Question

A provider considers prescribing sumatriptan for a patient experiencing a migraine headache. Before prescribing this drug, what is the most important information to obtain?

a) Is there a family history of migraines?
b) Has acetaminophen been taken in the past 3 hours?
c) Has the patient taken ergotamine in the past 24 hours?
d) Is the patient allergic to sulfa compounds?

Answer 1

The key information to ascertain before prescribing sumatriptan is whether the patient has taken ergotamine in the past 24 hours due to the risk of additive vasoconstrictive reactions.

Therefore the correct answer is option c Has the patient taken ergotamine in the past 24 hours?

Step-by-step explanation:

The most important information to obtain before prescribing sumatriptan for a patient experiencing a migraine is whether the patient has taken ergotamine in the past 24 hours. This is crucial because the concomitant use of ergotamine and sumatriptan can lead to serious effects such as additive vasoconstrictive reactions.

Both drugs are used to treat migraines, but they must not be taken together within 24 hours of each other. While asking about family history of migraines, recent use of acetaminophen, and allergies to sulfa compounds is also important, ensuring that ergotamine has not been taken recently is paramount.