title: Zolmitriptan versus sumatriptan for the acute oral treatment of migraine: a randomized, double-blind, international study.
abstract: This randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study compared the efficacy and tolerability of zolmitriptan (2.5 or 5 mg) and sumatriptan (50 mg) in the acute oral treatment of up to six moderate-to-severe migraine attacks. The intention to treat (ITT) population comprised of 1522 patients: 500 treated with zolmitriptan 2.5 mg (2671 attacks), 514 with zolmitriptan 5 mg (2744 attacks) and 508 with sumatriptan 50 mg (2693 attacks). Overall, the 2-h headache response rates in these groups were 62.9, 65.7 and 66.6%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between sumatriptan 50 mg and zolmitriptan 2.5 mg (P = 0.12) or 5 mg (P = 0.80). Approximately 40% of patients in each group reported a 2-h headache response in > or = 80% of attacks. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the rates of headache response at 1 h (zolmitriptan 2.5 mg 36.9%, zolmitriptan 5 mg 39.5% and sumatriptan 50 mg 38.0%) or 4 h (70.3, 72.9 and 72.2%, respectively) or in the rates of meaningful migraine relief at 1, 2 or 4 h or sustained (24-h) pain relief. All treatments were well tolerated. In conclusion, zolmitriptan (2.5 or 5 mg) proved similarly efficacious compared with sumatriptan (50 mg), both in terms of response rates and consistency across attacks.
authors.affiliation: Box Surgery, London Road, Box Corsham, Wiltshire, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gruffyd-Jones
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kies
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: Ø
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Røsjø
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Millson
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014363:Tryptamines
chemical_list: D023303:Oxazolidinones; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014363:Tryptamines; C089750:zolmitriptan; D018170:Sumatriptan