Frovatriptan Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 26, 2024.

Applies to frovatriptan: oral tablet.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it.

Do not take this medicine if you have used other triptan or ergot-type migraine medicines within the past 24 hours. Some examples of triptan medicines are almotriptan (Axert®), eletriptan (Relpax®), naratriptan (Amerge®), sumatriptan (Imitrex®, Treximet®), or zolmitriptan (Zomig®). Some examples of ergot-type medicines are dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), ergotamine (Bellergal®, Cafergot®, Ergomar®, Wigraine®), or methysergide (Sansert®).

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine.

Check with your doctor if you have used frovatriptan and your migraine got worse or started occurring more often.

This medicine may increase your risk of having abnormal heart rhythm, heart attack, angina, or stroke. This is more likely to occur if you or a family member already has heart disease, if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or if you smoke. Call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of a heart problem, such as chest pain or discomfort, an uneven heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, pain or discomfort in the shoulders, arms, jaw, back, or neck, shortness of breath, or sweating. Call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of a stroke, such as confusion, difficulty with speaking, double vision, headaches, an inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles, an inability to speak, or slow speech.

Check with your doctor right away if you have chest discomfort, jaw or neck tightness after taking this medicine. Also, tell your doctor if you have sudden or severe abdominal or stomach pain or bloody diarrhea after using this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have blurred vision, difficulty with reading, or any other change in vision while you are using this medicine. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Using frovatriptan alone or in combination with other migraine medicines for 10 or more days per month may lead to worsening of headache. You may keep a headache diary to record the headache frequency and drug use.

Make sure your doctor knows about all the other medicines you are using. Frovatriptan may cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome when taken with some medicines. This includes medicines to treat depression, such as amitriptyline (Elavil®), citalopram (Celexa®), duloxetine (Cymbalta®), escitalopram (Lexapro®), fluoxetine (Prozac®, Sarafem®, Symbyax®), fluvoxamine (Luvox®), olanzapine (Zyprexa®), paroxetine (Paxil®), sertraline (Zoloft®), or venlafaxine (Effexor®). Check with your doctor right away if you have agitation, confusion, diarrhea, excitement while talking that is not normal, fever, overactive reflexes, poor coordination, restlessness, shivering, sweating, trembling or shaking that you cannot control, or twitching. These could be symptoms of serotonin syndrome.

Drinking alcoholic beverages can make headaches worse or cause new headaches to occur. People who suffer from severe headaches should probably avoid alcoholic beverages, especially during a headache.

Some people feel drowsy or dizzy during or after a migraine, or after taking frovatriptan to relieve a migraine. As long as you are feeling drowsy or dizzy, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

Serious side effects of frovatriptan

Along with its needed effects, frovatriptan may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking frovatriptan:

Other side effects of frovatriptan

Some side effects of frovatriptan may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to frovatriptan: oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported adverse events included dizziness, fatigue, paraesthesia, headache, and vascular flushing.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Postmarketing reports: Hypersensitivity reactions including cutaneous disorders, angioedema, and anaphylactic reactions^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Flushing, chest discomfort
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Palpitations, tachycardia, peripheral coldness, hypertension, chest pain
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Bradycardia
• Postmarketing reports: Myocardial infarction, coronary arteriospasm^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, headache, paresthesia, dysesthesia, hypoesthesia , somnolence
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysgeusia, tremor, disturbance in attention. lethargy, sedation, vertigo, involuntary muscle contractions
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Amnesia hypertonia hypotonia, hyporeflexia, movement disorder
• Postmarketing reports: Seizure^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anxiety, insomnia, confusional state, nervousness, agitation, depression, depersonalization
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Abnormal dreams, personality disorder^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Dry mouth, dyspepsia, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dysphagia, flatulence, constipation, anorexia, esophagospasm, increased salivation
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Change in bowel habits, chelitis, eructation, gastroesophageal reflux, hiccough, peptic ulcer, salivary gland pain, stomatitis, toothache, lip blister, lip pain , oral mucosal blistering, peptic ulcer, salivary gland pain^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Skeletal pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Musculoskeletal stiffness, musculoskeletal pain, pain in extremity, back pain, arthralgia^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Throat tightness
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngolaryngeal pain
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Epistasis, hiccups, hyperventilation, respiratory disorder, throat irritation^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Visual disturbance
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Eye pain, eye irritation, photophobia
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Night blindness^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Hyperhidrosis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pruritus
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Erythema, piloerection, urticaria, purpura^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, hot or cold sensation, tinnitus
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Ear pain, ear discomfort, ear disorder, ear pruritus, hyperacusis, feeling hot temperature intolerance, asthenia, sluggishness, energy increased, malaise
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Pyrexia^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased micturition frequency, polyuria
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Nocturia, renal pain, abnormal urine analysis^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dehydration, thirst
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hypoglycemia^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Lymphadenopathy^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Increased blood bilirubin^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Breast tenderness^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Frovatriptan side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer