title: Low dose zolmitriptan as a 5-HT neuroendocrine challenge agent in humans.
abstract: The 5-HT1B/D agonist sumatriptan has been used in a number of studies as a neuroendocrine challenge agent. Whether its neuroendocrine effects are centrally mediated is unclear, however, since sumatriptan shows minimal penetration of the central nervous system. Zolmitriptan shows a greater penetration into the central nervous system than sumatriptan, and has recently been shown to be an effective challenge agent. In order to determine the neuroendocrine, temperature and side effects of a 2.5 mg oral dose of zolmitriptan, 17 healthy volunteers underwent a placebo controlled, repeated measures, double blind neuroendocrine challenge. Zolmitriptan or placebo were administered, and cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin, blood pressure and temperature, were measured over four hours after the dose of zolmitriptan. Zolmitriptan at this dose was well tolerated by all subjects, with minimal side effects and only minor effects on blood pressure. There was a significant increase in serum growth hormone after zolmitriptan compared to placebo, however there were no significant effects on cortisol, prolactin or oral temperature. The neuroendocrine effects of 2.5 mg of orally administered zolmitriptan are similar to previously reported effects of sumatriptan, with minimal side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, Houston 77030, USA. gmoeller@msi.uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bjork
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Van de Kar
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Swann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001831:Body Temperature; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D010080:Oxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D010919:Placebos; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014363:Tryptamines
chemical_list: D010080:Oxazoles; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D010919:Placebos; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014363:Tryptamines; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; C089750:zolmitriptan; D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone