Final answer:
Triptan medications for migraines should come with advice regarding the risk of serotonin syndrome, a potentially serious health condition. Patients should be aware of its symptoms. Triptans work by constricting blood vessels, and unlike some other medications, they do not typically pose an increased risk of bleeding or require regular liver function tests.
Step-by-step explanation:
When teaching a patient about triptan medication for treating severe migraine headaches, the nurse should include information about the potential for serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur with medications affecting the body's serotonin levels, such as triptans. While triptans are effective in relieving migraine pain, it's crucial for patients to be aware of the symptoms of serotonin syndrome, which include confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Triptans work by constricting blood vessels and countering the dilation that is associated with migraine attacks. They are not associated with an increased risk of bleeding like some other medications (e.g., NSAIDs) nor do they typically require regular liver function tests unless otherwise indicated by an underlying condition or concurrent medication use. Caffeine intake is not directly related to the efficacy of triptans and should be discussed separately as it can sometimes be a migraine trigger in some individuals.