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Relpax (eletriptan) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat acute migraine with or without aura in adults.
These insights are based on 386 comments about Relpax from MyMigraineTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of individuals and are not meant to be medical advice.
Benefits:
Considerations:
Relpax is a type of medication called a triptan. It works by acting on serotonin receptors in blood vessels and pain-related nerves in the head. This can narrow blood vessels and reduce the release of chemicals linked to migraine pain and inflammation.
In migraine, these effects may help relieve symptoms during an attack.
Doctors prescribe Relpax when adults have a clearly diagnosed migraine attack, with or without aura, and need treatment during the attack.
Relpax is given as a tablet by mouth. It is usually taken as soon as migraine starts. If the migraine does not fully go away or comes back after getting better, a second dose may be taken at least two hours after the first dose.
The recommended starting dose of Relpax for migraine is 20 milligrams or 40 milligrams taken as a single dose by mouth.
If the migraine has not gone away two hours after the first dose, or comes back after temporary improvement, a second dose may be taken at least two hours after the first dose.
The maximum single dose is 40 milligrams, and individuals should not take more than 80 milligrams in 24 hours.
This information is based on the prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.
These insights are based on 386 comments about Relpax from MyMigraineTeam members.
Members who use Relpax often say timing, side effects, and follow-up with a doctor make a big difference in how helpful the medication feels. Many also mention that cost, refill limits, and changing effectiveness over time can affect how they use it.
Take Relpax as early as possible in an attack.
“I also notice the earlier I take it the quicker it works. I take it as I feel a migraine coming on.”
Keep track of side effects and tell your doctor.
“Hi Everyone, I have been using Relpax successfully for close to 20 years. The other night, I felt the beginnings of a migraine, and I took a Relpax, and it was comfortably resolved. Two nights later, I felt it coming back, and I took a Relpax again, and within 30 minutes both of my eyelids got bright red and were swelling shut.”
Talk to your doctor if Relpax stops working as well.
“Yes, Relpax was one medication that I swore by that worked. After about two years it all of a sudden stopped working for me.”
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In clinical trials of Relpax for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults, the most common side effects occurred in at least 5 percent of people and more often than with placebo (an inactive treatment). These include:
Relpax can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:
Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.
Viatris, the manufacturer of Relpax, offers the Relpax Savings Card. Eligible people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $4 per monthly prescription fill.
People enrolled in state or federally funded insurance programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, Veterans Affairs healthcare, and some other government health programs, are not eligible for this savings offer.
The Relpax Savings Card also offers the option to receive your savings card by mail, email, or mobile text. To learn more, visit the Relpax Savings Card page or call 800-926-5334.
Before starting Relpax, your doctor may check your heart if you are new to triptan medicines and have several risk factors for heart disease. These can include older age, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, or a strong family history of coronary artery disease.
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to eletriptan or any ingredients in Relpax.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Before you take Relpax, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
Do not take Relpax if you have recently taken:
Do not take Relpax if you have:
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Relpax, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits. Eletriptan passes into breast milk; infant exposure can be minimized by avoiding breastfeeding for 24 hours after a dose.
These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.
How effective is Relpax?
In adult studies, more people had migraine pain improve two hours after taking Relpax than after taking placebo. With the 40-milligram dose, about 54 percent to 65 percent of people had pain improve from moderate or severe to mild or none at two hours.
This compared with about 19 percent to 40 percent of people who took placebo. A 20-milligram dose also worked, but more people responded to the 40-milligram dose.
Relpax also reduced nausea, light sensitivity, and sound sensitivity in people who had those symptoms when treatment started.
How long does Relpax take to work for migraine?
Relpax reaches peak blood levels about 1.5 hours after a dose in healthy adults. During a migraine attack, the median time is about two hours.
In clinical studies, headache response was measured up to two hours after taking Relpax. More people had improvement in migraine pain by two hours with Relpax compared with placebo.
Can Relpax be used with other medicines for migraine?
Relpax should not be taken within 24 hours of another triptan or an ergot-containing migraine medicine, including dihydroergotamine.
It also should not be used within at least 72 hours of certain strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, including:
Cases of serotonin syndrome have also been reported when triptans are used with:
On MyMigraineTeam, people share their experiences with migraine, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
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