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Related Experiment Videos

Sumatriptan (5-HT1B/1D-agonist) causes a transient allodynia.

M Linde1, M Elam, L Lundblad

  • 1Gothenburg Migraine Clinic, Gothenburg, Sweden. mattias.linde@neuro.gu.se

Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|November 30, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Sumatriptan, a migraine medication, can temporarily increase unpleasant sensations from light touch and lower heat pain thresholds. These effects may explain some sensory side effects of triptans.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • Triptans (5-HT1B/1D-agonists) are used for acute migraine treatment.
  • Chest and neck pain/pressure are common, yet unexplained, side effects of triptans.
  • Cutaneous allodynia is frequently reported with triptan use in migraine patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test if sumatriptan influences tactile and thermal sensory perception.
  • To investigate the cause of triptan-induced sensory side effects.

Main Methods:

  • Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study.
  • Tested 12 migraineurs with allodynia history and 12 healthy controls.
  • Assessed tactile sensibility, dynamic touch (brush), and thermal pain thresholds before and after sumatriptan/saline injection.

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Main Results:

  • Sumatriptan significantly increased unpleasantness from light touch in both groups (20 min post-injection).
  • Migraineurs experienced increased brush-evoked pain; all participants showed reduced heat pain threshold.
  • Reduced cold pain threshold observed in controls; effects diminished by 40 min.

Conclusions:

  • Sumatriptan can induce short-lasting allodynia to light touch and reduce heat/cold pain thresholds.
  • These sensory changes may explain temporary triptan side effects.
  • Findings are relevant for interpreting studies on migraine-induced allodynia.