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Wigraine (Ergotamine and Caffeine): Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Interactions, Warnings

Wigraine

Medical Reviewer: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Last updated on RxList: 3/6/2023

Drug Summary

What Is Wigraine?

Wigraine (ergotamine and caffeine) is a combination of an ergot alkaloid and a stimulant used to treat or prevent vascular headaches such as migraine headaches and cluster headaches. The brand name Wigraine is discontinued, but generic versions may be available.

What Are Side Effects of Wigraine?

Wigraine may cause serious side effects including:

  • hives,
  • difficulty breathing,
  • swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat,
  • slow, fast or irregular heartbeat,
  • numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes,
  • blue fingers, toes, or nails,
  • cold hands or feet,
  • muscle pain,
  • weakness,
  • severe stomach pain,
  • lower back pain,
  • change in the amount of urine,
  • chest, jaw or left arm pain,
  • confusion,
  • trouble speaking,
  • vision changes,
  • weakness on one side of the body, and
  • severe dizziness

Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

Common side effects of Wigraine (ergotamine and caffeine) include:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • upset stomach
  • restlessness
  • trouble sleeping
  • dizziness
  • chest pain
  • pain in the extremities
  • numbness and tingling in fingers and toes
  • temporary fast or slow heart rate
  • leg weakness
  • diarrhea
  • swelling, and
  • itching

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

  • Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
  • Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; and sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out;
  • Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

Dosage for Wigraine

The average adult dose is 2 tablets at the start of a vascular headache (migraine) attack; followed by 1 additional tablet every ½ hour if needed, up to 6 tablets per attack. Total weekly dosage should not exceed 10 tablets.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Wigraine?

Wigraine may interact with delavirdine, efavirenz, sibutramine, adenosine, beta blockers, cimetidine, dopamine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, metronidazole, nefazodone, zileuton, lithium, nicotine, nitrates, other ergot alkaloids, theophylline, vemurafenib, "triptan" migraine drugs, or products containing caffeine (including coffee, tea, diet aids, and other over-the-counter medications). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Wigraine During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

Wigraine may harm a fetus and must not be used during pregnancy. Men and women should use two forms of birth control (e.g., condoms, birth control pill) while taking this medication. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor. Consult your doctor to discuss birth control. This drug may pass into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Breastfeeding is not recommended while using this drug.

Additional Information

Our Wigraine (ergotamine and caffeine) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

Description for Wigraine

Wigraine (ergotamine and caffeine) ® Tablets:  Each tablet contains the following:

Ergotamine Tartrate, USP      1 mg

Caffeine, USP      100 mg

Each tablet also contains: Lactose, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Corn Starch, Glycerin, Acacia Powder, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, and Purified Water as inactive ingredients.

Wigraine (ergotamine and caffeine) ® tablets are uncoated and prepared to insure rapid disintegration (by an exclusive manufacturing process) and facilitate quick absorption. Rapid onset of effect is important for the satisfactory treatment of acute attacks of vascular headaches.

Uses for Wigraine

Wigraine (ergotamine and caffeine) ® (ergotamine tartrate and caffeine tablets, USP) is indicated as therapy to abort or prevent vascular headaches such as migraine, migraine variants, or so-called histamine cephalalgia.

 

Dosage for Wigraine

Best results are obtained if the tablets are administered at the first sign of an attack.

The average adult dose is 2 tablets at the start of a vascular headache (migraine) attack; followed by 1 additional tablet every 1 / 2 hour if needed, up to 6 tablets per attack. Total weekly dosage should not exceed 10 tablets.

 

HOW SUPPLIED

Wigraine (ergotamine and caffeine) ® tablets are white tablets embossed with "ORGANON 542" on one side. They are individually foil stripped and packaged in boxes of 20's NDC #0052-0542-20 and 100's NDC #0052-0542-91.

STORAGE

Wigraine (ergotamine and caffeine) ® tablets should be stored at a maximum of 30°C (86°F).

CAUTION

Rx only

Organon Inc.
West Orange, NJ 07052

Side Effects for Wigraine

In order of decreasing severity; precordial distress and pain, muscle pains in the extremities, numbness and tingling in fingers and toes, transient tachycardia or bradycardia, vomiting, nausea, weakness in the legs, diarrhea, localized edema and itching.

 

Drug Interactions for Wigraine

No Information Provided.

Warnings for Wigraine

No Information Provided.

Precautions for Wigraine

Although signs and symptoms of ergotism rarely develop even after long term intermittent use of the orally administered drug, care should be exercised to remain within the limits of recommended dosage.

Pregnancy Category X.   See Contraindications section.

Nursing Mothers.   It is not known whether the ergotamine tartrate in Wigraine (ergotamine and caffeine) ® is excreted in human milk. Because some ergot alkaloids have been found in the milk of nursing mothers resulting in symptoms of ergotism in their children, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Pediatric Usage.   Safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.

 

Overdose Information for Wigraine

The toxic effects of an acute overdosage of Wigraine (ergotamine and caffeine) ® are due primarily to the ergotamine component. The amount of caffeine is such that its toxic effects will be overshadowed by those of ergotamine. Symptoms include vomiting, numbness, tingling, pain and cyanosis of the extremities associated with diminished or absent peripheral pulses, hypertension or hypotension, drowsiness, stupor, coma, convulsions and shock. Treatment consists of removal of the offending drug by induction of emesis, gastric lavage and catharsis. Maintenance of adequate pulmonary ventilation, correction of hypotension, and control of convulsions are important considerations. Treatment of peripheral vasospasm should consist of warmth, but not heat, and protection of the ischemic limbs. Vasodilators may be used with benefit but caution must be exercised to avoid aggravating an already existing hypotension. The LD50 limits of the various components as outlined in NIOSH 1978 Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances, published by U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare are as follows: Ergotamine Tartrate IV LD50 in rats = 80mg/Kg, Caffeine IV LD50 in rats = 105mg/Kg.

 

Contraindications for Wigraine

Wigraine (ergotamine and caffeine) ® can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant women. It can produce prolonged uterine contractions which can result in abortion. Wigraine (ergotamine and caffeine) ® is contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant. If this is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be advised of the potential hazard to the fetus.

Peripheral vascular disease, coronary heart disease, hypertension, impaired hepatic or renal function, sepsis and hypersensitivity to any of the components.

 

Clinical Pharmacology for Wigraine

Ergotamine is an alpha adrenergic blocking agent with a direct stimulating effect on the smooth muscle of peripheral and cranial blood vessels and produces depression of central vasomotor centers. The compound also has the properties of serotonin antagonism. In comparison to hydrogenated ergotamine, the adrenergic blocking actions are less pronounced and vasoconstrictive actions are greater. Caffeine, also a cranial vasoconstrictor is added to further enhance the vasoconstrictive effect without the necessity of increasing ergotamine dosage.

 

Patient Information for Wigraine

No Information Provided.

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