Uses
Lasmiditan is used to treat the symptoms of migraine headaches (severe throbbing headaches that sometimes are accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to sound and light). Lasmiditan is in a class of medications called selective serotonin receptor agonists.
Lasmiditan may work by stopping pain signals from being sent to the brain and stopping inflammation of the nerves that cause symptoms of migraine. Lasmiditan does not prevent migraine attacks or reduce the number of headaches you have.
Side Effects Of Lasmiditan
Lasmiditan may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- dizziness
- sleepiness
- numbness
- tingling feeling
- tiredness
- nausea
- vomiting
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
- hallucinations (seeing a thing or hearing voices that do not exist)
- agitation
- fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
- sweating
- trouble walking
- tight muscles
- sudden, nausea, vomiting. or diarrhea
- hives
- itching
- wheezing or difficulty breathing or swallowing
- swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
Lasmiditan may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
Warnings & Precautions
Before taking lasmiditan:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to lasmiditan, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in lasmiditan tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Silenor, Zonalon), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine; dextromethorphan (found in many cough medications; in Nuedexta); propranolol (Hemangeol, Inderal, Innopran); sedatives, sleeping pills, or tranquilizers; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Selfemra, in Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil, Pexeva), and sertraline (Zoloft); and selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle), levomilnacipran (Fetzima), and venlafaxine (Effexor). Also, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the following medications or have stopped taking them within the past two weeks: isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Ensam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with lasmiditan, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
- tell your doctor what herbal products and nutritional supplements you are taking, especially St. John’s wort and tryptophan.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had high blood pressure; slow, weak, or irregular heartbeat; or liver problems.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking lasmiditan, call your doctor.
- you should know that lasmiditan may make you drowsy. You should not drive a car or operate machinery for at least 8 hours after you take lasmiditan.
- ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking lasmiditan. Alcohol can make the side effects from lasmiditan worse.
Lasmiditan Dosage
Lasmiditan comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken at the first sign of a migraine headache. If your symptoms improve after you take lasmiditan but return within 24 hours, do not take a second tablet. You should not take more than one dose of lasmiditan in a 24-hour period. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take lasmiditan exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
If you take lasmiditan more often or for longer than the recommended period of time, your headaches may get worse or may occur more frequently. You should not take lasmiditan or any other headache medication for more than 10 days per month. Call your doctor if you need to take lasmiditan to treat more than four headaches in a 1-month period.
Lasmiditan may be habit-forming. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or take it for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor.
Other
Keep all appointments with your doctor. Your doctor may monitor your blood pressure and heart rate during your treatment with lasmiditan.
You should keep a headache diary by writing down when you have headaches and when you take lasmiditan.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Lasmiditan is a controlled substance. Prescriptions may be refilled only a limited number of times; ask your pharmacist if you have any questions.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
