title: Dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, methysergide and sumatriptan - basic science in relation to migraine treatment.
abstract: The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor family mediates the effects of several drugs highly effective in migraine primarily by activating 5-HT(1B) , 5-HT(1D) , and 5-HT(1F)  receptors. Ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, and methysergide, as well as the "triptan" sumatriptan, are all agonists for these receptors. The receptor profile and degree of selectivity of these four drugs differ, which is reflected by their side effects that limit their use in the acute and prophylactic treatment of migraine. The acute antimigraine efficacy of these remedies is very much dependent on the formulation used where, in general, parenteral formulations are more effective in reliving the symptoms of a migraine attack.
authors.affiliation: Gothenburg Migraine Clinic AB, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dahlöf
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maassen Van Den Brink
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004087:Dihydroergotamine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004878:Ergotamine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008784:Methysergide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004087:Dihydroergotamine; D018170:Sumatriptan; D004878:Ergotamine; D008784:Methysergide