Efficacy, tolerability, and patient satisfaction with 50- and 100-mg sumatriptan tablets in those initially...

Both 50- and 100-mg sumatriptan tablets are effective and well tolerated in the acute treatment of migraine. However, given a choice between the 2 doses, many patients in clinical practice and clinical studies prefer the 100-mg dose.

This study was designed to assess whether patients initially dissatisfied with the efficacy of 50-mg sumatriptan tablets would be satisfied with 100-mg sumatriptan tablets.

In phase 1 of the study, triptan-naive patients with migraine (International Headache Society diagnosis) received open-label treatment of 3 migraine attacks with 50-mg sumatriptan tablets. At the end of phase 1, those who were dissatisfied with the efficacy but satisfied with the tolerability of 50-mg sumatriptan tablets entered phase 2 and were randomized in a double-blind, parallel-group fashion to receive either 50- or 100-mg sumatriptan tablets for the treatment of 3 attacks. Patients who were satisfied with the efficacy or dissatisfied with the tolerability of the 50-mg tablets in phase 1 were given the option of continuing open-label treatment with 50-mg sumatriptan tablets in phase 2. The primary end point was the percentage of patients satisfied with medication at the end of phase 2 double-blind treatment. Patient satisfaction with specific medication attributes was assessed using the Patient Perception of Migraine Questionnaire.

Seven hundred twenty-two patients were enrolled in phase 1 of the study (the intent-to-treat population), 609 of whom had evaluable satisfaction data at the end of open-label treatment. Three hundred twenty-six (54%) of these patients were satisfied with 50-mg sumatriptan tablets, whereas 283 (46%) were not satisfied. Among those who were dissatisfied, lack of efficacy was cited as the sole reason for dissatisfaction by 242 (86%). Two hundred thirty-one of those who were dissatisfied with efficacy only and wished to continue the study were randomized to double-blind treatment with either 50-mg sumatriptan tablets (n = 123; 82% female, 18% male; mean age, 37.6 years) or 100-mg sumatriptan tablets (n = 108; 86% female, 14% male; mean age, 36.0 years). The remaining 310 patients elected to continue open-label treatment with 50-mg sumatriptan tablets. At the end of double-blind treatment, 64 of 101 patients (63%) in the 100-mg group indicated that they were satisfied with treatment, compared with 55 of 113 (49%) in the 50-mg group (P = 0.031). Across the 3 attacks treated in the double-blind phase. headache relief 2 hours postdose was reported by 47% to 53% of patients in the 50-mg group and 45% to 60% of patients in the 100-mg group. The overall incidence of patients reporting > or =1 adverse event was 19% (23/123) in the 50-mg group and 22% (24/108) in the 100-mg group.

For most patients, 50 mg is the appropriate starting dose of sumatriptan tablets. In patients who experience inadequate relief with 50 mg, increasing the dose to 100 mg is an appropriate therapeutic option.