Paula, they may be other ergot derived drugs. I used to take ergotamine for migraines that I used to get. Thank god those days are over. It may be other migraine medicines too:
5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and the initiation of migraine: new perspectives
1994
Abstract
The hypothesis that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) acting through 5-HT2c receptors is a key factor in the initiation of migraine has been re-evaluated in the light of recent basic and clinical scientific developments. The key findings are that nitric oxide is an important trigger for migraine, that 5-HT2B/5-HT2C receptors are present on endothelial cells and trigger nitric oxide release when activated and that supersensitivity of the 5-HT2B/5-HT2C receptor is a neurochemical feature predisposing to headache. Taken together the data bring new perspectives to the role of 5-HT acting through 5-HT2C (or closely similar) receptors in the initiation of migraine.
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"Pathological assessment of the surgically removed valves showed noninflammatory fibrotic degeneration, hypothesized to involve the 5-HT2B serotonin receptors."
from:
Research Article
Role of COMT inhibitors and dopamine agonists in the treatment of motor fluctuations
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/c...4918/HTMLSTART
From this reference:
Severe multivalvular heart disease: A new complication of the ergot derivative dopamine agonists:
21 May 2004
Abstract
Abstract CASE REPORTS DISCUSSION References
We report on 4 new cases of valvular heart disease in Parkinson's disease patients treated with the ergot derivative dopamine agonists pergolide and cabergoline. Noninflammatory fibrotic degeneration of cardiac valves has been reported to occur in patients with carcinoid syndrome and to occasionally complicate therapies with the anti-migraine ergot alkaloid ergotamine and methysergide and with the appetite suppressants fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine. In these cases, the pathogenesis is suspected to involve serotonin-mediated abnormal fibrogenesis by means of the 5-HT2B receptors, which are expressed in the fibroblasts of heart valves. Based on strikingly similar echocardiographic and histopathological features, we strongly suspect that ergot-derived dopamine agonists may cause a valvular heart disease nearly identical to that seen in those conditions. These cases add to a rapidly growing and worrying list of similar published reports, suggesting that we may well be facing a novel, yet unrecognized, complication of this class of agents, which are widely used not only in Parkinson's disease but also in restless legs syndrome and various common endocrine dysfunctions. Therefore, until more is known about the true prevalence of this side effect, we propose that an assessment of cardiac function be performed before and in the course of a long-term therapy with ergot derivative dopamine agonists. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/c...064/HTMLSTARTW