Rizatriptan wafer--sublingual vs. placebo at the onset of acute migraine.
Rizatriptan wafer is a 5HT1B/1D agonist for use in the acute treatment of migraine. It is a freeze-fried formulation, approved for oral administration, which dissolves on the tongue and is swallowed with saliva. In this study the efficacy of sublingually administered rizatriptan 10-mg wafer was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, out-patient study involving 39 migraineurs. Patients were instructed to treat a migraine at the onset of pain in order to evaluate time of onset of pain relief and pain relief at 1 h. The average time to onset of relief was 25 min for patients treated with rizatriptan wafer and 27 min for patients treated with placebo. At 1 h, 50% of the patients receiving rizatriptan wafer and 50% of the patients receiving placebo experienced significant relief. Implications and potential reasons for a high placebo response are discussed.
Klapper
J A
JA
Colorado Neurology and Headache Center, Denver 80218, USA.
O'Connor
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D006801:Humans; D036142:Mentha piperita; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015990:Placebo Effect; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D044346:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1D; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014363:Tryptamines
D000700:Analgesics; D005421:Flavoring Agents; C470302:HTR1B protein, human; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D044346:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1D; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014230:Triazoles; D014363:Tryptamines; C093622:rizatriptan