title: Pharmacokinetic evaluation of frovatriptan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Migraine is the most common painful neurological disorder, affecting 13% of the general population. Triptans represent a powerful pharmacological tool in acute migraine treatment, however, a significant portion of treated patients cannot have access to this class due to possible adverse affects. Today, a total of seven triptan molecules are available, representing a commonly prescribed migraine treatment. Although there is a need of extensive use of triptans, only 25% of migraine patients are using triptans.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review includes triptans and evidence for the use of frovatriptan. A systematic approach is used to discuss the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic aspects of frovatriptan, considering the emerging data on the clinical efficacy of frovatriptan in the treatment of migraine and cluster headaches. The data were obtained by searching the following key words in MEDLINE: pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, triptans, frovatriptan, migraine, menstrual migraine, relatively to the period 1988 - 2011.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frovatriptan has been developed in order to improve safety and efficacy of triptans. It shows a favorable tolerability and efficacy profile, limited to 24/48-h headache recurrence, when compared with other triptans. Preclinical data suggest that the pharmacokinetic profile of frovatriptan may differ from other available triptans. In fact, among triptans, frovatriptan showed the highest potency at the 5-HT1B receptor (8.2) and the longer half-life (26 h). These parameters determine the clinical properties of frovatriptan; in particular the lowest rate of headache recurrence in comparison with other triptans.
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University, Regional Referral Headache Center, School of Health Sciences, Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Negro
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lionetto
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Casolla
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lala
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simmaco
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martelletti
mesh_terms: D002227:Carbazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000188:drug therapy; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B / Q000187:drug effects; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002227:Carbazoles; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014363:Tryptamines; C108128:frovatriptan