title: Comparison of rizatriptan 10 mg vs. zolmitriptan 2.5 mg in the acute treatment of migraine. Rizatriptan-Zolmitriptan Study Group.
abstract: The efficacy and tolerability of rizatriptan (MAXALT) and zolmitriptan (ZOMIG) were compared in a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, stratified (on prior use of rizatriptan and/or zolmitriptan), placebo-controlled, single attack study in 766 patients. Rizatriptan tended to provide freedom from pain sooner than zolmitriptan (hazard ratio 1.26, P = 0.075), acting within 60 min following dosing. More patients were pain free at 2 h on rizatriptan than on zolmitriptan (43.2% vs. 35.6%, P=0.041), while headache relief at 2 h was similar (70.5% vs. 66.8%). At 2 h, fewer patients on rizatriptan had symptoms of photophobia (35.6% vs. 43.5%, P = 0.029) and nausea (25.2% vs. 32.5%, P=0.046), and more patients on rizatriptan had normal function (45.4% vs. 37.0%, P=0.025) than zolmitriptan. Headache recurred in 28% of patients taking rizatriptan, 29% taking zolmitriptan and 26% taking placebo. Both active treatments were effective compared to placebo and were well tolerated. The most common side-effects with rizatriptan were asthenia/fatigue, somnolence and dizziness, while the most common side-effects with zolmitriptan were asthenia/fatigue and dizziness.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Diener
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vrijens
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014230:Triazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014363:Tryptamines
chemical_list: D023303:Oxazolidinones; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014230:Triazoles; D014363:Tryptamines; C089750:zolmitriptan; C093622:rizatriptan