Naratriptan
Naratriptan is a triptan medication used to treat acute migraine attacks, with or without aura, in adults.
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand
The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 4 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →
Naratriptan (Amerge) is a triptan that treats a migraine attack, with or without aura, once it starts by narrowing swollen blood vessels in the head and blocking the release of pain-triggering chemicals; it is often described as one of the gentler, slower-acting triptans and has been available as a generic for well over a decade. Most people tolerate it well, with tingling skin, nausea, dizziness or sleepiness the usual complaints. Throat or neck tightness is a known side effect, but chest pain or pressure spreading to the arm, jaw or neck is an emergency, so call 911. It is not for daily prevention and is off limits with heart disease, a past stroke or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Clinical pearls
- Do not take it within 24 hours of another triptan such as sumatriptan or rizatriptan, or an ergot such as dihydroergotamine.
- If you take an SSRI, SNRI or other antidepressant, make sure whoever prescribes naratriptan knows, because of serotonin syndrome risk.
- If the first attack you treat does not respond at all, the label says to reconsider whether it is really migraine.
- Using it, or any migraine medicine, on 10 or more days a month can make headaches more frequent.
Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Naratriptan, written from its FDA label.
What Naratriptan is used for
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Naratriptan tablets are approved for one specific purpose: treating migraine attacks as they happen.
- Acute (on-the-spot) treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults
- Should only be used when a clear diagnosis of migraine has been confirmed by a doctor
- Not indicated for preventing migraines before they start
- Not indicated for cluster headaches
- If naratriptan doesn't relieve your first migraine at all, your doctor should re-evaluate the diagnosis before you use it again
How Naratriptan works
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Naratriptan belongs to a class of drugs called triptans. It works by binding to specific serotonin receptors — known as 5-HT1B/1D receptors — found on blood vessels and nerve endings in and around the brain. During a migraine, certain blood vessels in the head widen, and nerve endings release pain-triggering chemicals (called neuropeptides). Naratriptan narrows those blood vessels back down and stops those inflammatory chemicals from being released, which addresses two key drivers of migraine pain.
Naratriptan dosage
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Naratriptan tablets are taken by mouth at the onset of a migraine. If your migraine comes back or only partially improves, you may be able to take a second dose after 4 hours — but your prescriber will tell you the exact limits for your situation. Food does not affect how naratriptan is absorbed, so you can take it with or without a meal.
- People with mild or moderate kidney or liver impairment use a lower starting dose and a lower daily maximum
- Naratriptan is contraindicated (must not be used) in severe kidney or liver impairment
- Do not treat more migraine attacks per month than your prescriber recommends — frequent use can worsen headaches
Dosing details from the FDA-approved label
From the Naratriptan prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.
- Acute treatment of migraine (recommended dose)
- 1 mg or 2.5 mg
- If the migraine returns or if the patient has only partial response, the dose may be repeated once after 4 hours
- Maximum: 5 mg in a 24-hour period
- The safety of treating an average of more than 4 migraine attacks in a 30-day period has not been established
- Mild or moderate renal or hepatic impairment
- Recommended starting dose is 1 mg
- Maximum: 2.5 mg in any 24-hour period
- Contraindicated in severe renal impairment
Read the label’s full dosing text
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Recommended dose: 1 mg or 2.5 mg. ( 2.1 ) May repeat dose after 4 hours if needed; not to exceed 5 mg in any 24- hour period. ( 2.1 ) Mild or moderate renal or hepatic impairment: recommended starting dose is 1 mg not to exceed 2.5 mg in any 24-hour period. ( 2.2 , 2.3 ) 2.1 Dosing Information The recommended dose of naratriptan tablets is 1 mg or 2.5 mg. If the migraine returns or if the patient has only partial response, the dose may be repeated once after 4 hours, for a maximum dose of 5 mg in a 24-hour period. The safety of treating an average of more than 4 migraine attacks in a 30-day period has not been established. 2.2 Dosage Adjustment in Patients With Renal Impairment Naratriptan tablets are contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance: <15 mL/min) because of decreased clearance of the drug [see Contraindications (4) , Use in Specific Populations (8.6) , Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. In patients with mild to moderate renal impairment, the maximum daily dose should not exceed 2.5 mg over a 24-hour period and a 1-mg starting dose is recommended [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6) , Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 2.3 Dosage Adjustment in Patients With Hepatic Impairment Naratriptan tablets are contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Grade C) because of decreased clearance [see Contraindications (4) , Use in Specific Populations (8.7) , Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. In patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Grade A or B), the maximum daily dose should not exceed 2.5 mg over a 24-hour period and a 1-mg starting dose is recommended [ see Use in Specific Populations (8.7) , Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →
Naratriptan side effects
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The most commonly reported side effects with naratriptan tablets include:
Common side effects
- Tingling or prickling skin sensations (paresthesias)
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness or sleepiness
- Tiredness or general feeling of being unwell
- Throat or neck discomfort, tightness, or pressure
When to get medical help
- Call 911 or get emergency help if you have chest pain, tightness, or pressure — especially pain spreading to your arm, jaw, or neck — which could signal a heart attack
- Call your doctor right away if you have sudden weakness, numbness, slurred speech, or vision changes, which could signal a stroke
- Seek immediate help for a fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat (possible serious heart rhythm problem)
- Stop taking it and get help if you develop signs of serotonin syndrome: agitation, hallucinations, rapid heart rate, high fever, muscle twitching, or coordination problems
- Get emergency help for a severe allergic reaction: hives, swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing
- Tell your doctor if you notice abdominal pain or bloody diarrhea (possible sign of bowel blood flow problems)
- Let your doctor know if your headaches are getting more frequent — using migraine medicines too often can actually worsen headaches over time (medication overuse headache)
Most of these are mild and temporary. However, chest, throat, or jaw tightness can occasionally signal a more serious cardiac issue — get evaluated promptly if you're at any risk for heart disease and you experience these sensations.
Naratriptan warnings and precautions
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- Heart risks: Naratriptan can cause coronary artery narrowing (vasospasm), and rare serious heart events — including heart attack — have occurred shortly after use, even in people with no prior heart disease. People with multiple heart risk factors need a cardiac evaluation before using it.
- Stroke and brain blood vessel events: Cerebral hemorrhage and stroke have been reported. Naratriptan must not be used by anyone with a history of stroke, TIA, or hemiplegic/basilar migraine.
- Serotonin syndrome: A dangerous buildup of serotonin activity can occur when naratriptan is combined with certain antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAO inhibitors). Symptoms include agitation, confusion, rapid heart rate, high fever, and muscle twitching — stop the medicine and seek care immediately.
- Medication overuse headache: Using migraine treatments — including triptans — too often (10 or more days per month) can make headaches more frequent and harder to treat. If this happens, stopping the overused drug (with medical guidance) is often necessary.
- Blood pressure increases: Significant blood pressure spikes, including hypertensive crisis, have been reported. Naratriptan is contraindicated in uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- Severe allergic reactions: Anaphylaxis and angioedema (dangerous swelling) have been reported. Do not take if you have a known allergy to naratriptan.
Naratriptan interactions
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Naratriptan can interact with several types of medications, some of which are contraindicated combinations:
- Other triptans (e.g., sumatriptan, rizatriptan): Do not combine within 24 hours — additive blood vessel narrowing risk
- Ergot-containing or ergot-type drugs (e.g., dihydroergotamine, methysergide): Do not use within 24 hours — risk of prolonged, dangerous vasospasm
- SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAO inhibitors (various antidepressants): Co-use raises the risk of serotonin syndrome — discuss with your doctor if you take any of these
- Oral contraceptives (birth control pills): Can increase naratriptan levels in the body — inform your prescriber
- Smoking: Increases how fast naratriptan is cleared from the body, potentially reducing its effectiveness
Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label
From the Naratriptan prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.
- Ergot-containing drugs (ergotamine-containing or ergot-type medications such as dihydroergotamine or methysergide): Ergot-containing drugs have been reported to cause prolonged vasospastic reactions, and these effects may be additive. Use within 24 hours of each other is contraindicated.
- Other 5-HT1B/1D agonists (including triptans): The risk of vasospastic reactions may be additive. Concomitant use within 24 hours of treatment with naratriptan tablets is contraindicated.
- SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, and MAO inhibitors: Cases of serotonin syndrome have been reported during co-administration of triptans and these drugs. See Warnings and Precautions (5.7).
Read the label’s full interactions text
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Ergot-Containing Drugs Ergot-containing drugs have been reported to cause prolonged vasospastic reactions. Because these effects may be additive, use of ergotamine-containing or ergot-type medications (like dihydroergotamine or methysergide) and naratriptan tablets within 24 hours of each other is contraindicated. 7.2 Other 5-HT 1 Agonists Concomitant use of other 5-HT 1B/1D agonists (including triptans) within 24 hours of treatment with naratriptan tablets is contraindicated because the risk of vasospastic reactions may be additive. 7.3 Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors and Serotonin Syndrome Cases of serotonin syndrome have been reported during co-administration of triptans and SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, and MAO inhibitors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)] .
Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.
Before taking Naratriptan
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- Anyone with coronary artery disease, history of heart attack, angina, or coronary artery vasospasm should not take naratriptan
- Anyone with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or other heart conduction disorders should not take it
- Anyone with a history of stroke, TIA, or hemiplegic or basilar migraine should not take it
- Anyone with peripheral vascular disease or ischemic bowel disease should not take it
- Anyone with uncontrolled high blood pressure should not take it
- People with severe kidney or liver impairment should not take it; those with mild or moderate impairment need dose adjustments
- Pregnant people: animal studies showed potential fetal harm — discuss risks with your doctor before using
- Breastfeeding: it is unknown whether naratriptan passes into human milk — weigh benefits and risks with your doctor
- Children and adolescents under 18: not recommended — not proven effective in this age group
- Older adults: use with caution due to higher likelihood of reduced kidney/liver function, heart disease, and blood pressure sensitivity
Naratriptan overdose
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Taking too much naratriptan has been associated with increases in blood pressure, lightheadedness, neck tension, tiredness, loss of coordination, and potentially dangerous changes in heart activity (ischemic ECG changes). There is no specific antidote. Because naratriptan stays active in the body for several hours, monitoring should continue for at least 24 hours after an overdose or until symptoms resolve — contact Poison Control or go to an emergency room immediately.
What Naratriptan does in the body
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Naratriptan narrows blood vessels in the head (cranial vasoconstriction) and reduces the release of inflammatory pain-signaling chemicals from nerve endings in the trigeminal system — two key mechanisms behind migraine pain relief. Studies have also shown it can reduce carotid artery blood flow. Importantly, it can also cause some narrowing in the coronary (heart) arteries — a finding that underlies its contraindication in people with heart or blood vessel disease.
How your body processes Naratriptan
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After swallowing a tablet, naratriptan is well absorbed — about 70% of the dose reaches the bloodstream — with peak levels typically reached within 2 to 3 hours (slightly slower, 3 to 4 hours, during an active migraine). Food has no meaningful effect on absorption. The drug has a half-life of about 6 hours, meaning it takes roughly that long for half the dose to be cleared, and it does not build up with repeated doses. Naratriptan is broken down in the liver and eliminated mainly through the urine; reduced kidney or liver function slows clearance significantly, which is why dose limits are lower for people with those conditions.
How to store Naratriptan
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Store at 20º to 25ºC (68º to 77ºF).
Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
Supplements & herbs that interact with Naratriptan
50 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Naratriptan in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.
- Major · 8
- Moderate · 31
- Minor · 11
Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.
Naratriptan: pharmacist answers to common questions
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Naratriptan — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.
What exactly is naratriptan for, and how is it different from everyday pain relievers?
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When should I take it during a migraine — right away, or should I wait to see if it gets bad?
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I felt some tightness in my chest after taking it — should I be worried?
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Can I take naratriptan if I'm also on an antidepressant?
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I get a lot of migraines — can I use naratriptan every time one hits?
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Is naratriptan safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
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Is Naratriptan available over the counter?
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When was Naratriptan first available?
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Who makes Naratriptan?
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Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
More about Naratriptan on HelloPharmacist
Naratriptan forms and strengths (how it comes)
Naratriptan is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.
Tablet
How this form is used
- Acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults
- Not for migraine prevention or for cluster headaches
- Take by mouth at the start of a migraine attack; may repeat once after 4 hours if needed — do not exceed the maximum daily amount set by your prescriber
- Can be taken with or without food — food does not affect how the tablet works
- Patients with mild or moderate kidney or liver impairment should start at the lower dose and should not exceed a lower daily maximum — follow your prescriber's specific guidance
- Do not take more doses than prescribed; using too frequently can worsen headaches over time
Naratriptan on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands
How Naratriptan appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.
4 companies list 8 Naratriptan product records with the FDA, mostly as tablet; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1998. Brand names on the directory include Amerge; the rest are generics.
Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (5) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.
Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.
How widely Naratriptan is used (Medicaid data)
A general measure of how commonly Naratriptan is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.
Think of this as a proxy for how widely Naratriptan is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.
How commonly is Naratriptan prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Naratriptan ranks #629 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 61% of them.
Utilization by Naratriptan product
Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.
naratriptan 2.5 MG Oral Tablet Most dispensed
Summed across the 3 of 15 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 314135
naratriptan 1 MG Oral Tablet
Summed across the 2 of 14 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 311918
Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.
Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Naratriptan, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 5 of 29 listed Naratriptan NDCs with Medicaid activity.
Compare Naratriptan products
A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Naratriptan — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)
| Strength | Route | Manufacturer / Labeler | Category ⓘ | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💊Tablet | ||||
| 1 mg | Oral | Asclemed Usa Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 2.5 mg | Oral | Asclemed Usa Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1 mg | Oral | Bionpharma Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 2.5 mg | Oral | Bionpharma Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1 mg | Oral | Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 2.5 mg | Oral | Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 1 mg | Oral | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 2.5 mg | Oral | Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
Showing 8 of 8 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 8 Naratriptan NDCs →
Naratriptan side effects reported to the FDA (FAERS)
After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Naratriptan — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Naratriptan in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Naratriptan FDA approval history
How Naratriptan went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.
Source: Drugs@FDA.
Naratriptan recall history
A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.
The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Naratriptan recalls since July 2021.
✅No Naratriptan recalls on record since July 2021Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.
RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength
This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.
RxCUI 141366 1 dose form · 2 strengths
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Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 373010In current FDA listings
Look up RxCUI 141366 in the RxCUI Atlas →
RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.
Naratriptan supply and shortage status
Whether Naratriptan is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.
💵 What Naratriptan costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)
The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.
| Form | Strength | Pharmacy acquisition benchmark | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet · Oral | 1 mg | $1.78 per tablet | NDC details & price history |
| Tablet · Oral | 2.5 mg | $1.08 per tablet | NDC details & price history |
| Tablet, Film Coated · Oral | 2.5 mg | $1.08 per tablet | NDC details & price history |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.
Naratriptan brand names
Naratriptan is sold under one brand name in the FDA directory — Amerge. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.
Who makes Naratriptan: manufacturers and labelers
4 companies list Naratriptan products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Asclemed Usa Inc., Bionpharma Inc., Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.
Naratriptan drug class (RxNorm)
Naratriptan belongs to the Serotonin-1b and Serotonin-1d Receptor Agonist class.
Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.
Sources for this Naratriptan page
Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.
How this page is built
HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Asclemed Usa Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →