Comprehensive medication guide to Eletriptan including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$50 copay for generic eletriptan on most commercial plans (Tier 2–3); quantity limits typically apply (4–9 tablets/month); some plans require prior authorization or step therapy trial of sumatriptan first.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$300–$420 retail for generic eletriptan (6 tablets) without any discount; as low as $21–$25 with GoodRx or SingleCare coupons for a 30-day supply at the most common dosing frequency.
Medfinder Findability Score
82/100
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Eletriptan, sold under the brand name Relpax and manufactured by Pfizer, is a second-generation triptan medication used for the acute treatment of migraine headaches with or without aura in adults. It was FDA-approved in December 2002. Generic eletriptan has been available since 2017, making it significantly more affordable than the brand.
Eletriptan is taken at the first sign of a migraine to stop the attack in progress. It is not intended to prevent migraines or reduce their frequency. It comes as an oral tablet in two strengths: 20 mg and 40 mg. The 40 mg dose is the most commonly prescribed and is more effective than 20 mg based on clinical trial data.
Eletriptan is also notable for being included on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, reflecting its global recognition as a clinically important medication for migraine management.
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Eletriptan is a selective serotonin receptor agonist that works by binding with high affinity to 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, and 5-HT1F receptors in the brain and trigeminal nervous system. During a migraine, blood vessels surrounding the brain dilate and become inflamed, and the trigeminal nerve releases inflammatory peptides (including CGRP, substance P, and vasoactive intestinal peptide) that amplify pain signals.
Eletriptan addresses this through two primary actions: it activates 5-HT1B receptors on cranial blood vessel walls, causing vasoconstriction that reverses the dilation driving migraine pain; and it activates 5-HT1D receptors on trigeminal nerve endings, blocking the release of the inflammatory peptides that cause neurogenic inflammation and pain amplification.
Eletriptan reaches peak plasma concentration approximately 1.5–2 hours after an oral dose, with an absolute bioavailability of approximately 50%. It is metabolized primarily by the liver enzyme CYP3A4. The drug has no significant affinity for dopamine, adrenergic, muscarinic, or opioid receptors, making its action highly targeted to the migraine pathway.
20 mg — oral tablet
Lower starting dose; may be prescribed for patients sensitive to side effects
40 mg — oral tablet
Standard recommended dose; more effective than 20 mg in clinical trials; max single dose
Eletriptan is not on the FDA's Drug Shortage Database as of 2026, and generic versions have been manufactured by multiple companies since 2017. Overall, eletriptan is generally available at major pharmacy chains and independent pharmacies across the United States. However, some patients encounter real-world access barriers that make filling prescriptions more difficult than they should be.
The most common barriers are insurance quantity limits (typically 4–9 tablets/month), step therapy requirements that mandate prior trials of sumatriptan, and variable stocking at individual chain pharmacy locations. The 20 mg strength is less consistently stocked than 40 mg tablets. Independent pharmacies are generally more reliable for less common strengths. medfinder's findability score for eletriptan is 82 out of 100.
If you're having trouble locating eletriptan at your regular pharmacy, medfinder can call pharmacies near you to find which ones currently have it in stock. Enter your medication, dosage, and zip code to get started.
Eletriptan is not a controlled substance, so there are no DEA scheduling restrictions on who can prescribe it. Any licensed healthcare provider with prescriptive authority may prescribe eletriptan within their scope of practice.
Neurologists and headache specialists — Primary prescribers for complex or high-frequency migraine; manage acute and preventive therapy
Primary care physicians (PCPs) — Appropriate for most patients with infrequent to moderate migraines
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) — Full prescriptive authority in most states; frequently prescribe triptans
OB/GYNs and gynecologists — Often prescribe for menstrual migraine management
Emergency medicine physicians — May prescribe as a bridge for acute management
Eletriptan is available via telehealth with no DEA restrictions. Many telemedicine platforms including Nurx, Hims/Hers, and general telehealth services can evaluate patients and prescribe eletriptan during a virtual visit, typically within 24–48 hours. This makes eletriptan highly accessible even for patients without an established neurologist or headache specialist.
No. Eletriptan is not a DEA-scheduled controlled substance. It is a prescription-only medication in the United States, Canada, and Australia, but it has no special controlled substance designation. This means there are no DEA restrictions on prescribing quantity, refills, or telehealth prescribing — any licensed provider with prescriptive authority can write a prescription for eletriptan.
This also means eletriptan can be refilled as frequently as needed (subject to insurance quantity limits and prescription refills), and there are no mandatory drug testing or monitoring requirements. Patients can fill eletriptan via telehealth platforms without any special DEA considerations.
The most frequently reported side effects in clinical trials (occurring in ≥2% of patients and more often than with placebo) include:
Asthenia (weakness/fatigue) — the most commonly reported side effect
Nausea — may overlap with migraine-associated nausea
Dizziness — light-headedness in the hour after dosing
Somnolence (drowsiness) — dose-related; more common at 40 mg
Chest tightness or pressure — a class effect of triptans; usually brief and benign
Paresthesia — tingling in extremities or face
Myocardial ischemia or infarction — due to coronary vasoconstriction; seek emergency care for severe chest pain
Vasospasm — coronary or peripheral arterial narrowing
Serotonin syndrome — risk with concurrent serotonergic medications (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs)
Cerebrovascular events — stroke-like symptoms require emergency evaluation
Severe allergic reaction — anaphylaxis, angioedema, severe rash
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Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
The most widely prescribed triptan; multiple formulations (tablet, nasal spray, injection); cheapest generic available; broadly covered by insurance with fewest restrictions
Rizatriptan (Maxalt)
Fast onset of action; available as standard tablet and orally-disintegrating tablet (Maxalt MLT); widely covered by insurance as generic
Zolmitriptan (Zomig)
Available in tablet, orally-disintegrating tablet, and nasal spray forms; nasal spray useful when nausea limits oral administration
Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy)
CGRP receptor antagonist; non-vasoconstrictive; option for patients with cardiovascular contraindications to triptans; more expensive but may be covered with PA
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Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
majorPotent CYP3A4 inhibitor — significantly increases eletriptan levels. Must avoid eletriptan within 72 hours of clarithromycin.
Ketoconazole / Itraconazole
majorPotent CYP3A4 inhibitors — significantly increase eletriptan plasma levels. Contraindicated within 72 hours.
Ritonavir / Nelfinavir (HIV medications)
majorPotent CYP3A4 inhibitors. Must separate from eletriptan by at least 72 hours.
Ergotamine / Dihydroergotamine
majorAdditive vasoconstrictive effects. Do not use within 24 hours of eletriptan.
Other triptans (sumatriptan, rizatriptan, etc.)
majorAdditive vasoconstriction and cardiovascular risk. Do not use within 24 hours of eletriptan.
SSRIs / SNRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, etc.)
moderateRisk of serotonin syndrome when combined. Use with caution; monitor for agitation, tremor, rapid heart rate.
MAOIs (phenelzine, tranylcypromine)
majorSignificant serotonin syndrome risk. Do not use together.
Diltiazem / Verapamil
moderateModerate CYP3A4 inhibitors — increase eletriptan levels. Avoid for 72 hours if possible; use with caution.
St. John's Wort
moderateCYP3A4 inducer — decreases eletriptan plasma levels, potentially reducing efficacy.
Eletriptan (Relpax) is one of the most clinically effective triptans available for acute migraine treatment, with evidence suggesting superior efficacy compared to sumatriptan in head-to-head trials. Its availability as an affordable generic (as low as $21 per 6 tablets with a GoodRx coupon) has made it accessible to a broader patient population since its generic launch in 2017.
The main real-world access challenges are insurance quantity limits, step therapy requirements, and variable pharmacy stocking — not a supply shortage. Patients and providers who understand these barriers can navigate them effectively through PA documentation, discount card strategies, and multi-pharmacy searches.
If you're struggling to find eletriptan at your local pharmacy, medfinder can help. Enter your medication, dosage, and location and we'll contact pharmacies near you to find which ones have eletriptan in stock — so you can spend less time searching and more time feeling better.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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