Prospect: information for the user
Cafergot 1 mg/100 mg tablets
Ergotamine, tartrate/caffeine
Read this prospect carefully before starting to take this medicine, as it contains important information for you.
-Keep this prospect, as you may need to read it again.
-If you have any doubts, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
-This medicine has been prescribed only to you, and you must not give it to other people even if they have the same symptoms as you, as it may harm them.
-If you experience any adverse effects, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if they do not appear in this prospect. See section 4.
1.What is Cafergot and what is it used for
2.What you need to know before starting to take Cafergot
3.How to take Cafergot
4.Possible adverse effects
5.Storage of Cafergot
6.Contents of the package and additional information
Ergotamine, the active substance of Cafergot, belongs to a group of medications known as ergot alkaloids. This substance constricts dilated blood vessels in the brain responsible for the painful sensation, thereby cutting off migraine attacks. Caffeine accelerates and increases the absorption of ergotamine in the body.
Cafergot is indicated for the treatment of acute attacks of migraine with or without "aura" (i.e., the visual, sensory, or language problems that some people experience shortly before the attack and that may also appear during and after it).
Do not take Cafergot
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before starting to take Cafergot.
Patients with mild or moderate liver dysfunction should be monitored (by their doctor).
Children and adolescents
Cafergot is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years old.
Use in the elderly
As this medication contains ergotamine, caution is recommended in this type of patient, as they are more susceptible to vascular disease that reduces blood flow to arms and legs and, therefore, to experiencing the adverse events of reduced blood flow to arms and legs that young adults experience. The risk of reduced blood flow to the heart is also higher in older people.
Cafergot use with other medications
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently, or may need to take any other medication. The administration of macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin, clarithromycin), tetracycline (antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections), HIV treatment medications (e.g. ritonavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, delavirdine, saquinavir, atazanavir, and efavirenz), or antifungal medications (e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole) with Cafergot may cause a lack of blood flow as they increase ergotamine levels in the blood. Other medications that may cause interactions are: medications for heart disease and high blood pressure such as propranolol, other preparations containing ergot alkaloids, nicotine (e.g. excessive smoking), and medications for migraine such as sumatriptan.
Cafergot use with food, drinks, and alcohol
Cafergot can be taken with or without food.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility
Do not take Cafergot if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you think you may be pregnant or intend to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication.
In male rats that received the combination of ergotamine and caffeine orally, fertility was not altered.
Driving and operating machinery
Patients with a history of vertigo or other brain disorders should not drive or operate machinery. Patients should not drive a vehicle or operate machinery if they experience visual disturbances.
This medication may cause dizziness. Be aware that some symptoms, such as drowsiness, dizziness, and weakness, caused by the migraine itself, may affect the ability to drive or use machinery.
Important information about some of the components of Cafergot
It is reported to athletes that this medication contains a component that may result in a positive analytical test for doping control.
Follow exactly the administration instructions for this medication as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.
Your doctor will inform you of the duration of your treatment with Cafergot. Do not discontinue treatment without consulting your doctor.
Oral administration.
Cafergot should be taken when the first symptoms of an attack appear.
Recommended dose:
Adults
If it is the first time you take Cafergot, a recommended dose is 2 tablets. If in the first half hour the pain has not subsided, you can take another tablet. This can be repeated at half-hour intervals without exceeding the maximum daily dose.
Subsequent crises: depending on the doses needed in previous crises, the initial dose can be increased to 3 tablets. If necessary, additional doses of 1 tablet can be administered at half-hour intervals to reach the maximum dose.
Use in children and adolescents
Not recommended for use in children and adolescents (under 18 years old).
Maximum daily dose:
Adults: 6 mg of ergotamine tartrate = 6 tablets.
Maximum weekly dose:
Adults: 10 mg of ergotamine tartrate = 10 tablets.
If you take more Cafergot than you should
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately or consult the Toxicological Information Service, phone 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested. It is recommended to bring the package insert and the packaging of the medication to the healthcare professional.
The symptoms caused by Cafergot overdose are: nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, tachycardia (increased heart rate), dizziness, numbness, tingling, and pain in the fingers and toes. Respiratory frequency decrease and coma can occur.
If you forget to take Cafergot
Do not take a double dose to compensate for the missed doses.
If you interrupt treatment with Cafergot
If you have any other doubts about the use of this medication, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
Like all medicines, this medicine may cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.
If you experience any of the following side effects, consult your doctor immediately:
Other side effects:
Frequent:: May affect up to 1 in 10 people
Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting not related to migraine and abdominal pain.
Occasional:: May affect up to 1 in 100 people
Numbness and tingling of the fingers of the hands and feet, blue discoloration of the skin, diarrhea, pain and weakness in arms and legs. Blue discoloration of the skin due to poor blood circulation.
Rare:: May affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
Acceleration or slowing of heart rate, increase in blood pressure, skin rash, swelling in the face, urticaria, muscle pain, lack of pulse, and difficulty breathing, headache, dizziness, muscle spasms, ergotism (long-term poisoning effect).
Very rare:: May affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
Myocardial infarction (heart attack) or angina pectoris (chest pain), gangrene (death of body tissue due to lack of blood flow or bacterial infection).
Unknown:: The frequency cannot be estimated from available data
Endocardial fibrosis (a type of heart disorder in which the heart walls are rigid and the heart is unable to stretch and fill with blood properly), pleural fibrosis (a condition in which the tissue covering the lungs becomes thick and rigid), retroperitoneal fibrosis (a rare condition in which the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder are blocked by masses located in the back of the abdominal cavity), rectal ulcer, anal ulcer, drug-induced headache.
Reporting of side effects:
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible side effect that does not appear in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish System of Pharmacovigilance of Medicines for Human Use: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Store in the original packaging to protect from light.
Do not store at a temperature above 25°C. Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Medications should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Dispose of packaging and medications you no longer need at thelocal SIGRE collection pointat the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of packaging and medications you no longer need. By doing so, you will help protect the environment.
Composition of Cafergot
The active principles are ergotamine (DOE) tartrate 1 mg and anhydrous caffeine 100 mg.
The other components of the tablet are: tartaric acid, magnesium stearate, talc, cornstarch, microcrystalline cellulose, yellow iron oxide (E172).
Appearance of the product and content of the packaging
Cafergot is presented in the form of tablets. Cafergot is available in aluminum/PVC/PVDC blister packs of 10 tablets. The groove serves only to break and facilitate swallowing but not to divide into equal parts.
Holder of the marketing authorization and responsible for manufacturing
Holder
Amdipharm Limited
Temple Chambers,
3 Burlington Road,
Dublin 4, Ireland
Responsible for manufacturing
CENEXI 52 rue Marcel et Jacques Gaucher (Fontenay Sous Bois) - 94120 - France
You can request more information about this medication by contacting the local representative of the holder of the marketing authorization:
Local Representative
Ferrer Internacional, S.A.
Gran Vía Carlos III, 94
08028 – Barcelona
Review date of this leaflet: July 2022
The detailed and updated information about this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS)http://www.aemps.gob.es/
Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.