Naratriptan hydrochloride (
Amerge®) is a prescription medication used to treat
migraine headaches. The medication will not help to prevent migraines, but it can help to treat a
migraine that has already started.
Naratriptan is made by GlaxoSmithKline and marketed under the brand name Amerge.
How Does Naratriptan Work?
Naratriptan is part of a class of
migraine medications called 5-HT agonists (also referred to as "
triptans"). During a migraine headache, some of the blood vessels in the head become dilated (wider than they usually are). Naratriptan works by narrowing these blood vessels, helping them return to their normal state. This action helps to relieve
migraine symptoms.
In studies, 50 to 66 percent of people with migraines had no (or mild) pain within four hours of taking naratriptan tablets, compared to only 27 to 34 percent of people who did not take naratriptan.