Mechanisms of Sumatriptan

Sumatriptan: efficacy and contribution to migraine mechanisms.

Sumatriptan and venoconstriction.

The paper by MB Vincent et 31. in this issue represents a further piece of investigation on the mechanism of action of sumatriptan. It focuses on the efficacy of the drug in aborting cluster headache ( CHj attacks, a clinical condition for which sumatriptan is highly effective and now represents the treatment of choice. The authors have chosen porcine ophthalmic artery ( POAj for evaluating the...

Sumatriptan iontophoretic patch for migraine.

Sumatriptan delivered in an electric patch form applied to the skin was approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013 for the acute treatment of migraine. About 25 years ago, sumatriptan was the first drug in the medication class of triptans to be approved for the treatment of migraine. Sumatriptan already comes in a tablet, injectable form, nasal spray, and in at least 14 countries...

Improved Pharmacokinetics of Sumatriptan With Breath Powered™ Nasal Delivery of Sumatriptan Powder

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to directly compare the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of 22-mg sumatriptan powder delivered intranasally with a novel Breath Powered™ device (11 mg in each nostril) vs a 20-mg sumatriptan liquid nasal spray, a 100-mg oral tablet, and a 6-mg subcutaneous injection. BACKGROUND A prior PK study found that low doses of sumatriptan powder delivered intranasa...

The clinical profile of sumatriptan: cluster headache.

Cluster headache is a rare form of severe idiopathic headache characterized by unilateral short-lasting episodes of excruciating pain in association with autonomic disturbances. Subcutaneous sumatriptan has been investigated as an acute treatment for cluster headache in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trials. About 75% of patients given subcutaneous sumatriptan 6 mg ...