Ergotamine Tartrate and Prochlorperazine Edisylate

• Generic Name: ergotamine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Ergomar

Prevention or abortion of vascular headaches (e.g., migraine, cluster headaches), when used alone or in fixed combination with caffeine. Should not be used for chronic daily management of vascular headaches.

Generally not preferred for terminating acute cluster headaches; onset of action is slower than that of other therapies (e.g., sumatriptan, oxygen).

Has been used for short-term (e.g., up to 3 weeks) prophylaxis of episodic cluster headaches to suppress a series of attacks and reduce duration of cluster period. Prophylactic administration at bedtime may be particularly useful in selected patients with nocturnal cluster attacks.

Ineffective in the treatment of muscle contraction headaches.

• Generic Name: prochlorperazine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Compazine, Compro

Symptomatic management of psychotic disorders (i.e., schizophrenia).

Short-term management of nonpsychotic anxiety.

Efficacy established in patients with generalized anxiety disorder; not established whether prochlorperazine is useful for the management of other nonpsychotic conditions in which anxiety or manifestations that mimic anxiety are evident (e.g., physical illness, organic mental conditions, agitated depression, character pathologies).

Because of the risks of toxicity, use only as an alternative to other less toxic anxiolytic agents (e.g., benzodiazepines) in most patients.

Management of severe nausea and vomiting of various etiologies (e.g., postoperative, acute migraine, toxins, radiation, or cytotoxic drugs).

Not effective in preventing vertigo or motion sickness, or for the management of emesis caused by the action of drugs on the nodose ganglion or locally on the GI tract.

Use not recommended for the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy except in cases of severe nausea and vomiting so serious and intractable that pharmacologic intervention is required and the potential benefits justify the possible risks to the fetus. (See Fetal/Neonatal Morbidity under Cautions.)

Has not been shown to be effective for the management of behavioral complications in patients with mental retardation.