Almotriptan and zolmitriptan in the acute treatment of migraine.
OBJECTIVE
To compare almotriptan and zolmitriptan in the treatment of acute migraine.


METHODS
This multicentre, double-blind trial randomized adult migraineurs to almotriptan 12.5 mg (n = 532) or zolmitriptan 2.5 mg (n = 530) for the treatment of a single migraine attack. The primary end point was sustained pain free plus no adverse events (SNAE); other end points included pain relief and pain free at several time points, sustained pain free, headache recurrence, use of rescue medication, functional impairment, time lost because of migraine, treatment acceptability, and overall treatment satisfaction.


RESULTS
No significant difference was seen in SNAE (almotriptan 29.2% vs zolmitriptan 31.8%) or the other efficacy end points measured. The incidence of triptan-associated AEs and triptan-associated central nervous system AEs was significantly lower for patients receiving almotriptan compared to zolmitriptan.


CONCLUSIONS
Almotriptan and zolmitriptan were associated with similar efficacy and overall tolerability in the treatment of acute migraine. Almotriptan was associated with a significantly lower rate of triptan-associated AEs.
Goadsby
P J
PJ
Headache Group, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK. peterg@ion.ucl.ac.uk
Massiou
H
H
Pascual
J
J
Diener
H-C
HC
Dahlöf
C G H
CG
Mateos
V
V
Dowson
A J
AJ
Raets
I
I
Cunha
L
L
Färkkilä
M
M
Manzoni
G C
GC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D023303:Oxazolidinones; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014363:Tryptamines; C409045:almotriptan; C089750:zolmitriptan