Q I was prescribed a triptan. How often can I take it? Is it okay to take it with herbal medicine?
A Triptans should be limited to no more than 10 days a month to prevent medication-overuse headache. Interactions with herbal medicine are rare, but you must always tell your prescribing Korean Medicine doctor what medications you are taking.
Detailed Answer
Triptans are highly effective for acute migraine, but using them more than 10 times a month can lead to medication-overuse headache (MOH). Because of the risk of serotonin syndrome, caution is needed when combining them with SSRIs or SNRIs, and people with cardiovascular disease should consult a doctor before use. Reports of direct interaction between herbal medicine and triptans are rare, but you should disclose all medications you are taking when prescribed.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, when combining triptans with brain-clearing herbal medicine, our goal is to gradually reduce the number of triptan uses. In the early stage of an attack we control pain quickly with a triptan, while in everyday life we raise the attack threshold with brain-clearing herbal medicine and acupuncture, reducing the situations that require a triptan in the first place. It is safest for your Korean Medicine doctor and physician to communicate and establish a tapering plan together.
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