Triptans: are they all the same?
The triptans have provided a major advance in the treatment of the pain and disability associated with migraine headache. With seven triptans in use or in clinical development, the clinician is faced with the decision of which triptan to prescribe to the patient with migraine. Although the triptans are pharmacologically similar, they each have unique attributes. This article focuses on the pharmacologic differences between triptans with regard to their pharmacokinetics and drug interactions, and provides some helpful tips on how to optimize migraine treatment with the triptans.
Pringsheim
Tamara
T
Sunnybrook Women's College Health Sciences Centre, 60 Grosvenor Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B6, Canada. Marek.Gawel@swchsc.on.ca
Gawel
Marek
M
D004347:Drug Interactions; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D018170:Sumatriptan