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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development
Published on: January 26, 2018
Use of 5-HT1 agonists in pregnancy
Emily W Evans1, Kristin C Lorber
1Department of Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA, USA. eevans@ulm.edu
Sumatriptan, a serotonin 5-HT(1) agonist, appears safe for treating first-trimester migraines in pregnant women. Data on other triptans and later pregnancy stages are limited, warranting caution.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Migraine treatment during pregnancy presents challenges.
- Serotonin 5-HT(1) agonists (triptans) are used for migraine relief.
- Evaluating triptan safety in pregnancy is crucial for maternal and fetal health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and assess existing data on triptan use during pregnancy.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of serotonin 5-HT(1) agonists in pregnant individuals.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a PubMed search for English-language studies on human subjects (1990-2007).
- Included retrospective and prospective studies on pregnancy outcomes after triptan exposure.
- Contacted triptan manufacturers for pregnancy registry data.
Main Results:
- Sumatriptan, naratriptan, and rizatriptan data primarily cover first-trimester exposure.
- No significant increase in congenital malformations or adverse pregnancy outcomes observed with these triptans.
- Limited data exists for triptan use in the second and third trimesters.
Conclusions:
- Sumatriptan is a potential safe option for first-trimester migraines in pregnant women.
- Further research is needed for triptan use in later pregnancy trimesters.
- Other triptans are not currently recommended for use during pregnancy due to insufficient data.
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