Rizatriptan vs sumatriptan in the acute treatment of migraine. A placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study. Dutch/US Rizatriptan Study Group.
BACKGROUND
Rizatriptan (MK-462) is a new 5-hydroxytryptamine1D (serotonin1D; 5-HT1D) receptor agonist for the acute treatment of migraine that has improved pharmacokinetic properties compared with sumatriptan succinate.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and tolerability of 10-, 20-, and 40-mg doses of oral rizatriptan vs a 100-mg dose of oral sumatriptan succinate and placebo for the acute treatment of migraine.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, outpatient trial.


METHODS
Ten US and 4 Dutch investigator centers.


METHODS
Patients who had migraine with or without aura (N = 449).


METHODS
The proportion of patients whose conditions improved from severe or moderate headache immediately before dosing to mild or no headache at 2 hours after drug administration (ie, headache relief).


RESULTS
The proportion of patients with headache relief was 18% for placebo; 46% for sumatriptan; and 52% for 10-mg, 56% for 20-mg, and 67% for 40-mg rizatriptan. All differences with placebo were statistically significant (P < .001), and 40-mg rizatriptan was superior to sumatriptan (P = .01). The proportion of patients who became free of pain at 2 hours was 3% for the placebo-treated group; 22% for the sumatriptan-treated group; and 26%, 35%, and 47% for the group of patients who took the 10-, 20-, and 40-mg doses of rizatriptan, respectively (all differences with placebo, P < .005; 40-mg rizatripan vs sumatriptan, P = .001). The recurrence of headache within 24 hours was found to be equal across all treatment groups-approximately 40%. Adverse events (most commonly short-lasting mild or moderate dizziness and drowsiness) occurred more frequently after a 40-mg dose of rizatriptan was given than after the other treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
The antimigraine effect of 10- and 20-mg rizatriptan was superior to placebo, and comparable with that of 100-mg sumatriptan succinate; the efficacy of 40-mg rizatriptan was superior to that of both placebo and 100-mg sumatriptan succinate, although it was associated with a high frequency of adverse events.
Department of Neurology, Leiden University Hospital, The Netherlands.
W H
WH
Visser
G M
GM
Terwindt
S A
SA
Reines
K
K
Jiang
C R
CR
Lines
M D
MD
Ferrari
D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014363:Tryptamines
D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014230:Triazoles; D014363:Tryptamines; C093622:rizatriptan; D018170:Sumatriptan