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Sumatriptan: a new drug for vascular headache.
1Department of Pharmacy Services, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore 21201.
Clinical Pharmacy
|November 1, 1992
Summary
Sumatriptan effectively treats migraine and cluster headaches by acting on serotonin receptors. Both subcutaneous and oral forms show superiority over placebo, with generally mild side effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Serotonin plays a role in migraine pathogenesis.
- Sumatriptan is a serotonin type-1-like-receptor agonist.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review the chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, adverse effects, and dosage of sumatriptan.
- Evaluate sumatriptan's effectiveness in treating migraine and cluster headaches.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on sumatriptan.
- Analysis of sumatriptan's pharmacological properties and clinical trial data.
Main Results:
- Sumatriptan demonstrates rapid onset and high bioavailability (subcutaneous).
- Both subcutaneous and oral sumatriptan are more effective than placebo for migraine and cluster headaches.
- Sumatriptan generally well-tolerated with mild, transient side effects, most commonly injection site pain.
Conclusions:
- Subcutaneous 6 mg and oral 100 mg sumatriptan offer a favorable benefit-to-risk ratio.
- Sumatriptan is effective for aborting moderate to severe migraine and cluster headaches.
- Further comparative studies are needed to establish sumatriptan as first-line therapy.