An open study of self-administration of subcutaneous sumatriptan to treat successive attacks of acute migraine. Portuguese Sumatriptan Auto-injector Study Group.
The efficacy and safety of single doses of 6 mg sumatriptan, self-administered subcutaneously by patients using an auto-injector, for the acute treatment of up to three successive attacks of migraine was investigated in a multicentre, open, uncontrolled study in which 178 patients were enrolled. At attack 1, there was an improvement in headache (from severe or moderate to mild or no headache) in 74% of patients at 1 h, and in 82% at 2 h. The incidence of symptoms associated with migraine was decreased after sumatriptan injection. Nausea, vomiting and photo/phonophobia were reported by 72, 54, and 85% of patients, respectively, before the injection to treat attack 1, but by only 22, 12 and 27%, respectively, 2 h after the injection. Migraine recurred within 24 h in 27% of patients, but in 89% of patients was effectively treated with a further dose of 6 mg sumatriptan. Results for attacks 2 and 3 were similar. About 40% of patients experienced at least one adverse event; most of these were mild or moderate in intensity and were transient. It is concluded that 6 mg sumatriptan, self-administered using an auto-injector, is an effective and well tolerated treatment for migraine. Sumatriptan was as effective at attack 3 as at attack 1, and there was no evidence of a change in the incidence or the nature of adverse events with successive uses of the drug.
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012646:Self Administration; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018170:Sumatriptan