title: Sumatriptan iontophoretic transdermal system for the acute treatment of migraine.
abstract: SUMMARY We will describe the pharmacokinetic profile, clinical efficacy and safety data of the sumatriptan iontophoretic transdermal system (Zecuity®, NuPathe Inc., PA, USA), recently approved for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults, by the US FDA. This transdermal system utilizes a low-level electrical current to deliver sumatriptan transdermally and circumvents the GI tract. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that iontophoretic delivery of sumatriptan achieves detectable plasma concentrations 15 min after activation with a maximum mean serum concentration of 22 ng/ml. A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial demonstrated minimal triptan-related side effects and superior efficacy versus placebo. The pain-free rate at 2 h postdose was 18% of patients applying the sumatriptan patch versus 9% using the placebo (p = 0.0092). This sumatriptan transdermal system may be a good choice for migraineurs with severe nausea or vomiting, those with intolerable triptan-related adverse events and/or those not responding optimally to oral medications.
authors.affiliation: Glyfada Headache Center, 8 Lazaraki Street, Glyfada 16675, Greece. mvikelis@headaches.gr.
authors.forename: Michail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vikelis
authors.forename: Dimos D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Mitsikostas
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rapoport
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D006801:Humans; D007478:Iontophoresis; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D058825:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058825:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists; D018170:Sumatriptan