embolex

How long does Dihydroergotamine Mesylate and Heparin Sodium and Lidocaine Hydrochloride stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of dihydroergotamine mesylate and heparin sodium and lidocaine hydrochloride is about 9 to 13 hours, depending on the form — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. The injection label states a terminal half-life of about 9 hours after intramuscular or intravenous dosing, with a multi-exponential decline. Nasal forms read slightly longer because absorption is slower: the nasal spray label gives about 10 hours (biphasic decline) and the Atzumi nasal powder label gives an apparent half-life of about 13 hours. The major metabolite, 8'-beta-hydroxydihydroergotamine, binds adrenergic and 5-HT receptors as strongly as the parent drug and is equally potent at constricting veins, so its effects can outlast what the parent's half-life suggests — but the label explicitly says its pharmacokinetics have not been quantified, so no metabolite half-life exists in the labeling. No studies have been done on how kidney or liver impairment, age, sex, or race change these numbers; the drug is contraindicated outright in severe hepatic or renal impairment. Clearance is 1.5 L/min and mainly hepatic (excreted in bile and feces; only 6-7% of unchanged drug appears in urine), so liver disease and CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ritonavir, clarithromycin, and erythromycin are the real-world drivers of accumulation. There is no extended-release dihydroergotamine.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Injection, USP — FDA label, Clinical Pharmacology (DailyMed).

Frequently asked questions

How is Embolex rated?

pharmaranks gives Embolex a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

How much does Embolex cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $34.84 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Alphagan P — about $10.38 on the same basis.

Is there a coupon or discount for Embolex?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Embolex. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Embolex?

Embolex is marketed by Novartis. You can see Novartis's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Embolex a brand-name or generic drug?

Embolex is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Dihydroergotamine Mesylate and Heparin Sodium and Lidocaine Hydrochloride.

Is Embolex available over the counter?

No. Embolex is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Embolex come in?

Embolex is currently marketed as injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

Is Embolex FDA-registered?

Embolex is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA018885. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Embolex been recalled by the FDA?

Embolex has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Embolex safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Embolex a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.