Eletriptan hydrobromide (
Relpax®) is a prescription medication that is used to treat
migraine headaches. Eletriptan will not help to prevent migraines, but it can help to treat a
migraine that has already started.
Eletriptan is made by Pfizer.
How Does Eletriptan Work?
Eletriptan is part of a class of
migraine medications called 5-HT agonists (or more commonly known as "
triptans"). During a migraine headache, some of the blood vessels in the head become dilated (wider than they usually are). Eletriptan works by narrowing these blood vessels, helping them return to their normal state. This action helps to relieve
migraine symptoms.
In studies of the medication, up to 77 percent of people with migraines had no (or mild) pain within two hours of taking eletriptan, compared to only 19 to 39.5 percent of people who did not take eletriptan.