Ergotamine

Ergotamine is an ergot alkaloid used to treat acute migraine attacks. It acts on serotonin and other receptors and constricts blood vessels.

Serotonin receptor: A membrane protein that binds serotonin and triggers intracellular signaling. Ergotamine activates several serotonin receptor subtypes, including receptors involved in migraine pathways.
Migraine: A neurological disorder marked by recurrent attacks of headache and associated symptoms such as nausea or sensory sensitivity. Ergotamine is used for acute attacks of this disorder, not for routine prevention.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide antagonist: A medicine that blocks calcitonin gene-related peptide signaling to treat migraine. These drugs treat migraine without relying on ergotamine's vasoconstrictive mechanism.
Pharmacology: The study of how drugs interact with living systems and produce effects. Ergotamine's therapeutic and adverse effects arise from its actions at multiple receptors.
Claviceps purpurea: A fungus that infects rye and other grasses and produces ergot alkaloids. This species is a natural source of ergot alkaloids related to ergotamine.
5-HT1B receptor: A serotonin receptor subtype found on blood vessels and in the nervous system. Activation of this receptor contributes to ergotamine-induced cranial vasoconstriction.
Acute migraine treatment: Medicines and interventions used to relieve an ongoing migraine attack. Ergotamine is an established, though now less commonly used, option in this treatment category.
Lasmiditan: A migraine medicine that selectively activates the serotonin 5-HT1F receptor. Its non-vasoconstrictive mechanism contrasts with ergotamine's vascular effects.
Drug metabolism: The chemical transformation of drugs in the body, often by enzymes in the liver. Metabolism and interactions influence ergotamine exposure and toxicity.
Arthur Stoll: A Swiss chemist who isolated several ergot alkaloids at Sandoz. His work on ergot compounds helped establish the chemical basis for ergotamine.

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SumatriptanCompared with: It is an older vasoconstrictive migraine treatment with a different receptor profile and safety limits.