title: Pharmacokinetic evaluation of almotriptan for the treatment of migraines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Migraine is a multifactorial neurovascular disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of disabling pain attacks, accompanied with gastrointestinal, neurological systems dysfunction. The pharmacologic treatment of migraine is classically divided in the management of the acute attack and preventive strategies. 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors take a systematic approach to discuss the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic aspects of almotriptan . They consider the emerging data on the clinical efficacy in the treatment of migraine and menstrual-related migraine. The data were obtained by searching the following key words in MEDLINE: pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, triptans, almotriptan, migraine, menstrual migraine, relatively to the period 1989 - 2012.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The excellent efficacy and superior tolerability profile of almotriptan administered early offer a potential improvement over existing triptans for the symptomatic treatment of migraine attacks. Compared with other triptans, the different pathways involved in the metabolism of almotriptan ensure a limited variability of clinical response to the drug, making it less susceptible to the individual genomic background.
authors.affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome and Regional Referral Headache Centre, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Negro
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lionetto
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Alonzo
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Casolla
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marsibilio
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vignaroli
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simmaco
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martelletti
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014363:Tryptamines; C409045:almotriptan