Zolmitriptan reverses blink reflex changes induced during the migraine attack in humans.
The question about the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)(1B-1D) receptors agonists, if the clinical efficacy in migraine attacks is linked with the action at the central level or at the peripheral one, is still unresolved. We evaluated the effects of zolmitriptan and sumatriptan on blink reflex in thirty migraine without aura patients during the attacks in order to assess the central action on the trigeminal system. Both drugs were effective in reducing headache severity compared to placebo. In the migraine attack an increased area of the R3 component on the pain side was observed; it was suppressed by zolmitriptan, which confirmed its action on the central trigeminal circuits, though the clinical relevance of this effect could be questioned.
de Tommaso
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Interuniversity Center for the Study of Headache and Neurotransmitter Disorders of the Central Nervous System, Perugia, Roma, Sassari, Bari, Napoli, Firenze, Italy. ipnobari@cimedoc.uniba.it
Guido
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Libro
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Sciruicchio
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Puca
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001767:Blinking / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010080:Oxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000494:pharmacology; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D014363:Tryptamines; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D010080:Oxazoles; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014363:Tryptamines; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; C089750:zolmitriptan; D018170:Sumatriptan