Generic Name: frovatriptan (FRO va trip tin)
Brand Names: Frova
What is frovatriptan?
Frovatriptan is a headache medicine that narrows blood vessels around the brain. Frovatriptan also reduces substances in the body that can trigger headache pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other migraine symptoms.
Frovatriptan is used to treat migraine headaches. Frovatriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.
Frovatriptan should not be used to treat a common tension headache, a headache that causes loss of movement on one side of your body, or any headache that seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches. Use this medication only if your condition has been confirmed by a doctor as migraine headaches.
Frovatriptan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about frovatriptan?
You should not take this medication if you are allergic to frovatriptan, if you have any history of heart disease, or if you have coronary heart disease, angina, blood circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart, uncontrolled high blood pressure, ischemic bowel disease, a history of a heart attack or stroke, or if your headache seems to be different from your usual migraine headaches. Do not take frovatriptan within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet), zolmitriptan (Zomig), or ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Migergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), or methylergonovine (Methergine).
Before taking frovatriptan, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder, or coronary heart disease (or risk factors such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).
Also tell your doctor if you are also taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor).
Frovatriptan will only treat a headache that has already begun. It will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.
After taking a frovatriptan tablet, you must wait two (2) hours before taking a second tablet. Do not take more than three (3) frovatriptan tablets in 24 hours.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using frovatriptan?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to frovatriptan, or if you have:
coronary heart disease, angina (chest pain), blood circulation problems, lack of blood supply to the heart;
a history of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke, including "mini-stroke";
severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure;
ischemic bowel disease; or
a headache that seems different from your usual migraine headaches.
To make sure you can safely take frovatriptan, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
- liver disease;
- kidney disease;
high blood pressure, a heart rhythm disorder; or
coronary heart disease (or risk factors such as diabetes, menopause, smoking, being overweight, having high cholesterol, having a family history of coronary artery disease, being older than 40 and a man, or being a woman who has had a hysterectomy).
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether frovatriptan will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. It is not known whether frovatriptan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medicine to anyone under 18 years old.
How should I use frovatriptan?
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Overuse of migraine headache medicine can actually make your headaches worse.
Take frovatriptan as soon as you notice headache symptoms, or after an attack has already begun.
Your doctor may want to give your first dose of this medicine in a hospital or clinic setting to see if you have any serious side effects.
Take one frovatriptan tablet whole with a full glass of water.
After taking a tablet: If your headache does not completely go away, or goes away and comes back, take a second tablet two (2) hours after the first. Do not take more than three (3) frovatriptan tablets in 24 hours. If your symptoms have not improved, contact your doctor before taking any more tablets.
Contact your doctor if you have more than four headaches in one month (30 days).
If you use frovatriptan long-term, your doctor may want to check your heart function using an electrocardiograph or ECG (sometimes called an EKG), a machine that measures electrical activity of the heart. This will help your doctor determine if it is still safe for you to use this medication. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Since frovatriptan is used as needed, it does not have a daily dosing schedule. Call your doctor promptly if your symptoms do not improve after using frovatriptan.
After taking a frovatriptan tablet, you must wait two (2) hours before taking a second tablet. Do not take more than three (3) frovatriptan tablets in 24 hours.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while using frovatriptan?
Do not take frovatriptan within 24 hours before or after using another migraine headache medicine, including:
almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Treximet), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or
ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Migergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), or methylergonovine (Methergine).
Frovatriptan may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Frovatriptan side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using frovatriptan and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
feeling of pain or tightness in your jaw, neck, or throat;
chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;
sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
sudden and severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea;
numbness or tingling and a pale or blue-colored appearance in your fingers or toes; or
(if you are also taking an antidepressant) -- agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting.
Less serious side effects may include:
mild headache (not a migraine);
feeling too warm or too cold;
dry mouth, upset stomach;
bone or joint pain;
pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body;
dizziness, drowsiness, tired feeling; or
warmth, redness, or mild tingling under your skin.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Frovatriptan Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Migraine:
2.5 mg orally once with fluids. If the headache recurs after initial relief, a second 2.5 mg tablet may be administered, provided that at least 2 hours has passed between doses.
The total daily dose of frovatriptan should not exceed 3 tablets of 2.5 mg each within 24 hours.
There is no evidence that a second dose of frovatriptan is effective in patients who do not respond to a first dose of the drug for the same headache.
The safety of treating an average of more than 4 migraine attacks in a 30 day period has not been established.
What other drugs will affect frovatriptan?
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran);
an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with frovatriptan. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More frovatriptan resources
- Frovatriptan Side Effects (in more detail)
- Frovatriptan Dosage
- Frovatriptan Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Frovatriptan Drug Interactions
- Frovatriptan Support Group
- 16 Reviews for Frovatriptan - Add your own review/rating
- frovatriptan Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Frovatriptan MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Frova Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Frova Monograph (AHFS DI)
Compare frovatriptan with other medications
- Migraine
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about frovatriptan.
See also: frovatriptan side effects (in more detail)
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