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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
10:39
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Frovatriptan review
Färkkilä Markus1, Kallela Mikko
1University Hospital Helsinki, Department of Neurology, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
|November 16, 2007
Summary
Frovatriptan offers effective acute migraine treatment with a high affinity for serotonin 5HT1B-receptors. Its long half-life and favorable side effect profile make it a top choice, especially for menstrual migraine.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Frovatriptan is a triptan medication for acute migraine treatment.
- It exhibits the highest affinity for serotonin 5HT1B-receptors among triptans.
- Unique pharmacokinetic properties include a long plasma half-life (26 hours) and multiple metabolic pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of frovatriptan in acute migraine treatment.
- To compare frovatriptan with other triptans, including sumatriptan.
- To identify optimal dosing and patient populations for frovatriptan therapy.
Main Methods:
- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials for acute migraine.
- Long-term, open-label trials.
- Head-to-head comparison study with sumatriptan.
Main Results:
- Frovatriptan demonstrated efficacy and good tolerability across various doses.
- The 2.5-mg dose is recommended for optimal efficacy and safety.
- Frovatriptan showed the lowest headache recurrence rate and better tolerability than sumatriptan.
Conclusions:
- Frovatriptan is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for acute migraine.
- Its unique properties support a long duration of action and low drug interaction risk.
- Frovatriptan is particularly suitable for slowly progressing or predictable migraine attacks and is the first-choice triptan for short-term prophylaxis of menstrual migraine.
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