Precautions and Warnings With Frovatriptan (Cont.)

• Frovatriptan has been reported to increase the risk of a heart attack or a life-threatening change in a person's heart rhythm (arrhythmia). You should not take frovatriptan if you have heart disease or a history of a heart attack or chest pain (see Frova and Heart Problems for more information). 

If you have risk factors for heart disease (see Heart Disease Risk Factors), it is also strongly recommended that you take your first dose of frovatriptan in your healthcare provider's office so he or she can monitor your heart. You should also have your heart checked periodically while taking frovatriptan.

• In some cases, a stroke or transient ischemic attack ("mini-stroke") can be misdiagnosed as a migraine. Your healthcare provider should make sure you are not having a stroke, especially if you have never had migraines in the past (see Stroke Symptoms for more information on the symptoms of a stroke).
   
• If you have chest pain or tightness in the jaw or neck after taking frovatriptan, contact your healthcare provider immediately. These side effects are fairly common with frovatriptan and are not usually serious. However, your healthcare provider may need to make sure you are not having heart problems.
   
• Medications like frovatriptan can cause blood vessels to spasm, including in the arms, legs, or colon (large intestine). This can cause a decrease in blood flow to these areas. The symptoms will vary based on the location. For example, a spasm in the colon can lead to severe abdominal pain or bloody diarrhea.
   
• Taking frovatriptan with certain antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), can increase your risk of a dangerous group of symptoms called serotonin syndrome. Do not use frovatriptan with depression medications without first discussing it with your healthcare provider. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you have any possible symptoms of serotonin syndrome, including:

o Confusion

o Seeing or hearing things that are not really there (hallucinations)

o A fast heartbeat (tachycardia)

o Feeling faint

o Fever

o Sweating

o Muscle spasms

o Difficulty walking

o Diarrhea. 

• Frovatriptan can cause an increase in blood pressure. You should not take frovatriptan if you have untreated high blood pressure (hypertension).
   
• Frovatriptan is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that frovatriptan may not be safe for use during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider before using frovatriptan if you are pregnant (see Frova and Pregnancy for more information).
   
• It is not known if frovatriptan passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about this.
   
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have liver problems (including liver failure or cirrhosis) before taking frovatriptan. This is because frovatriptan is removed from the body through the liver. People with severe liver problems should not take frovatriptan.
   
• Frovatriptan can interact with certain medications (see Drug Interactions With Frovatriptan).