sibutramine (Meridia).

· The use of Cafatine may be dangerous if you are taking any of the drugs listed above.

· Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Cafatine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.

 

Where can I get more information?

· Your pharmacist has more information about Cafatine written for health professionals that you may read.

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