Amerge vs. Frova

Amerge (naratriptan) and Frova (frovatriptan succinate) are headache medicines (“triptans”) used to treat migraine headaches. Amerge and Frova will only treat a headache that has already begun. Amerge and Frova will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks.

Side effects of Amerge and Frova that are similar include flushing (warmth, redness, or tingling under your skin), sensations of tingling/numbness/prickling/heat/warmth under your skin, weakness, drowsiness, tired feeling, dizziness, and pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body.

Side effects of Frova that are different from Amerge include stomach upset, dry mouth, mild headache (not a migraine), feeling too warm or too cold, bone or joint pain, and chest/jaw/neck tightness.

Both Amerge and Frova may interact with antidepressants, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, narcotics (opioids), and medicines to prevent nausea and vomiting.

Amerge may also interact with other migraine headache medicines.

Frova may also interact with propranolol, medicines for Parkinson's disease, medicines for serious infections, some herbal products, and stimulants.

Common side effects of Amerge include:

• flushing,
• sensations of tingling/numbness/prickling/heat/warmth under your skin,
• weakness,
• drowsiness,
• tired feeling,
• dizziness, or
• pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body

Common side effects of Frova include:

• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingling under the skin),
• sensations of numbness/prickling/heat under your skin,
• weakness,
• stomach upset,
• dry mouth,
• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• tired feeling,
• mild headache (not a migraine),
• feeling too warm or too cold,
• bone or joint pain,
• pressure or heavy feeling in any part of your body, or
• chest/jaw/neck tightness.

Frova may raise your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are high. Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Frova including:

• blue fingers/toes/nails,
• cold hands or feet,
• hearing changes,
• mental/mood changes,
• chest pain,
• jaw/left arm pain,
• fainting,
• fast/irregular/pounding heartbeat,
• vision changes,
• weakness on one side of the body,
• confusion,
• slurred speech,
• sudden or severe stomach/abdominal pain,
• bloody diarrhea, or
• changes in the amount of urine.

Amerge (naratriptan) is a headache medicine used to treat migraine headaches. Amerge will only treat a headache that has already begun. Amerge will not prevent headaches or reduce the number of attacks. Amerge is available in generic form.

Frova (frovatriptan succinate) is a headache medicine used to treat migraine headaches.

Amerge may interact with other migraine headache medicines, or antidepressants. Tell your doctor all medications you use. Amerge should be used only when prescribed during pregnancy. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Frova may interact with propranolol or antidepressants. Other drugs may interact with Frova. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use.

The adult dose of Amerge is 1 mg or 2.5 mg tablets taken with fluid. The dose may be repeated once after 4 hours, for a maximum dose of 5 mg in a 24-hour period.

The recommended dose is a single tablet of Frova taken orally with fluids. If the headache recurs after initial relief, a second tablet may be taken, providing there is an interval of at least 2 hours between doses. The total daily dose of Frova should not exceed 3 tablets (3 x 2.5 mg per day).