Clinical efficacy of frovatriptan: placebo-controlled studies.
OBJECTIVE
To confirm the clinical efficacy of frovatriptan 2.5 mg.


BACKGROUND
Frovatriptan is a new 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)(1B/1D) receptor agonist being developed for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura. Results from preclinical and clinical pharmacology studies showed frovatriptan to be a potent 5-HT(1B) receptor agonist with a long terminal elimination half-life (26 hours) and a broad therapeutic index.


METHODS
Three randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group trials, in a total of 2676 patients, were performed to confirm the clinical efficacy of frovatriptan 2.5 mg for the acute treatment of migraine.


RESULTS
In all three studies, headache response 2 hours after frovatriptan dosing was significantly greater than that seen with placebo (P < or = .001) with approximately a two-fold measure of effect over placebo for headache response at 2 and 4 hours postdosing. Time to headache response occurred within 1.5 hours in a substantial proportion of patients. The incidence of 24-hour headache recurrence with frovatriptan was low (10% to 25%). Frovatriptan therapy also was associated with a high degree of patient satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Frovatriptan represents a consistently effective acute treatment for migraine and accompanying symptoms.
Ryan
R
R
Ryan Headache Center, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Géraud
G
G
Goldstein
J
J
Cady
R
R
Keywood
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014363:Tryptamines
D002227:Carbazoles; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014363:Tryptamines; C108128:frovatriptan