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Dihydroergotamine Injection: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

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Facts
Status:
Prescription (Rx) Boxed warning
Strength:
1 mg/mL
Brand names:
Drug class:
Active ingredient:
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Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed · About this document

Patient information: uses, side effects, how to take - Dihydroergotamine Injection

How to use the Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Injection, USP

  1. 1.

    Use Available Training Materials

    • Read and follow the instructions in the patient instruction booklet which is provided with the Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Injection, USP package before attempting to use the product.
    • If there are any questions concerning the use of your Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Injection, USP, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
  2. 2.

    Preparing for the Injection

    • Carefully examine the ampule (glass vial) of Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Injection, USP for any cracks or breaks, and the liquid for discoloration, cloudiness, or particles. If any of these defects are present, use a new ampule, make certain it is intact, and return the defective ampule to your doctor or pharmacy. Once you open an ampule, if it is not used within an hour, it should be thrown away.
  3. 3.

    Locating an Injection Site

    • Administer your subcutaneous injection in the middle of your thigh, well above the knee.
  4. 4.

    Drawing the Medication into the Syringe

    1. 1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
    2. 2. Check the dose of your medication.
    3. 3. Look to see if there is any liquid at the top of the ampule. If there is, gently flick the ampule with your finger to get all the liquid into the bottom portion of the ampule.
    4. 4.

      Hold the bottom of the ampule in one hand. Clean the ampule neck with an alcohol wipe using the other hand. To break, place the alcohol wipe around the neck of the ampule and break it open by pressing your thumb against the neck of the ampule.

    5. 5. Tilt the ampule down at a 45° angle. Insert the needle into the solution in the ampule.
    6. 6. Draw up the medication by pulling back the plunger slowly and steadily until you reach your dose.
    7. 7. Check the syringe for air bubbles. Hold it with the needle pointing upward. If there are air bubbles, tap your finger against the barrel of the syringe to get the bubbles to the top. Slowly and carefully push the plunger up so that the bubbles are pushed out through the needle and you see a drop of medication.
    8. 8. When there are no air bubbles, check the dose of the medication. If the dose is incorrect, repeat steps e, f, g, and h until you draw up the right dose.
  5. 5.

    Preparing the Injection Site

    • With a new alcohol wipe, clean the selected injection site thoroughly with a firm, circular motion from inside to outside. Wait for the injection site to dry before injecting.
  6. 6.

    Administering the Injection

    • Hold the syringe/needle in your right hand.
    • With your left hand, firmly grasp about a 1-inch fold of skin at the injection site.
    • Push the needle shaft, bevel side up, all the way into the fold of skin at a 45° to 90° angle, then release the fold of skin.
    • While holding the syringe with your left hand, use your right hand to draw back slightly on the plunger.
    • If you do not see any blood coming back into the syringe, inject the medication by pushing down on the plunger. If you do see blood in the syringe, that means the needle has penetrated a vein. If this happens, pull the needle/syringe out of the skin slightly and draw back on the plunger again. If no blood is seen this time, inject the medication
    • Use your right hand to pull the needle out of your skin quickly at the same angle you injected it. Immediately press the alcohol wipe on the injection site and rub.

Check the expiration date printed on the ampule containing medication. If the expiration date has passed, do not use it.

Answers to Patients' Questions About Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Injection, USP

What if I need help in using my Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Injection, USP?

If you have any questions or if you need help in opening, putting together, or using Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Injection, USP, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

How much medication should I use and how often?

Your doctor will have told you what dose to use for each migraine attack. Should you get another migraine attack in the same day as the attack you treated, you must not treat it with Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Injection, USP unless at least 6 hours have elapsed since your last injection. No more than 6 mL of Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Injection, USP should be injected during a 1-week period. Do not use more than this amount unless instructed to do so by your doctor. Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Injection, USP is not intended for chronic daily use.

If you have any other unanswered questions about Dihydroergotamine Mesylate Injection, USP, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Distributed by:

Milla Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,

An A.forall Company

White Bear Lake, MN 55110

Made in France

Revised: 10/2025

About this document

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed · Application number: ANDA 212046 · View the label on DailyMed

Revision date stated in the text: October 2025

Found a mistake? Write to us via the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Drug information for Dihydroergotamine Injection

Rx or OTC
Prescription (Rx)?
  • This drug is available only with a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.
  • Rx
Boxed warning Yes – this drug has a boxed warning (also called a black box warning), the strongest warning of the FDA.
Drug class Ergotamine Derivative
Active ingredient Dihydroergotamine mesylate 1 mg/mL
Dosage form Injection, solution
Route Intramuscular, Intravenous, Subcutaneous
Marketing status listed in the FDA NDC Directory
Company (applicant) MILLA PHARMS
FDA approval ANDA 212046Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) – generic drug Approved January 7, 2020
Therapeutic equivalence (TE) code APCodes starting with A mean the FDA rates the drug therapeutically equivalent to its reference drug (Orange Book).
Manufacturers 6 labelers list this drug on DailyMed
Recalls
  • November 22, 2024: Class II recall: Discoloration
Packages (NDC)
Package
1 mg/mL – 1 ml in 1 ampule / 5 in 1 carton NDC 71357-013-01
1 mg/mL – 1 ml in 1 ampule / 10 in 1 carton NDC 71357-013-01

Source: FDA drug labeling via NLM DailyMed, data as of October 31, 2026. FDA data (DailyMed, Orange Book, Drug Shortages, enforcement reports). Not a substitute for the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.