Migraine
Frovatriptan
Longer-acting triptan, migraine rescue
Other names: Frova
Wait
48 hours
after each dose in the FAA's migraine medication sheet and the FAA's CACI – Migraine and Chronic Headache Worksheet
Different waits apply in other cases.
Examiner
CACI: the examiner can issue when the condition's worksheet criteria are met. Applicants for first- or second-class must provide the worksheet's information annually; applicants for third-class with each required exam
FAA label
CACI ACCEPTABLE
The FAA's migraine medication sheet lists frovatriptan as CACI-acceptable migraine rescue medication with a 48-hour post-dose observation, among the triptans with a longer half-life, acceptable when used occasionally and unacceptable for daily use, and the FAA's CACI – Migraine and Chronic Headache Worksheet gives it 48 hours.
Track your medicationsCompare FAA documents: frovatriptanWhat each of the three FAA documents says, in plain wordsOpen
Wait
- 72 hours in the older copy of that worksheet (updated 08/27/2025
- the standalone worksheet is updated 08/26/2026) printed in the FAA's Migraine and Chronic Headache disposition table
The copy of that worksheet printed in the FAA's Migraine and Chronic Headache disposition table gives it 72 hours. The documents do not say the same thing; all three are quoted.
FAA rule for migraine medication: The FAA says migraine relief or rescue medication is acceptable when used occasionally and unacceptable for daily use, and that its post-dose observation time (no-fly warning) is based on the drug's half-life. It says that if several relief medications are needed on a recurring basis to stop symptoms, this is considered a complicated migraine, and the examiner should defer. For relief or rescue medication the worksheet lists, the FAA's CACI – Migraine and Chronic Headache Worksheet says the examiner can issue if the pilot meets all of its acceptable certification criteria, which include no more than one episode per month, no more than 2 outpatient clinic or urgent care visits for symptom exacerbation in the last 12 months (even if symptoms fully resolved), and no history of in-patient hospitalizations for headaches; it says narcotics, Fiorinal, Fioricet and Midrin are not acceptable for relief or rescue. FAA, Migraine Medication
Show the FAA's words: frovatriptanThe official FAA wording: three passages, each with its document and dateOpen
Post-dose observation time (no fly warning) is based on medication half-life. ACCEPTABLE when used occasionally. Unacceptable for daily use.
CACI ACCEPTABLE - Migraine Relief/Rescue Medication
Serotonin 5HT1 receptor agonist (longer half-life) [Triptan]: eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), 48 hours
Medications or treatment - Relief/Rescue
One or more of the following:
Triptans (monotherapy or with NSAID combination) 24 hour no-fly Except eletriptan (Relpax) and frovatriptan (Frova): 48 hours
Medications or treatment - Abortive
One or more of the following:
Triptans (monotherapy or with NSAID combination) 24 hour no-fly Except eletriptan (Relpax) and frovatriptan (Frova): 72 hours