Triptans during pregnancy
Migraine occurs above all also with young women and therefore also more frequently in the pregnancy. In the first three months of pregnancy there are some well evaluated studies on triptan application. Here no abnormalities and no increased malformation or abortion rate were found during pregnancy.
Although there are comparatively few studies on triptans in the second and third trimesters, there is no evidence of harm to the unborn child. Triptans are therefore recommended as the drug of choice for acute migraine attacks even during pregnancy. Triptans should not be used as a preventive treatment for migraine attacks. If migraines occur relatively frequently during pregnancy, a medical diagnosis should be made in any case, as high blood pressure may be the trigger for these headaches. The dosage of a triptan during pregnancy can be administered in the same way as for non-pregnant women.
Alcohol and triptans
You should not drink alcohol while taking a triptane.As with other drugs, the simultaneous intake of alcohol can lead to an altered metabolism of the drug with other effects (weaker and also stronger effects). After taking the medication, the patient should have an alcohol withdrawal period of at least 48 hours, also with regard to the headache causing it. During the period of taking a triptane, drinking alcohol should be avoided completely.
Are triptans over the counter?
Triptans are usually only available on prescription and, if prescribed by a doctor, can also be reimbursed by the statutory health insurance company. Recently, there have also been an increasing number of drugs from the triptans group that can be bought over the counter in pharmacies. One example is Formigran®, a drug containing the active ingredient naratriptan.
Naratriptan from Hexal® with the same active ingredient can be bought over the counter in pharmacies. This active ingredient belongs to the latest generation of triptans. Under the product name Dolortriptan®, the substance almotriptan is sold over the counter in pharmacies in the dosage 12.5 mg. Usually there are only a few tablets in the packages (usually only two).
If this quantity is not sufficient, a doctor should always be consulted. Before taking over-the-counter Triptan for migraine, it should first be determined whether it is a migraine headache at all. Only myalgraine and cluster headaches can be successfully treated with triptan.
If it is one of the numerous other types of headache, triptan would be ineffective. The family doctor can give initial indications as to whether it is a migraine headache or another type of headache. A completely safe diagnosis is then usually made by a specialist in neurology.
If migraine attacks occur regularly, a neurologist should always be consulted at least once. If a migraine headache occurs once or rarely, triptan should not be taken but rather an alternative painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen should be used.
