Relpax Side Effects: What to Expect and When to Call Your Doctor

Relpax (eletriptan) is generally well-tolerated, but like all medications, it can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary — they tend to appear within 30–60 minutes of taking the medication and resolve on their own. A small number of patients experience more serious effects that require medical attention.

Here's a comprehensive overview of what to expect when taking eletriptan, and clear guidance on when to call your doctor or seek emergency care.

Common Side Effects of Relpax (Eletriptan)

The following side effects occurred in more than 2% of patients in placebo-controlled clinical trials. They are generally mild to moderate and short-lived:

Nausea — one of the most frequently reported effects, especially at higher doses (40mg and 80mg)

Dizziness — occurs in some patients after taking eletriptan; usually resolves within 1–2 hours

Drowsiness or somnolence — eletriptan may cause fatigue or sleepiness; avoid driving if drowsy

Dry mouth — temporary and generally mild

Weakness or asthenia — a feeling of tiredness or low energy following a dose

Tingling or flushing sensations — paresthesia (pins and needles) or warmth sensations, especially in the face, neck, or extremities

Chest pressure or tightness — a feeling of pressure, tightness, or heaviness in the chest, neck, jaw, or throat. In most cases this is non-cardiac (a benign triptan side effect) but it must be distinguished from cardiac events — see the serious side effects section below.

Serious Side Effects: When to Seek Emergency Care

Call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately if you experience:

Chest pain, tightness, or crushing pressure that lasts more than a few minutes or is severe — this may indicate a heart attack

Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, facial drooping — these are signs of stroke

Irregular heartbeat or palpitations, especially with fainting — may indicate a serious arrhythmia

Signs of serotonin syndrome: agitation, confusion, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, muscle twitching, diarrhea, high fever — especially if you are also taking SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAO inhibitors

Sudden severe abdominal pain with bloody diarrhea — may indicate intestinal or ischemic colitis

The Triptan "Feeling" — Chest Tightness Explained

Many patients experience a brief sensation of chest tightness, neck pressure, or jaw heaviness after taking eletriptan. This is a class effect of all triptans and in most healthy patients is caused by the drug's effect on serotonin receptors in the esophagus and chest muscles — not cardiac muscle. It typically lasts 5–15 minutes and resolves on its own.

However, if you have risk factors for heart disease — including smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, or family history — even mild chest symptoms after taking eletriptan should prompt a call to your doctor. Triptans are contraindicated in patients with known coronary artery disease, Prinzmetal's angina, or prior heart attack.

Medication Overuse Headache (MOH)

If you use eletriptan (or any acute migraine medication) on 10 or more days per month, the medication can paradoxically cause headaches to become more frequent and severe — a condition called medication overuse headache (MOH) or "rebound headache." If you find yourself taking eletriptan more than twice a week on average, talk to your doctor about adding a preventive therapy.

Who Should Not Take Eletriptan?

Eletriptan is contraindicated (should not be taken) if you have:

History of heart attack, coronary artery disease, or angina

History of stroke or TIA (mini-stroke)

Hemiplegic migraine or basilar migraine (subtypes with neurological symptoms)

Uncontrolled hypertension

Peripheral vascular disease

Recent use (within 72 hours) of potent CYP3A4 inhibitors like ketoconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, or nefazodone

For details on dangerous drug combinations, see our guide to Relpax drug interactions. And for a full overview of how eletriptan works and dosing, read what is Relpax.