Eletriptan: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Eletriptan is a serotonin-1b and serotonin-1d receptor agonist sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names, for migraine disorders. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Serotonin-1b and Serotonin-1d Receptor Agonist
- Treats
- Migraine Disorders
- Available as
- Tablet
- Sold as
- 2 products — Eletriptan Hydrobromide and Relpax
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
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How eletriptan is dosed
From the FDA label for Eletriptan Hydrobromide (application ANDA205152). Other eletriptan products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
The maximum recommended single dose is 40 mg. In controlled clinical trials, single doses of 20 mg and 40 mg were effective for the acute treatment of migraine in adults. A greater proportion of patients had a response following a 40 mg dose than following a 20 mg dose [see Clinical Studies (14) ] . If the migraine has not resolved by 2 hours after taking eletriptan hydrobromide tablets, or returns after transient improvement, a second dose may be administered at least 2 hours after the first dose. The maximum daily dose should not exceed 80 mg. The safety of treating an average of more than 3 migraine attacks in a 30-day period has not been established. • Single dose: 20 mg or 40 mg ( 2 ) • Maximum single dose: 40 mg ( 2 ) • May repeat dose after 2 hours if needed; not to exceed 80 mg in any 24-hour period ( 2 )
Eletriptan side effects
The following adverse reactions are described elsewhere in other sections of the prescribing information: • Myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction, and Prinzmetal’s angina [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] • Arrhythmias [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] • Chest, throat, neck, and/or jaw pain/tightness/pressure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] • Cerebrovascular events [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] • Other vasospasm reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] • Medication overuse headache [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] • Serotonin syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] • Increase in blood pressure [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] • Hypersensitivity reactions [see Contraindications (4) and Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] Most common adverse reactions (≥ 5% and > placebo) were asthenia, nausea, dizziness, and somnolence. These reactions appear to be dose-related. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Mylan at 1-877-446-3679 (1-877-4-INFO-RX) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Among 4,597 patients who…
Who shouldn’t take eletriptan
Eletriptan hydrobromide tablets are contraindicated in patients with: • Ischemic coronary artery disease (CAD) (angina pectoris, history of myocardial infarction, or documented silent ischemia) or coronary artery vasospasm, including Prinzmetal’s angina [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . • Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or arrhythmias associated with other cardiac accessory conduction pathway disorders [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . • History of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or history or current evidence of hemiplegic or basilar migraine because these patients are at a higher risk of stroke [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] . • Peripheral vascular disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] . • Ischemic bowel disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] . • Uncontrolled hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] . • Recent use (i.e., within 24 hours) of another 5-hydroxytryptamine 1 (5-HT 1 ) agonist, ergotamine-containing medication, or ergot-type medication such as dihydroergotamine (DHE) or methysergide [see Drug Interactions (7.1) ] . • Hypersensitivity to eletriptan hydrobromide tablets (angioedema and anaphylaxis seen) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] . • Recent use (i.e., within at least 72 hours) of the following potent CYP3A4 inhibitors: ketoconazole, itraconazole, nefazodone, troleandomycin, clarithromycin, ritonavir, or nelfinavir [see Drug Interactions (7.2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . • History of coronary artery disease (CAD) or coronary artery vasospasm ( 4 ) • Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or other cardiac accessory conduction pathway disorders ( 4 ) • History of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or history or current evidence of hemiplegic or basilar migraine ( 4 ) • Peripheral vascular disease ( 4 ) • Ischemic bowel disease ( 4 ) • Uncontrolled hypertension ( 4 ) • Within 24 hours of treatment with another 5-HT 1 agonist, or an ergotamine-containing medication ( 4 ) • Hypersensitivity to eletriptan hydrobromide tablets (angioedema and anaphylaxis seen) ( 4 ) • Within at least 72 hours of treatment with the following potent CYP3A4 inhibitors: ketoconazole, itraconazole, nefazodone, troleandomycin, clarithromycin, ritonavir, or nelfinavir ( 4 )
Eletriptan drug interactions
7.1 Ergot-Containing Drugs Including Other 5-HT 1B/1D Agonists Ergot-containing drugs have been reported to cause prolonged vasospastic reactions. Because these effects may be additive, use of ergotamine-containing or ergot-type medications (like dihydroergotamine [DHE] or methysergide) and eletriptan hydrobromide tablets within 24 hours of each other is contraindicated. Concomitant use of other 5-HT 1 agonists within 24 hours of eletriptan hydrobromide tablet treatment is contraindicated [see Contraindications (4) ] . 7.2 CYP3A4 Inhibitors Potent CYP3A4 inhibitors significantly increase the exposure of eletriptan hydrobromide tablets. Eletriptan hydrobromide tablets should not be used within at least 72 hours of treatment with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors [see Contraindications (4) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.3 Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors and Serotonin Syndrome Cases of serotonin syndrome have been reported during co-administration of triptans and SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs and MAO inhibitors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] .
Every eletriptan product we track (2)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 66/100 | Prescription | Tablet | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | No data | — | View → |
What eletriptan pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
| Imprint | Strength | Colour | Shape | Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B02 | 20 mg | orange | round | — |
| B119 | 40 mg | orange | round | — |
| 923 | 40 mg | brown | round | — |
| E;V | 20 mg | orange | round | — |
| E;V1 | 40 mg | orange | round | — |
| REP;20;VLE | 20 mg | orange | round | — |
| REP;40;VLE | 40 mg | orange | round | — |
| 8310;93 | 20 mg | orange | round | — |
| 8311;93 | 40 mg | orange | round | — |
Eletriptan and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for eletriptan: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadLimited information indicates that a maternal dose of eletriptan up to 80 mg daily produces low levels in milk and would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. Eletriptan has been recommended as a triptan of choice in breastfeeding. Painful, burning nipples and breast pain have been reported after doses of sumatriptan and other triptans. This has occasionally been accompanied by a decrease in milk production.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised December 15, 2025. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about eletriptan
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 458 reports naming eletriptan, and the FDA flagged 67% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- headache77 reports
- nausea55 reports
- migraine52 reports
- paraesthesia38 reports
- vomiting37 reports
- insomnia31 reports
- anxiety30 reports
- fatigue30 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean eletriptan caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
What is eletriptan?
Eletriptan Hydrobromide is a serotonin-1b and serotonin-1d receptor agonist used to treat Migraine Disorders.
What kind of drug is eletriptan?
The FDA classifies eletriptan as a serotonin-1b and serotonin-1d receptor agonist. These migraine drugs (triptans) switch on serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptors: they tighten the dilated blood vessels around the brain and quiet the trigeminal nerve pathway, blocking the release of pain-signaling molecules that drive a migraine attack. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take eletriptan with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run eletriptan against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is eletriptan sold under?
We track 2 eletriptan-containing products in the U.S.: Eletriptan Hydrobromide and Relpax. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does eletriptan come in?
Across the brands we track, eletriptan is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic eletriptan?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic eletriptan product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Eletriptan: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/eletriptan
- MLA
- “Eletriptan: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/eletriptan.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for eletriptan on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.