title: A double-blind, randomized, multicenter, Italian study of frovatriptan versus rizatriptan for the acute treatment of migraine.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess patient satisfaction with acute treatment of migraine with frovatriptan or rizatriptan by preference questionnaire. 148 subjects with a history of migraine with or without aura (IHS 2004 criteria), with at least one migraine attack per month in the preceding 6 months, were enrolled and randomized to frovatriptan 2.5 mg or rizatriptan 10 mg treating 1-3 attacks. The study had a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, cross-over design, with treatment periods lasting <3 months. At the end of the study, patients assigned preference to one of the treatments using a questionnaire with a score from 0 to 5 (primary endpoint). Secondary endpoints were pain-free and pain relief episodes at 2 h, and recurrent and sustained pain-free episodes within 48 h. 104 of the 125 patients (83%, intention-to-treat population) expressed a preference for a triptan. The average preference score was not significantly different between frovatriptan (2.9±1.3) and rizatriptan (3.2±1.1). The rates of pain-free (33% frovatriptan vs. 39% rizatriptan) and pain relief (55 vs. 62%) episodes at 2 h were not significantly different between the two treatments. The rate of recurrent episodes was significantly (p<0.001) lower under frovatriptan (21 vs. 43% rizatriptan). No significant differences were observed in sustained pain-free episodes (26% frovatriptan vs. 22% rizatriptan). The number of patients with adverse events was not significantly different between rizatriptan (34) and frovatriptan (25, p=NS). The results suggest that frovatriptan has a similar efficacy to rizatriptan, but a more prolonged duration of action.
authors.affiliation: Neurology II, Headache Center, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 15, 10126 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Savi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Omboni
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lisotto
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanchin
authors.forename: Michel D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zava
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pinessi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002227:Carbazoles; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014230:Triazoles; D014363:Tryptamines; C093622:rizatriptan; C108128:frovatriptan