Rapid responders to frovatriptan in acute migraine treatment: results from a long-term, open-label study.
BACKGROUND
The chronic nature of migraine and the reliance on acute treatment constitute the basis of the present long-term, open-label study.


OBJECTIVE
First, assessment of the tolerability and safety of frovatriptan, 2.5-7.5 mg taken orally over 24 hours, for the acute treatment of migraine, repeatedly over a 12-month period. Second, assessment of the efficacy and tolerability of a second, double-blind dose of 2.5-mg frovatriptan, compared with placebo, for nonresponse at 2 hours after treatment of moderate or severe headache with 2.5-mg frovatriptan.


RESULTS
With regard to the first attack treated, 173 (36%) of the 486 subjects in the study did not take a second dose at 2 hours for nonresponse. At 2 hours and 4 hours, these "rapid responders" experienced a decrease in headache intensity from moderate or severe to mild or no pain in 84% and 98%, respectively ("headache response"). Six percent of them experienced recurrence of moderate or severe headache within 24 hours following a response at 4 hours and 12% took rescue medication. The response, measured in terms of median time to "complete migraine relief," was maintained over 30 subsequent migraine attacks, treated from attack 2 onwards over the course of 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Frovatriptan provides a remarkably fast and high headache response in a subgroup of more than one-third of migraineurs, with a very low 24-hour headache recurrence and low rescue medication intake.
Spierings
Egilius L H
EL
Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. espierings@partners.org
Keywood
Charlotte
C
D000208:Acute Disease / Q000628:therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013995:Time; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
D002227:Carbazoles; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014363:Tryptamines; C108128:frovatriptan