Oral almotriptan: practical uses in the acute treatment of migraine

Almotriptan (Almogran, Lundbeck; Almirall Prodesfarma; Axert, Ortho-McNeil) is a novel 5-HT(1B/1D) receptor agonist (triptan) that is widely available on prescription for the acute treatment of migraine. Almotriptan has pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles that make it suitable for use in this indication. It is a potent agonist at 5-HT(1B), (1D) and (1F) receptors, while having a low affinity for other 5-HT receptors. It is also a potent inhibitor of neurogenic inflammation. Almotriptan has a high oral bioavailability, is absorbed rapidly, has a relatively short plasma half-life and its route of elimination presents few potential problems. Placebo-controlled dose-finding studies have demonstrated that almotriptan tablets are effective and well-tolerated in the acute treatment of migraine, with a 12.5 mg dose providing the best balance between efficacy and tolerability. Large placebo-controlled studies show that the efficacy of oral almotriptan is comparable with that of the other oral triptans. In direct comparator-controlled studies, almotriptan was as effective as sumatriptan 50 and 100 mg but had a superior tolerability profile. Furthermore, the efficacy and tolerability of almotriptan is sustained in the long term following open-label administration. Meta-analyses and post hoc analyses of clinical data confirm these findings. In conclusion, almotriptan 12.5 mg is a good therapeutic choice for the symptomatic treatment of acute migraine attacks.