Zolmitriptan versus sumatriptan for the acute oral treatment of migraine: a randomized, double-blind, international study.
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.
Gruffyd-Jones
K
K
Box Surgery, London Road, Box Corsham, Wiltshire, UK.
Kies
B
B
Middleton
A
A
Mulder
L J
LJ
Røsjø
Ø
Ø
Millson
D S
DS
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
D023303:Oxazolidinones; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014363:Tryptamines; C089750:zolmitriptan; D018170:Sumatriptan