Zolmitriptan nasal spray in the acute treatment of cluster headache: a meta-analysis of two studies.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct an individual subject meta-analysis of available controlled studies of zolmitriptan nasal spray in the acute treatment of cluster headache.


BACKGROUND
Two double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover studies of zolmitriptan nasal spray in the acute treatment of cluster headache, with similar patient populations, protocol designs, doses, and clinical endpoints have been published.


METHODS
In both double-blind studies, each patient was to treat 3 attacks, 1 with placebo, 1 with zolmitriptan 5 mg, and 1 with zolmitriptan 10 mg in a randomized, crossover manner. Headache intensity was rated on a 5-point scale (none to very severe). The primary endpoint was headache relief at 30 minutes post dose: reduction from moderate, severe, or very severe pain to mild or none. A multilevel, random-effects, logistic regression model was used to analyze the data.


RESULTS
A total of 121 patients (100 male; 64.5% with episodic cluster headache) provided efficacy data for at least 1 attack. Zolmitriptan 5 mg and 10 mg were significantly more effective at providing headache relief at 30 minutes post treatment than placebo (odds ratio 3.48; 95% confidence interval 1.49-8.10 and odds ratio 8.68; 95% confidence interval: 3.35-22.5, respectively). For episodic cluster headache, response rates were 35.6%, 51.7%, and 73.7% for placebo, zolmitriptan 5 mg (odds ratio 2.5; P = .06 vs placebo), and 10 mg (odds ratio 9.9; P < .001 vs placebo), respectively. For chronic cluster headache, response rates were 17.2%, 41.9%, and 40.7% for placebo, zolmitriptan 5 mg (odds ratio 8.1; P = .035), and 10 mg (odds ratio 7.6; P = .046), respectively. Zolmitriptan was well tolerated in both studies with no serious adverse events reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Zolmitriptan nasal spray at a dose of 5 mg and 10 mg is efficacious in the acute treatment of episodic and chronic cluster headache.
Hedlund
Cecilia
C
Department of Statistics and Informatics - AstraZeneca R&D, Södertälje, Sweden.
Rapoport
Alan M
AM
Dodick
David W
DW
Goadsby
Peter J
PJ
D000208:Acute Disease / Q000628:therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015990:Placebo Effect; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
D023303:Oxazolidinones; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014363:Tryptamines; C089750:zolmitriptan