Oral sumatriptan in acute migraine.
The efficacy in acute migraine of oral sumatriptan was assessed in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover study of 61 patients (mean age 39 [SD 10] years). 41 completed treatment of four attacks, two with sumatriptan 100 mg and two with placebo. The response rate (reduction in headache from moderate or severe to mild or absent at 2 h) was 51% (45/89) with sumatriptan and 10% (9/93) with placebo (p less than 0.01); rescue medication was needed at 2 h in 41% and 88%, respectively. Of 28 patients headache-free at 24 h, 11 (39%) had recurrent headache within 24 h. There were no substantial side-effects. Thus, sumatriptan is an effective well-tolerated treatment for acute migraine attacks.
Department of Neurology, Prince Henry, Australia.
P J
PJ
Goadsby
A S
AS
Zagami
G A
GA
Donnan
G
G
Symington
M
M
Anthony
P F
PF
Bladin
J W
JW
Lance
D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018170:Sumatriptan; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007211:Indoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D018170:Sumatriptan