title: Rizatriptan reduces vestibular-induced motion sickness in migraineurs.
abstract: A previous pilot study suggested that rizatriptan reduces motion sickness induced by complex vestibular stimulation. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study we measured motion sickness in response to a complex vestibular stimulus following pretreatment with either rizatriptan or a placebo. Subjects included 25 migraineurs with or without migraine-related dizziness (23 females) aged 21-45 years (31.0 ± 7.8 years). Motion sickness was induced by off-vertical axis rotation in darkness, which stimulates both the semicircular canals and otolith organs of the vestibular apparatus. Results indicated that of the 15 subjects who experienced vestibular-induced motion sickness when pretreated with placebo, 13 showed a decrease in motion sickness following pretreatment with rizatriptan as compared to pretreatment with placebo (P < 0.02). This significant effect was not seen when subjects were exposed to more provocative vestibular stimulation. We conclude that the serotonin agonist, rizatriptan, reduces vestibular-induced motion sickness by influencing serotonergic vestibular-autonomic projections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Eye and Ear Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 203 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. furmanjm@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Furman
authors.forename: Dawn A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Carey D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Balaban
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009041:Motion Sickness / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014230:Triazoles; D014363:Tryptamines; C093622:rizatriptan