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Frovatriptan (Monograph)

Brand name: Frova
Drug class: Selective Serotonin Agonists
- Antimigraine Agents
- Selective Vascular Serotonin Type 1-Like Receptor Agonists
- 5-HT1 Agonists
VA class: CN105
Chemical name: (+)-(R)-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-3-(methylamino)-1H-carbazole-6-carboxamide butanedioate monohydrate
Molecular formula: C14H17N3O•H2O
CAS number: 158930-17-7

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Jul 21, 2023. Written by ASHP.

Introduction

Selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) type 1B and 1D receptor agonist (“triptan”).

Uses for Frovatriptan

Vascular Headaches

Acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura.

Not recommended for management of hemiplegic or basilar migraine or for prophylaxis of migraine.

Safety and efficacy not established for management of cluster headaches.

Frovatriptan Dosage and Administration

Administration

Oral Administration

Administer orally with fluids without regard to meals.

Dosage

Available as frovatriptan succinate; dosage is expressed in terms of frovatriptan.

Adults

Vascular Headaches
Migraine
Oral

2.5 mg as a single dose. Higher dosages provide no additional benefit but may increase risk of adverse effects.

If headache recurs, additional doses may be administered at intervals of ≥2 hours, up to a maximum dosage of 7.5 mg in any 24-hour period.

If patient does not respond to first dose, additional doses are unlikely to provide benefit for the same headache.

Prescribing Limits

Adults

Vascular Headaches
Migraine
Oral

Maximum 7.5 mg in any 24-hour period.

Safety of treating an average of >4 headaches per 30-day period has not been established.

Special Populations

Hepatic Impairment

No dosage adjustment required in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment; not studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment.

Cautions for Frovatriptan

Contraindications

Warnings/Precautions

Careful Diagnosis of Migraine

Use only in patients in whom a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established.

If first migraine attack treated with frovatriptan fails to respond to the drug, reconsider diagnosis before administering frovatriptan to treat subsequent attacks.

Exclude other potentially serious neurologic disorders before administering frovatriptan to patients not previously diagnosed with migraine or to those with atypical symptoms.

Cardiac Effects

Possible myocardial ischemia and/or infarction and coronary vasospasm, even in patients without a history of CAD. Contraindicated in patients with ischemic or vasospastic heart disease.

Possible fatal or life-threatening cardiac rhythm disturbances (e.g., ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation). Discontinue if such disturbances occur.

Tightness, pain, pressure, and heaviness in the precordium, throat, neck, and jaw occur frequently but usually are noncardiac in origin. Manufacturer states that patients with symptoms suggestive of angina after receiving frovatriptan should be evaluated for presence of CAD or predisposition to Prinzmetal variant angina before receiving additional doses.

Patients at Risk for CAD

Perform cardiovascular evaluation prior to initiating therapy in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., postmenopausal women; men >40 years of age; patients with risk factors such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, obesity, diabetes, family history of CAD) who have not previously received 5-HT1 receptor agonist therapy.

If evaluation provides evidence of CAD or coronary vasospasm, do not administer the drug.

If results of evaluation are satisfactory, consider administering the initial dose in a medically supervised setting followed immediately by an ECG.

Periodic cardiovascular evaluation recommended in patients with risk factors for CAD if receiving intermittent long-term therapy.

Cerebrovascular Events

Possible cerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage and stroke, sometimes fatal. (See Careful Diagnosis of Migraine under Cautions.) Discontinue therapy if a cerebrovascular event occurs.

Risk of certain cerebrovascular events (e.g., stroke, hemorrhage, TIA) may be increased in patients with migraine.

Other Vasospastic Effects

Possible noncoronary vasospastic reactions (e.g., peripheral vascular ischemia, GI ischemia and infarction with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, splenic infarction, Raynaud’s syndrome); transient or permanent blindness and partial vision loss reported in patients receiving 5-HT1 receptor agonists.

If signs or symptoms suggestive of vasospasm occur following administration, evaluate patient to rule out vasospastic reaction before administering additional doses.

Hypertensive Effects

Substantial increases in BP, including hypertensive crisis with acute impairment of organ systems, reported rarely with 5-HT1 receptor agonists in patients with or without history of hypertension; transient increases in BP observed following administration of recommended dosage of frovatriptan (2.5 mg) in geriatric patients.

Increases in mean pulmonary arterial pressure observed following administration of a 5-HT1 receptor agonist to patients with suspected CAD who were undergoing cardiac catheterization.

Serotonin Syndrome

Potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome reported in patients receiving 5-HT1 receptor agonists, particularly in those receiving SSRIs or SNRIs concomitantly. (See Specific Drugs under Interactions.) Also may occur in patients receiving MAO inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants concomitantly.

Symptoms may include mental status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile BP, hyperthermia), neuromuscular aberrations (e.g., hyperreflexia, incoordination), and/or GI symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).

If manifestations of serotonin syndrome occur, discontinue frovatriptan and any concurrently administered serotonergic agents and initiate supportive and symptomatic treatment.

Medication Overuse Headache

Overuse of drugs indicated for management of acute migraine attacks (e.g., use of 5-HT1 receptor agonists, ergotamine, opiates, or certain analgesic combinations on a regular basis for ≥10 days per month) may result in migraine-like daily headaches or a marked increase in frequency of migraine attacks.

Detoxification, including withdrawal of overused drugs; treatment of withdrawal symptoms (e.g., transient worsening of headaches); and consideration of prophylactic migraine therapy may be necessary.

Ocular Effects

Possible accumulation of frovatriptan and/or its metabolites in melanin-rich tissues (e.g., eye) over time, resulting in potential toxicity in these tissues with extended use.

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Category C.

Lactation

Distributed into milk in rats; not known whether distributed into milk in humans. Caution advised if frovatriptan is used.

Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy not established in children <18 years of age; use not recommended.

Geriatric Use

Insufficient experience in patients ≥65 years of age to determine whether they respond differently than younger adults. (See Special Populations under Pharmacokinetics.)

Hepatic Impairment

Use with caution in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment. (See Special Populations under Pharmacokinetics.)

Not studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment.

Common Adverse Effects

Dizziness, fatigue, headache, paresthesia, flushing, dry mouth, hot or cold sensation, skeletal pain, dyspepsia, chest pain, somnolence, nausea.

Drug Interactions

Appears to be metabolized principally via CYP1A2.

Does not inhibit CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, or 3A4 or MAO isoenzymes in vitro; does not induce drug metabolizing enzymes. Pharmacokinetic interaction with drugs metabolized by these isoenzymes unlikely.

Drugs Affecting Hepatic Microsomal Enzymes

Potential pharmacokinetic interaction (increased plasma frovatriptan concentrations) with concomitant use of CYP1A2 inhibitors; however, effects not considered clinically relevant.

Specific Drugs

Drug

Interaction

Comments

Antidepressants, SSRIs (e.g., citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline) or SNRIs (e.g., duloxetine, venlafaxine)

Potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome

Potential increase in blood frovatriptan concentrations with concomitant fluvoxamine administration

Observe carefully if used concomitantly, particularly during treatment initiation, dosage increases, or when another serotonergic agent is initiated

No dosage adjustment required if fluvoxamine is used concomitantly

Ergot alkaloids (e.g., ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, methysergide [no longer commercially available in the US])

Additive vasospastic effects

Use within 24 hours contraindicated

5-HT1 receptor agonists

Additive vasospastic effects

Use within 24 hours contraindicated

Oral contraceptives

Possible increased plasma concentrations of frovatriptan

No dosage adjustment required

Propranolol

Possible increased plasma concentrations of frovatriptan

No dosage adjustment required

Frovatriptan Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Bioavailability

Incompletely absorbed from GI tract; absolute bioavailability of 20 and 30% in males and females, respectively.

Peak plasma concentrations attained approximately 2–4 hours after oral administration.

Food

Food does not affect bioavailability but may delay time to peak plasma concentration by 1 hour.

Distribution

Extent

Distributes into cellular fraction of blood, principally erythrocytes (approximately 60% reversibly bound).

Animal studies indicate limited capacity to cross blood-brain barrier.

Distributed into milk in rats; not known whether distributed into milk in humans.

Plasma Protein Binding

Approximately 15%.

Elimination

Metabolism

Appears to be metabolized principally via CYP1A2 to numerous metabolites, including desmethyl frovatriptan, which exhibits lower affinity for 5-HT1B/1D receptors compared with frovatriptan.

Elimination Route

Excreted in urine (32%) and feces (62%) as unchanged drug and metabolites.

Half-life

Approximately 26 hours.

Special Populations

In patient with mild to moderate hepatic impairment, AUC is twofold higher than in healthy individuals; pharmacokinetics not studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment.

In geriatric patients, AUC is 1.5- to 2-fold higher than in younger adults; half-life and time to peak plasma concentrations unchanged.

Stability

Storage

Oral

Tablets

25°C (may be exposed to 15–30°C). Protect from moisture and light.

Actions

Advice to Patients

Preparations

Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.

Please refer to the ASHP Drug Shortages Resource Center for information on shortages of one or more of these preparations.

Frovatriptan Succinate

Routes

Dosage Forms

Strengths

Brand Names

Manufacturer

Oral

Tablets, film-coated

2.5 mg (of frovatriptan)

Frova

Endo

AHFS DI Essentials™. © Copyright 2024, Selected Revisions July 31, 2013. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

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