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Clinical pharmacokinetics of intranasal sumatriptan.

A substantial proportion of migraine patients have gastric stasis and suffer severe nausea and/or vomiting during their migraine attack. This may lead to erratic absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and make oral treatment unsatisfactory. For such patients, an intranasal formulation may be advantageous. Sumatriptan is a potent serotonin 5HT(1B/1D) agonist widely used in the treatment of migraine; the effectiveness of the intranasal formulation (20mg) has been well established in several clinical studies. This article reviews the pharmacokinetics of intranasal sumatriptan and includes comparisons with oral and subcutaneous administration. After intranasal administration, sumatriptan is directly and rapidly absorbed, with 60% of the maximum plasma concentration (C(max)) occurring at 30 minutes after administration of a single 20mg dose. Following intranasal administration, approximately 10% more sumatriptan is absorbed probably via the nasal mucosa when compared with oral administration. Mean C(max) after a 20mg intranasal dose is approximately 13.1 to 14.4 ng/mL, with median time to C(max) approximately 1 to 1.75 hours. When given as a single dose, intranasal sumatriptan displays dose proportionality in its extent of absorption and C(max) over the dose range 5 to 10mg, but not between 5 and 20mg for C(max). The elimination phase half-life is approximately 2 hours, consistent with administration by other routes. Sumatriptan is metabolised by monoamine oxidase (MAO; predominantly the A isozyme, MAO-A) to an inactive metabolite. Coadministration with a MAO-A inhibitor, moclobemide, leads to a significant increase in sumatriptan plasma concentrations and is contraindicated. Single-dose pharmacokinetics in paediatric and adolescent patients following intranasal sumatriptan were studied to determine the effect of changes in nasal morphology during growth, and of body size, on pharmacokinetic parameters. The pharmacokinetic profile observed in adults was maintained in the adolescent population; generally, factors such as age, bodyweight or height did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics. In children below 12 years, C(max) is comparable to that seen in adolescents and adults, but total exposure (area under the concentration-time curve from zero to infinity) was lower in children compared with older patients, especially in younger children treated with 5mg. Clinical experience suggests that intranasal sumatriptan has some advantages over the tablet (more rapid onset of effect and use in patients with gastrointestinal complaints) or subcutaneous (noninvasive and fewer adverse events) formulations.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Sumatriptan. A review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic efficacy in the acute treatment of migraine and cluster headache.

Sumatriptan is a serotonin1 (5-HT1) receptor agonist, which is effective in the acute treatment of migraine headache. Its antimigraine activity is believed to derive from selective vasoconstriction of cranial blood vessels which are dilated and distended during migraine headache and/or from inhibition of neurogenically mediated inflammation in the dura mater. In placebo-controlled comparative studies, sumatriptan reduced migraine headache from 'moderate or severe' to 'mild or none' within 2 hours in 50 to 73% of patients following oral administration of 100 or 200 mg, and within 1 hour in 70 to 80% of patients following subcutaneous doses of 6 to 8 mg or intranasal doses 20 mg into each nostril. In addition, sumatriptan alleviated the accompanying symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and photophobia/phonophobia more effectively than placebo, and permitted higher percentages of patients to resume normal daily activities. Sumatriptan 100 mg orally was more effective in the acute treatment of migraine than oral combination therapy consisting of ergotamine 2 mg plus caffeine 200 mg or aspirin 900 mg plus metoclopramide 10 mg. Pooled data from nearly 5000 patients treated with either oral or subcutaneous sumatriptan in clinical trials indicate that it is well tolerated. However, migraine recurrence within 24 or 48 hours of initial symptom resolution developed in approximately 40% of patients treated with sumatriptan, irrespective of route of administration. It is likely that migraine recurrence is related to the short half-life of the drug (approximately 2 hours). Future studies should attempt to ascertain whether additional doses of sumatriptan will help prevent migraine recurrence in patients with attacks of long duration and if so, should determine the optimum interval between dosages. In conclusion, sumatriptan is an important addition to the range of drugs currently available for acute treatment of migraine. It provides rapid relief from debilitating symptoms in a high percentage of patients, particularly after subcutaneous administration. At this stage in its development a number of questions remain to be answered - most notably whether repeat doses will help prevent recurrent attacks and which patients are most likely to respond to therapy. Nevertheless, sumatriptan presently offers a combination of efficacy and tolerability that is unique in this particular clinical setting.

Acute Disease↗

A multinational investigation of the impact of subcutaneous sumatriptan. I: Design, methods and clinical findings.

This report describes the design, methods and clinical results of a prospective sequential multinational (5 countries) study conducted to evaluate the effects of subcutaneous sumatriptan on health-related quality of life, workplace productivity, clinical parameters and patient satisfaction. Adult patients with moderate to severe migraine initially received customary therapy for migraine episodes for 12 weeks, followed by 24 weeks' treatment with self-administered subcutaneous sumatriptan 6 mg. Demographic, baseline, health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction rating data were collected during visits to the clinic. Data relating to migraine symptoms, migraine therapy, work productivity and non-work activity time were collected on diary cards filled out by the patients. 749 patients were recruited to the study and 637 received at least 1 dose of sumatriptan. Overall, 75.5% of migraines were successfully treated within 2 hours with sumatriptan compared with 31.9% with customary therapy; 36% of patients reported complete relief at 2 hours with sumatriptan treatment compared with 1% of patients receiving customary therapy. 69% of patients successfully treated 70% of their migraines with sumatriptan within 2 hours, compared with 12% of patients with customary therapy. No serious adverse events were reported; 50% of patients reported an adverse event during the 12-week customary therapy phase and 89% of patients during the 24-week sumatriptan phase. These clinical results, which are consistent with those reported in randomised blinded studies of subcutaneous sumatriptan, suggest that relief of migraine symptoms occurs more often, and in less time, in patients receiving subcutaneous sumatriptan rather than customary therapy as their primary medication.

Adolescent↗

Cost-effectiveness analysis of rizatriptan and sumatriptan versus Cafergot in the acute treatment of migraine.

BACKGROUND: Both ergotamine and selective serotonin 5-HT(1B/1D) receptor agonists ('triptans') are currently used in the treatment of moderate to severe migraine. Ergotamine is a traditional therapy with a lower drug acquisition cost compared with triptans. It has been shown that triptans are more efficacious than ergotamine, but the higher acquisition costs and shorter duration of action are disadvantages of triptans compared with ergotamine. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to provide a comparison of the cost-effectiveness of rizatriptan 10 mg and sumatriptan 50 mg tablets with that of a fixed-dose combination of ergotamine tartrate plus caffeine (Cafergot) in the treatment of an acute migraine attack. The cost-effectiveness of rizatriptan in comparison with sumatriptan was also assessed. METHODS: Three separate decision tree models were developed (model 1: rizatriptan vs Cafergot; model 2: sumatriptan vs Cafergot; model 3: rizatriptan vs sumatriptan). The time horizon was 1 year. Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from the societal perspective using cost and effectiveness estimates from the literature. All costs were converted to US dollars (2003). The cost-effectiveness ratio was expressed as incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. RESULTS: Base case evaluation showed that both rizatriptan and sumatriptan dominated Cafergot. The net annual saving associated with use of rizatriptan was US dollars 622.98 per patient, with an incremental QALY of 0.001. Use of sumatriptan resulted in a saving of US dollars 620.90 and an increase in QALY. The cost-effective ratios were not sensitive to changes in key variables such as efficacy, utility, drug costs, hospitalisation cost and patient preference over alternative therapies. The study further showed that rizatriptan is more cost effective than sumatriptan, as evidenced by its lower cost and greater effectiveness. Sensitivity analysis showed that the cost-effectiveness ratios were sensitive to moderate changes in drug efficacy. CONCLUSION: Rizatriptan and sumatriptan were less costly and more effective than Cafergot in the treatment of an acute migraine attack. Rizatriptan was somewhat less costly and more effective than sumatriptan. Additional quality-of-life studies are needed to confirm the benefits of using triptans in the management of migraine.

Caffeine↗

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, study to evaluate the efficacy of subcutaneous sumatriptan in the treatment of atypical facial pain.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was undertaken to assess the efficacy and tolerability of sumatriptan in patients with atypical facial pain. Patients were aged 18-65 years and had at least a 6 months history of atypical facial pain. A total of 19 patients were recruited and assessed for pain scores (total, sensory and affective) by using a short form McGill pain questionnaire preinjection and and at 60 and 120 minutes after subcutaneous injection of sumatriptan (6 mg) or placebo. Safety and tolerability was assessed by recording adverse events during and after the injection. One patient received only one treatment since her pain symptoms resolved after the first treatment. Rest of the patients returned to the clinic 3-6 weeks later and received alternate treatment for atypical facial pain in the same fashion as on the first occasion. Treatment of patients with sumatriptan produced significant relief in sensory, affective and total pain at 120 minutes postinjection (P < .05). Sumatriptan failed to produce a significant reduction in sensory and total pain scores at 60 minutes following treatment, however the result was statistically significant for the affective pain score (P < .05). No death or other serious adverse events were reported. No patient was withdrawn from the study due to an adverse event. However, all the patients treated with sumatriptan experienced one or more adverse events. The most common reported adverse symptoms during the sumatriptan treatment period were injection site reactions, headache, feeling of heaviness, warm or hot sensation and disorders of mouth or tongue. However, most of these side effects were mild and transient. In conclusion, this study points towards some beneficial effect of a single subcutaneous injection of sumatriptan in the treatment of atypical facial pain. However, this data is not sufficient to suggest the clinical utility of subcutaneous sumatriptan (6 mg) for the management of atypical facial pain. Further studies are necessary to test the effects of prolonged subcutaneous and oral multiple dose administration of sumatriptan for the treatment of atypical facial pain.

Adolescent↗

A clinical comparison of sumatriptan nasal spray and dihydroergotamine nasal spray in the acute treatment of migraine.

A multinational, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, crossover study (368 patients treating two attacks) was conducted to compare the efficacy and tolerability of sumatriptan nasal spray (20 mg) with dihydroergotamine (DHE) nasal spray (1 mg plus optional 1 mg). At the primary efficacy time point of 60 minutes after dosing, significantly more patients obtained headache relief (change from moderate or severe to none or mild) after treatment with sumatriptan than with DHE (53% sumatriptan, 41% DHE, p < 0.001). Significantly more patients reported relief of nausea after sumatriptan than after DHE at 60 minutes (64% sumatriptan, 49% DHE, p = 0.006). A significant difference between the two treatments was first observed at 45 minutes with respect to both headache relief (38% sumatriptan, 31% DHE, p = 0.037) and relief of nausea (55% sumatriptan, 40% DHE, p = 0.014). There were no significant differences between the two treatments for other measures of efficacy. Both treatments were well tolerated, with only 10% of patients in each group reporting one or more adverse events. The most frequently reported adverse event after sumatriptan was a bad or bitter taste, which was reported by 5% of patients. After DHE, 4% of patients reported symptoms of the nasal cavity/sinuses and 3% reported nausea and/or vomiting as adverse events. It is concluded that sumatriptan nasal spray is superior to DHE nasal spray in the relief of pain and nausea associated with acute migraine headache.

Adult↗

Oral sumatriptan is effective and well tolerated for the acute treatment of migraine: results of a multicenter study.

The efficacy and tolerability of oral sumatriptan (Imitrex tablets) were assessed in 187 migraineurs enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study. In the clinic, patients received oral sumatriptan 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg, or placebo, for the treatment of a migraine attack. The results demonstrate that by 2 hours postdose, 52 to 57% of patients treated with sumatriptan 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg compared with 17% of patients treated with placebo achieved relief of headache (p < 0.05 for each sumatriptan group vs placebo). By 4 hours postdose, 65 to 78% of sumatriptan-treated patients compared with 19% of placebo-treated patients achieved relief of headache (p < 0.05 for each sumatriptan group vs placebo). Oral sumatriptan also effectively relieved nausea and photophobia and improved clinical disability. No serious or unusual adverse events were reported, and the pattern and incidence of adverse events did not vary among the sumatriptan doses. Each dose--25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg--of sumatriptan was effective and generally well tolerated.

Administration, Oral↗

Comparison of the effect of endothelium on the responses to sumatriptan in rabbit isolated iliac, mesenteric and carotid arteries.

The contractions induced by the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-HT1-like receptor agonist sumatriptan in open ring segments of rabbit iliac, mesenteric and common carotid arteries were studied isometrically in vitro. The alteration of the responses by removal of the endothelium and by inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase was investigated. 5-HT induced concentration-dependent contractions of all these three arterial segments. Sumatriptan did not induce any contraction of quiescent mesenteric and iliac arteries, but when a moderate tone was given with a threshold concentration of prostaglandin F2 alpha, it elicited contractions of both arteries (Emax values for sumatriptan in mesenteric and iliac arteries were 84.7% and 29.7% of the phenylephrine maximal effect and EC50 values were 0.22 +/- 0.14 and 0.33 +/- 0.06 microM, respectively). Sumatriptan had no contractile effect at all in carotid arteries in which 5-HT-induced contractions seemed to be mediated by 5-HT2 receptors only. Removal of the endothelium did not affect the responses to 5-HT in iliac, mesenteric and carotid arteries. The contractions induced by sumatriptan were not influenced by removal of the endothelium in the mesenteric artery, while sumatriptan responses were potentiated in the endothelium-denuded preparations of the iliac artery (Emax = 50.8% of the phenylphrine maximal effect; EC50 = 0.46 microM). L-NG-monomethyl arginine (100 microM), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, also potentiated the sumatriptan responses in the endothelium-intact segments of the iliac artery. Indomethacin (0.1 microM), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, did not affect the sumatriptan responses. These results suggest that sumatriptan-induced contractions of the rabbit iliac, but not mesenteric artery, were depressed by itself through the release of nitric oxide upon stimulation of 5-HT1-like receptors located on the endothelium, whereas neither on vascular smooth muscle nor on endothelium, 5-HT1-like receptors were present in the rabbit carotid artery.

Animals↗

A double-blind study of subcutaneous dihydroergotamine vs subcutaneous sumatriptan in the treatment of acute migraine.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous dihydroergotamine mesylate (DHE-45) vs subcutaneous sumatriptan succinate (Imitrex) for the treatment of acute migraine with or without aura. DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized trial with parallel treatment arms. SETTING: Clinics and private neurology practices. SUBJECTS: Patients of either sex, with migraine with or without aura, between the ages of 18 and 65 years. INTERVENTIONS: Patients with moderate or severe head pain were randomized to receive either 1 mg of subcutaneous dihydroergotamine mesylate or 6 mg of subcutaneous sumatriptan succinate. Patients rated head pain, functional ability, nausea, and vomiting at baseline and at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 24 hours after the injection. Presence or absence of headache at 3 hours was calculated from collected data. If pain persisted after 2 hours, a second injection of the same study medication was allowed, and self-ratings were repeated 30 and 60 minutes later. Follow-up data were collected at 24 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Relief of head pain and recurrence of successfully treated headache. RESULTS: There were 295 evaluable patients. At 2 hours, 73.1% of the patients treated with dihydroergotamine and 85.3% of those treated with sumatriptan had relief (P = .002). There was no statistical difference in headache relief between the groups at 3 or 4 hours. Headache relief was achieved by 85.5% of those treated with dihydroergotamine and by 83.3% of those treated with sumatriptan by 4 hours. By 24 hours 89.7% of dihydroergotamine-treated patients and 76.7% of sumatriptan-treated patients had relief (P = .004). Headache recurred within 24 hours after treatment in 45% of the sumatriptan-treated patients and in 17.7% of the dihydroergotamine-treated patients (P < or = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Both sumatriptan and dihydroergotamine were effective in aborting migraine headaches. Headache recurrence was two and a half time as likely with sumatriptan as with dihydroergotamine.

Acute Disease↗

Rizatriptan vs sumatriptan in the acute treatment of migraine. A placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study. Dutch/US Rizatriptan Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Rizatriptan (MK-462) is a new 5-hydroxytryptamine1D (serotonin1D; 5-HT1D) receptor agonist for the acute treatment of migraine that has improved pharmacokinetic properties compared with sumatriptan succinate. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of 10-, 20-, and 40-mg doses of oral rizatriptan vs a 100-mg dose of oral sumatriptan succinate and placebo for the acute treatment of migraine. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, outpatient trial. SETTING: Ten US and 4 Dutch investigator centers. PATIENTS: Patients who had migraine with or without aura (N = 449). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The proportion of patients whose conditions improved from severe or moderate headache immediately before dosing to mild or no headache at 2 hours after drug administration (ie, headache relief). RESULTS: The proportion of patients with headache relief was 18% for placebo; 46% for sumatriptan; and 52% for 10-mg, 56% for 20-mg, and 67% for 40-mg rizatriptan. All differences with placebo were statistically significant (P < .001), and 40-mg rizatriptan was superior to sumatriptan (P = .01). The proportion of patients who became free of pain at 2 hours was 3% for the placebo-treated group; 22% for the sumatriptan-treated group; and 26%, 35%, and 47% for the group of patients who took the 10-, 20-, and 40-mg doses of rizatriptan, respectively (all differences with placebo, P < .005; 40-mg rizatripan vs sumatriptan, P = .001). The recurrence of headache within 24 hours was found to be equal across all treatment groups-approximately 40%. Adverse events (most commonly short-lasting mild or moderate dizziness and drowsiness) occurred more frequently after a 40-mg dose of rizatriptan was given than after the other treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The antimigraine effect of 10- and 20-mg rizatriptan was superior to placebo, and comparable with that of 100-mg sumatriptan succinate; the efficacy of 40-mg rizatriptan was superior to that of both placebo and 100-mg sumatriptan succinate, although it was associated with a high frequency of adverse events.

Adult↗

off absorption, pharmacodynamics, metabolism and excretion of 14C-sumatriptan following intranasal administration to the beagle dog.

The pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and excretion of 14C-sumatriptan have been studied in the beagle dog following administration by the intranasal and other routes. The pharmacological response which was monitored, an increase in carotid arterial vascular resistance, correlated with the plasma levels of unchanged sumatriptan following intranasal, intravenous, or intraduodenal administration to the anaesthetised dog. The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of sumatriptan were then confirmed in conscious male and female dogs. Intranasal administration of 14C-sumatriptan resulted in rapid absorption of part of the dose. The overall bioavailability of sumatriptan was 40-50%. Sumatriptan was eliminated from plasma with a half-life of 1.5 or 1.9 h after intravenous or intranasal dosage respectively. Radioactivity was largely excreted in urine (up to 75% of the dose) with small amounts in the bile and faeces after intravenous and intranasal dosing, as sumatriptan and a major metabolite. The results from these studies suggest that intranasal administration provides a viable method for delivering sumatriptan to the systemic circulation.

Administration, Intranasal↗

[3H]sumatriptan labels both 5-HT1D and 5-HT1F receptor binding sites in the guinea pig brain: an autoradiographic study.

We have used in vitro autoradiography to visualize [3H]sumatriptan binding sites in sections of guinea-pig and rat brain. In saturation studies, this ligand recognized a single saturable population of high affinity binding sites in all regions examined (pKD = 8.3-9.3). While 5-HT and the sumatriptan derivative CP-122,288 (5-methyl-aminosulfonylmethyl-3-(N-methylpyrrolidin-2R-yl-me thyl)- 1 H-indole) competed for [3H]sumatriptan binding sites with a high affinity and monophasic profile, displacement experiments with 5-carboxamidotryptamine revealed the existence of 2 classes of binding sites. The high affinity component (pKD = 9.2-9.9) probably corresponded to 5-HT1B (rat) or 5-HT1D (guinea-pig) receptors. The intermediate affinity (pKD = 5.7-7.3) of the other component, taken together with their high affinity for [3H]sumatriptan, was similar to that of the cloned 5-HT1F receptor. The regional distribution of the 5-HT1B/1D [3H]sumatriptan binding sites was in agreement with previously published studies (striatonigral system, hypothalamus, central gray, superficial layer of the superior colliculus) and corresponded to the pattern of serotonin-5-O-carboxymethyl-glycyl [125I]tyrosinamide labeling in consecutive sections. [3H]sumatriptan binding sites with a low affinity for 5-CT predominated in the intermediate neocortical layers, the claustrum (in the guinea-pig only), the mammillary nuclei, most of the thalamic nuclei and the principal oculomotor nucleus (in the guinea-pig only). This distribution is very similar to that of 5-HT1F mRNA, indicating further the identity of these sites with 5-HT1F receptors. Very high densities of 5-HT1F sites were also found in the rat parafascicular nucleus. Some regions, such as the caudate/nucleus, the lateral geniculate nuclei and the spinal trigeminal nucleus appeared to contain both 5-HT1B/1D and 5-HT1F binding sites. Ketanserin had a low affinity for [3H]sumatriptan binding sites in all guinea-pig brain regions, compatible with the presence of the 5-HT1D beta subtype. An exception was the substantia nigra, where a significant proportion of sites displayed an intermediate affinity for this compound, suggesting the presence of 5-HT1D chi receptors. [3H]5-HT labeled 5-HT1F sites in the claustrum and intermediate cortical layers in the guinea-pig. However these data show that [3H]sumatriptan, in the presence of 10 nM 5-carboxamidotryptamine, is a more suitable radioligand to study the distribution of 5-HT1F binding sites.

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetics of sumatriptan in non-respondent and in adverse drug reaction reporting migraine patients.

Sumatriptan is a selective agonist of 5HT1 (1B/1D) receptors, which has proved to be effective and safe for the acute treatment of migraine attacks. Nevertheless, its use by migraine sufferers is still limited and some patients consider adverse reactions related to sumatriptan, especially chest symptoms, unacceptable even if not serious. Moreover, in clinical trials, almost one third and one sixth of patients, respectively, fail to experience headache relief either after oral or after subcutaneous sumatriptan administration. Our aim was to verify whether differences in sumatriptan pharmacokinetics could explain non-response and/or adverse drug reactions. Sumatriptan levels were determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a computer program (PK Solutions 2.0; non compartmental Pharmacokinetics Data Analysis). After oral administration, sumatriptan is rapidly absorbed and sometimes displays multiple peaks of plasma concentration. This "multiple peaking" gives rise to considerable inter-subject variability in the time of reaching maximum plasma concentration. Pharmacokinetic parameters of sumatriptan, both after oral and subcutaneous administration, were similar in the three patient groups. Blood pressure and heart rate did not show any significant differences between groups. Pharmacokinetic parameters and bioavailability of sumatriptan did not seem to be correlated either to the lack of efficacy or the appearance of side effects. These results could depend on the limited number of patients studied.

Administration, Oral↗

Effects of sumatriptan on rat medullary dorsal horn neurons.

This study examined the cellular actions of the anti-migraine drug sumatriptan, on neurons in the substantia gelatinosa of the spinal trigeminal nucleus pars caudalis. Sumatriptan inhibited the miniature EPSC (mEPSC) rate in a dose dependent fashion, with an EC(50) of 250 nM. Sumatriptan (3 microM) inhibited the mEPSC rate by 36%, without altering the mEPSC amplitude. This effect was partially reversed by the 5HT(1D) specific antagonist BRL15572 (10 microM). In contrast, the 5HT(1B) agonist CP93129 (10 microm) did not alter the mEPSC rate. Furthermore, sumatriptan (3 microM) decreased the amplitude of electrically evoked EPSCs (eEPSC) by 40%. After incubating the slices in ketanserin (an antagonist which shows selectivity for 5HT(1D) over 5HT(1B) receptors) sumatriptan had little effect on eEPSC amplitude. In control conditions paired stimuli resulted in paired pulse depression (PPD; the ratio eEPSC(2)/eEPSC(1)=0.7+/-0.01), whilst in the presence of sumatriptan the PPD was blocked (ratio eEPSC(2)/eEPSC(1)=0.9+/-0.1). Sumatriptan produced no post-synaptic membrane current and had no significant effect on membrane conductance over a range of membrane potentials (-60 to -130 mV). RT-PCR experiments revealed the presence of mRNA for both 5HT(1D) and 5HT(1B) receptor subtypes in the trigeminal ganglia and subnucleus caudalis. These data suggest that sumatriptan acts pre-synaptically on trigeminal primary afferent central terminals to reduce the probability of release of glutamate, and that this action is mediated through 5HT(1D) receptors.

Animals↗

Sumatriptan treatment for migraine in a health maintenance organization: economic, humanistic, and clinical outcomes.

This study was undertaken to assess the impact of 12 months of sumatriptan therapy (6 mg subcutaneously) for migraine on health care use, health-related quality of life, productivity, patient satisfaction with the medication, and clinical efficacy in a health maintenance organization (HMO). One hundred forty-eight patients received open-label sumatriptan for 12 months for the treatment of migraine. Medical records were reviewed to obtain information on the frequency of migraine-related health care use during the 12 months before and during sumatriptan treatment. Patients completed questionnaires on their productivity at work, health-related quality of life, and satisfaction with medication at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months of sumatriptan treatment. For each migraine, patients recorded pain severity scores before and after taking sumatriptan and the time between dosing and onset of meaningful relief. Sumatriptan was associated with significant reductions in migraine-related use of general outpatient services, telephone calls, urgent care services, and emergency department visits (P < 0.05); a significant increase in the use of pharmacy services (P < 0.05); and significant and sustained improvements in health-related quality-of-life scores compared with baseline (P < 0.001). Patients lost significantly less time from work and were significantly more satisfied with sumatriptan compared with their usual therapy (P < 0.05). Two hours after dosing, 81% of patients experienced reduction of moderate or severe pain to mild or no pain, and 90% of all patients experienced meaningful relief of pain. The use of sumatriptan for 12 months in an HMO was associated with reductions in health care use and improved health-related quality of life, productivity, and patient satisfaction with medication.

Adult↗

Effect of encapsulation on absorption of sumatriptan tablets: data from healthy volunteers and patients during a migraine.

BACKGROUND: Some comparative trials of selective serotonin 1B/ID-agonists in migraine have reported -15% lower efficacy for sumatriptan tablets than that reported in placebo-controlled trials. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the encapsulation methods used to mask active drug may delay absorption of sumatriptan from dosing to 2 hours after dosing (the traditional end point in clinical trials of migraine treatment), an effect that may be enhanced by migraine-associated gastric stasis. METHODS: Two randomized, open-label, 2-way crossover trials were conducted to evaluate the absorption and bioequivalence of conventional 50-mg sumatriptan tablets and encapsulated 50-mg sumatriptan tablets in supine, fasted, healthy volunteers (Glaxo Wellcome protocol SUM40270) and supine patients experiencing a migraine (Glaxo Wellcome protocol SUM40268). Absorption was assessed by calculating the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from dosing to 2 hours after dosing (AUC2) and the times to first measurable plasma concentration, 10 ng/mL, 20 ng/mL, and maximum plasma concentration. Data for the AUC from time zero to infinity and maximum plasma concentration were used to assess standard bioequivalence, which is considered to occur when the 90% CIs for the geometric mean treatment ratios (test/reference) fall between 0.8 and 1.25. RESULTS: Study 1 included 26 healthy subjects (73% men, 27% women; mean age, 39.1 years), and study 2 included 30 patients with migraine (67% women, 33% men; mean age, 42.7 years). Sumatriptan absorption was delayed with the encapsulated tablet compared with the conventional tablet 0 to 2 hours after dosing, particularly during a migraine. AUC2 values with encapsulated sumatriptan compared with the conventional tablet were 21% lower in healthy volunteers (ratio of capsule/tablet, 0.79; 90% CI, 0.588-1.050) and 27% lower in patients experiencing a migraine (ratio of capsule/tablet, 0.73; 90% CI, 0.519-1.023). Standard bioequivalence was demonstrated in both healthy volunteers and patients experiencing a migraine. CONCLUSIONS: Encapsulation delayed absorption of sumatriptan 0 to 2 hours after dosing, particularly during a migraine. This delay in absorption of the encapsulated form may account for the lower efficacy of sumatriptan in some comparative studies.

Adult↗

Economic implications of early treatment of migraine with sumatriptan tablets.

BACKGROUND: Early treatment of migraine with sumatriptan 50 mg and 100 mg, while pain is mild, has been reported to enhance pain-free response 2 hours and 4 hours postdose and sustained pain-free response 2 to 24 hours postdose compared with treatment when pain has become moderate to severe. Early treatment with sumatriptan 50 mg and 100 mg also resulted in less redosing, which translated to a reduction in the mean number of doses used per migraine episode. OBJECTIVE: We examined the economic implications of early treatment with sumatriptan 50 mg and 100 mg while pain is mild versus treatment when pain has become moderate to severe. METHODS: Using data from retrospective analyses of a dose-ranging clinical trial of sumatriptan (protocol S2CM09) involving 1003 patients, we estimated the mean cost per treatment success for a hypothetical population of 1000 migraine patients who received treatment with sumatriptan 50-mg or 100-mg tablets early while pain was mild versus treatment when pain had become moderate to severe. RESULTS: With a conservative estimate of migraine frequency of 1.5 episodes per month, the total cost of early migraine treatment with sumatriptan 50 mg and 100 mg was reduced by $31.68 and $20.16, respectively, per patient per year. The average cost per pain-free treatment success was reduced by 32% to 57% with sumatriptan 50 mg and 100 mg if migraines were treated while pain was mild in intensity versus when pain had become moderate to severe. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of migraine with sumatriptan 50-mg and 100-mg tablets is effective regardless of whether pain is mild, moderate, or severe. However, initiating treatment while pain is mild may be more cost-effective than delaying treatment until pain has become moderate to severe.

Cost Control↗

Efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous sumatriptan administered using the IMITREX STATdose System.

The efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous (SC) sumatriptan administered with the IMITREX (sumatriptan succinate) STATdose System, which circumvents the need for patients or health care professionals to handle a syringe, were evaluated in two randomized, double-masked, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicenter studies. In the clinic, 158 adults with migraine diagnosed according to International Headache Society criteria received SC sumatriptan (6 mg) or placebo delivered with the IMITREX STATdose System for treatment of a migraine attack. By 120 minutes after SC dosing, 73% and 79% of sumatriptan-treated patients, compared with 28% and 37% of placebo-treated patients in studies 1 and 2, respectively, experienced headache relief (a statistically significant difference). Clinical disability scores 120 minutes after dosing showed that 75% and 85% of sumatriptan-treated patients, compared with 30% and 42% of placebo-treated patients, were normal or only mildly impaired (a statistically significant difference). Similar efficacy rates were observed for nausea, phonophobia, and photophobia. No serious or unusual adverse events occurred, and no clinically relevant abnormalities in laboratory test values were reported. Based on these results, we concluded that SC sumatriptan (6 mg) administered using the IMITREX STATdose System is effective for the treatment of migraine. The efficacy and tolerability profiles of SC sumatriptan administered with this device are similar to those reported for SC sumatriptan administered with a conventional syringe.

Adult↗