Sumatriptan is effective in the treatment of menstrual migraine: a review of prospective studies and retrospective analyses

Rizatriptan for the Acute Treatment of ICHD-II Proposed Menstrual Migraine: Two Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Studies

These are the first prospective studies to use criteria for menstrual migraine proposed in the 2004 revision of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-II) to examine the efficacy of rizatriptan for treatment of a menstrual attack. Two identical protocols (MM1 and MM2) were randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies. Adult women with ICHD-II menstrual migraine were assigned to either rizatriptan 10-mg tablet or placebo in a 2 : 1 ratio. Patients treated a single menstrual migraine attack of moderate or severe pain intensity. The primary end-point was 2-h pain relief and the secondary end-point was 24-h sustained pain relief. A total of 707 patients (MM1 357, MM2 350) treated a menstrual migraine attack. The percentage of patients reporting 2-h pain relief was significantly greater for rizatriptan than for placebo (MM1 70% vs. 53%, MM2 73% vs. 50%), as was the percentage of patients reporting 24-h sustained pain relief (MM1 46% vs. 33%; MM2 46% vs. 33%). Rizatriptan 10 mg was effective for the treatment of ICHD-II menstrual migraine, as measured by 2-h pain relief and 24-h sustained pain relief.

Vitamin supplementation as possible prophylactic treatment against migraine with aura and menstrual migraine

Migraine is the most common form of headache disorder globally. The etiology of migraine is multifactorial, with genetic components and environmental interactions considered to be the main causal factors. Some researchers postulate that deficits in mitochondrial energy reserves can cause migraine or an increase in homocysteine levels can lead to migraine attacks; therefore, vitamins could play a vital role in migraine prevention. For instance, riboflavin influences mitochondrial dysfunction and prevents migraine. Genes such as flavoenzyme 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), especially the C677T variant, have been associated with elevated plasma levels of homocysteine and migraine with aura. Homocysteine catalyzation requires the presence of vitamins B₆, B₁₂, and folic acid, which can decrease the severity of migraine with aura, making these vitamins potentially useful prophylactic agents for treating migraine with aura. Menstrual migraine, on the other hand, is associated with increased prostaglandin (PG) levels in the endometrium, indicating a role for vitamin E, which is an anti-PG. Vitamin C can also be used as a scavenger of reactive oxygen species for treating neurogenic inflammation in migraine patients. This paper reviews possible therapies based on vitamin supplementation for migraine prophylaxis, focusing on migraine with aura and menstrual migraine.

Sumatriptan fast-disintegrating/rapid-release tablets in the acute treatment of migraine

Sumatriptan is the first serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT](1B/1D)) receptor agonist specifically designed for the acute treatment of migraine. A new sumatriptan fast disintegrating/rapid release tablet (FDT/RRT) using RT technology has been developed to enhance tablet disintegration and dispersion in the stomach with the intention of speeding absorption and onset of effect, hence mitigating the effects on the gastrointestinal dysmotility that typically accompanies the attack. Sumatriptan FDT/RRT is bioequivalent to conventional tablets, although it provides slightly faster absorption during early post-dose interval. Clinical trials indicate that sumatriptan FDT/RRT is rapidly effective in terms of freedom from pain and return to normal activities, both with early and late treatment. The drug is well tolerated. In an oral formulation, which is the patients' preferred dosing route, sumatriptan FDT/RRT may therefore constitute an advance in the management of acute migraine attacks.

Therapeutic applications for subcutaneous triptans in the acute treatment of migraine

BACKGROUND

The features of migraine attacks and the contexts in which migraine attacks occur vary from attack to attack and from patient to patient. Current treatment strategies, which are dominated by the use of oral forms of migraine medication, do not address this patient-to-patient and attack-to-attack heterogeneity. While current therapies, and, in particular, oral triptan tablets can be effective for many types of migraine attacks that a patient can experience, they may not be the optimum treatment for every migraine in every patient.

SCOPE

This clinical review of subcutaneous sumatriptan discusses its characteristics, efficacy, and tolerability and considers its place in clinical practice. The review focuses particularly on several specific clinical settings in which subcutaneous sumatriptan might be a more appropriate therapeutic choice than the oral triptan tablet.

FINDINGS

Of the triptan formulations, subcutaneous sumatriptan is the most rapidly absorbed and demonstrates a favorable pharmacokinetic profile. Data from randomized, double-blind, clinical trials and studies of patients' perceptions and preferences suggest that subcutaneous sumatriptan can be particularly useful to help restore normal work functioning, for migraine attacks that cannot be treated early in their course, for migraine attacks associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting, and for difficult-to-treat migraines, including early-morning migraine and menstrual migraine. The majority of patients (9 in 10) trying subcutaneous sumatriptan indicated that they will use it again. Patients not fully satisfied with previous triptan therapy reported enhanced satisfaction with, and confidence in, treatment after trying subcutaneous sumatriptan.

CONCLUSIONS

By virtue of their availability as multiple compounds and in multiple formulations including oral, intranasal, and injectable forms, triptans can be used to customize migraine therapy to the individual patient and the individual migraine attack. Due to its route of delivery and favorable pharmacokinetic profile, subcutaneous triptans may represent an attractive alternative for specific clinical settings. Subcutaneous sumatriptan can play a key role in maximizing likelihood of pain-free response and rapid return to normal daily activities and, as such, should be considered an important part of the treatment armamentarium for migraine.

Frovatriptan versus almotriptan for acute treatment of menstrual migraine: analysis of a double-blind, randomized, cross-over, multicenter, Italian, comparative study

The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of frovatriptan and almotriptan in women with menstrually related migraine (IHS Classification of Headache disorders) enrolled in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, cross-over study. Patients received frovatriptan 2.5 mg or almotriptan 12.5 mg in a randomized sequence: after treating 3 episodes of migraine in no more than 3 months with the first treatment, the patient was switched to the other treatment. 67 of the 96 female patients of the intention-to-treat population of the main study had regular menstrual cycles and were thus included in this subgroup analysis. 77 migraine attacks classified as related to menses were treated with frovatriptan and 78 with almotriptan. Rate of pain relief at 2 and 4 h was 36 and 53 % for frovatriptan and 41 and 50 % for almotriptan (p = NS between treatments). Rate of pain free at 2 and 4 h was 19 and 47 % with frovatriptan and 29 and 54 % for almotriptan (p = NS). At 24 h, 62 % of frovatriptan-treated and 67 % of almotriptan-treated patients had pain relief, while 60 versus 67 % were pain free (p = NS). Recurrence at 24 h was significantly (p < 0.05) lower with frovatriptan (8 vs. 21 % almotriptan). This was the case also at 48 h (9 vs. 24 %, p < 0.05). Frovatriptan was as effective as almotriptan in the immediate treatment of menstrually related migraine attacks. However, it showed a more favorable sustained effect, as shown by a lower rate of migraine recurrence.

Efficacy of frovatriptan in the acute treatment of menstrually related migraine: analysis of a double-blind, randomized, multicenter, Italian, comparative study versus zolmitriptan

Menstrually related migraine (MRM) is a particularly difficult-to-treat pain condition, associated with substantial disability. Aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of frovatriptan and zolmitriptan in the treatment of MRM attacks, analyzing data from a multicenter, randomized, double blind, cross-over study. We analyzed the subset of 76 regularly menstruating women who participated in one head-to-head multicenter, randomized, double blind, cross-over clinical trial and who took the study drugs to treat MRM attacks. In a randomized sequence, each patient received frovatriptan 2.5 mg or zolmitriptan 2.5 mg: after treating three episodes of migraine in no more than 3 months with the first treatment, the patient had to switch to the other treatment. MRM was defined according to the criteria listed in the Appendix of the last Classification of Headache disorders of the International Headache Society. A total of 73 attacks, classified as MRM, were treated with frovatriptan and 65 with zolmitriptan. Rate of pain relief at 2 h was 52% for frovatriptan and 53% for zolmitriptan (p = NS), while rate of pain free at 2 h was 22 and 26% (p = NS), respectively. At 24 h, 74 and 83% of frovatriptan-treated and 69 and 82% of zolmitriptan-treated patients were pain free and had pain relief, respectively (p = NS). Recurrence at 24 h was significantly (p < 0.05) lower with frovatriptan (15 vs. 22% zolmitriptan). Frovatriptan proved to be effective in the immediate treatment of MRM attacks, similarly to zolmitriptan, but showed lower recurrence rates, and thus a better sustained relief.

Efficacy of frovatriptan in the acute treatment of menstrually related migraine: analysis of a double-blind, randomized, cross-over, multicenter, Italian, comparative study versus rizatriptan

The objectives of this study are to assess the efficacy and safety of frovatriptan, and rizatriptan in the subgroup of women with menstrually related migraine of a multicenter, randomized, double blind, cross-over study. Each patient received frovatriptan 2.5 mg or rizatriptan 10 mg in a randomized sequence: after treating 3 episodes of migraine in not more than 3 months with the first treatment, the patient had to switch to the other treatment. Menstrually related migraine was defined according to the criteria listed in the Appendix of the last IHS Classification of Headache disorders. 99 out of the 125 patients included in the intention-to-treat analysis of the main study were of a female gender: 93 had regular menstrual cycles and were, thus, included in this analysis. A total of 49 attacks classified as menstrually related migraine were treated with frovatriptan and 59 with rizatriptan. Rate of pain relief at 2 h was 58% for frovatriptan and 64% for rizatriptan (p = NS), while rate of pain free at 2 h was 31 and 34% (p = NS), respectively. At 24 h, 67 and 81% of frovatriptan-treated, and 61 and 74% of rizatriptan-treated patients were pain free and had pain relief, respectively (p = NS). Recurrence at 24 h was significantly (p < 0.01) lower with frovatriptan (10 vs. 32% rizatriptan). Frovatriptan was as effective as rizatriptan in the immediate treatment of menstrually related migraine attacks while showing a favorable sustained effect with a lower rate of migraine recurrence. These results need to be confirmed by randomized, double-blind, prospective, large clinical trials.

Resolution of menstrually related migraine following aggressive treatment for breast cancer

Hormonal influences associated with the female menstrual cycle play strong roles in both migraine and particular types of breast cancer, but there is limited literature on the effects of breast cancer treatment regimens in women with migraine. The present case describes resolution of menstrually related migraine following aggressive treatment for infiltrating ductal carcinoma (neoadjuvant chemotherapy, single radical mastectomy, and locoregional radiation therapy) that was maintained with supplemental treatment using tamoxifen, an anti-estrogenic agent. This novel case is presented to stimulate further research into the hormonal mechanisms underlying migraine.

Scheduled short-term prevention with frovatriptan for migraine occurring exclusively in association with menstruation

OBJECTIVE

This post hoc subgroup analysis evaluated scheduled short-term preventive frovatriptan therapy for women with migraine occurring exclusively in association with menstruation (occurring day -2 to +3; day 1 = menses start, no migraines outside this window).

BACKGROUND

A previously published randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 3-way crossover trial assessed the efficacy and safety of a scheduled 6-day preventive regimen with frovatriptan for the treatment of menstrual migraine; the study population included women experiencing both menstrual and non-menstrual migraine and women experiencing only menstrual migraine.

METHODS

Women received each treatment (placebo, frovatriptan 2.5 mg once daily, and frovatriptan 2.5 mg twice daily) once over 3 perimenstrual periods in randomized sequence. For this subset analysis, screening questions were used to identify women with migraine occurring exclusively in association with menstruation. Efficacy was evaluated by occurrence and severity of migraine, functional impairment, and rescue medication use. Adverse events and tolerability were also assessed.

RESULTS

Among 179 patients, the mean age (SD) was 37.3 (7.7) years and mean menstrual migraine history was 10.6 (8.7) years. Significantly fewer women experienced menstrual migraine during treatment with frovatriptan twice daily (37.7%, P < .001) or once daily (51.3%, P = .002) than during treatment with placebo (67.1%); a significant dose response was noted (P = .01, twice daily vs once daily). Significant treatment differences were also found for several secondary endpoints, but the data from this post hoc analysis must be interpreted with caution. Frovatriptan was well tolerated and most adverse events were mild or moderate and similar to those reported with the acute treatment of migraine with frovatriptan; the most common adverse events were nausea, dizziness, and headache.

CONCLUSIONS

Scheduled short-term preventive frovatriptan therapy effectively reduced the occurrence of menstrual migraine in women with attacks occurring exclusively in association with menstruation.

Perimenstrual migraines: are they different from migraines in general?

Differences between menstrually related migraine (MRM) and non-MRM are subtle. Preconception that population-based trials do not show differences, but that clinic-based trials showed severe, longer, and clinically refractory menstrual migraines, turns out to be simplistic. This review examines studies comparing and contrasting MRM and non-MRM. All of the pertinent studies show increase of migraine around menses. A judicious reading of the studies suggests that MRM is probably more severe in pain intensity than non-MRM. MRM is more disabling than non-MRM. MRM in clinics is more likely to have both worse prodrome and nausea. A significant subset of MRM patients has poorer response to acute medication. Overall, it appears that MRM is more severe than non-MRM when considering population- and clinic-based studies, with slightly but clinically meaningfully worse intensity, duration, disability, prodrome, nausea, and response to acute medications. Clinicians must have compassion and skill to manage patients with MRM.

Rizatriptan efficacy in ICHD-II pure menstrual migraine and menstrually related migraine

OBJECTIVE

To examine the efficacy of rizatriptan for the treatment of pure menstrual migraine (PMM).

BACKGROUND

In 2004, the International Headache Society proposed new research criteria for menstrual migraine (International Classification of Headache Disorders [ICHD-II]). Two subtypes were defined: PMM, in which attacks occur exclusively with menstruation, and menstrually related migraine (MRM), in which attacks may also occur at other times of the cycle.

METHODS

The 2 protocols (MM1 and MM2) were identical randomized, double-blind studies. Adult patients with ICHD-II menstrual migraine were assigned to either rizatriptan 10-mg tablet or placebo (2:1). Patients were to treat a single menstrual migraine attack of moderate or severe pain intensity. This prospectively planned substudy pooled data from patients with a diagnosis of PMM from both studies. The primary substudy endpoint was 2-hour pain relief. Efficacy data were summarized for patients with a diagnosis of MRM.

RESULTS

Of 707 (MM1: 357, MM2: 350) patients treated in the study, 146 patients (MM1: 81, MM2: 65) had a diagnosis of PMM. The percentage of patients reporting 2-hour pain relief was significantly greater for rizatriptan than for placebo for both PMM (73% vs 50%, P = .006) and MRM subgroups (71% vs 52%, P < .001). Most other efficacy endpoints favored rizatriptan compared with placebo in patients with either PMM or MRM.

CONCLUSION

Rizatriptan 10 mg was superior to placebo for the treatment of PMM, as measured by 2-hour pain relief. Rizatriptan was also effective for the treatment of MRM and for relief of migraine-associated symptoms for both headache subtypes.

Diagnosis of menstrual headache and an open-label study among those with previously undiagnosed menstrually related migraine to evaluate the efficacy of sumatriptan 100 mg

BACKGROUND

Headache associated with menses is often not formally diagnosed.

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to evaluate patients with menstrual headache who had never previously been diagnosed with migraine and assign 1988 International Headache Society (IHS) diagnoses to their menstrual headaches. Secondary objectives included evaluation of the treatment efficacy of newly diagnosed menstrually related migraine (MRM) with sumatriptan 100 mg and patient satisfaction with sumatriptan versus satisfaction with previous therapy.

METHODS

Patients were recruited via advertisement in a local daily newspaper, and headache diagnosis and eligibility criteria of respondents were assessed by telephone. During telephone screening, IHS criteria for headache were applied to symptoms described by patients as menstrual headache. Those with previously undiagnosed headaches who fulfilled criteria for migraine without or with aura (IHS 1.1 or 1.2) and all inclusion/exclusion criteria at visit 1 were provided with sumatriptan 100 mg to treat 1 MRM. Patients were instructed to treat their next MRM as early as possible after the onset of headache. A treatment diary was provided with study medication for documentation of headache pain severity and associated symptoms; time of treatment and response at 30, 60, and 90 minutes and at 2, 4, 24, and 48 hours posttreatment; medication for persistence or recurrence; adverse effects; and onset of menstrual cycle. In analysis, headache response was defined as a reduction in pretreatment head pain from moderate or severe to mild or no pain.

RESULTS

A total of 153 patients responded to an advertisement seeking menstrual headache sufferers. After the preliminary screening by telephone, 105 patients were assigned IHS diagnoses based on reported symptoms associated with their menstrual headache. Overall, 63% (66/105) fulfilled criteria for IHS 1.1 (migraine without aura), 12% (13/105) met criteria for IHS 1.2 (migraine with aura), and 5% (5/105) met criteria for IHS 1.7 (migrainous disorder). Of the 79 patients meeting the criteria for IHS 1.1 or 1.2, 45 patients were enrolled. Thirty-nine (mean age, 34.8 years; mean duration of experiencing menstrual headaches, 11.1 years) of the 45 patients treated 1 MRM with sumatriptan 100 mg per protocol (6 patients were lost to follow-up or withdrew consent). Headache response was reported by 70% of patients at 2 hours and 86% at 4 hours. The pain-flee response after treatment at the moderate or severe phase occurred in 41% of patients at 2 hours and in 61% at 4 hours. All 39 patients reported previous use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for acute treatment of headache; in addition, 1 of the 39 also took acetylsalicylic acid/caffeine/butalbital, 1 took acetaminophen/caffeine/butalbital, 1 took ketorolac, and 1 took acetaminophen plus codeine. In terms of patient satisfaction, 69% of patients were satisfied with sumatriptan versus 15% of patients who were satisfied with their previous therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Seventy-five percent of women with previously undiagnosed menstrual headaches met diagnostic criteria for migraine in this small sample. Two hours after treatment with sumatriptan 100 rag, 70% of patients with headaches treated at moderate to severe pain had a pain relief response (reduction to mild or no pain).

Menstrual migraine: clinical and therapeutical aspects

Estrogens fluctuations, particularly their premenstrual fall, are currently regarded as the main triggers of menstrual migraine (MM). MM presents in two clinical forms: pure MM, where attacks are confined to the perimenstrual period (PMP), and menstrually related migraine, where attacks always occur during, but are not confined to, the PMP. MM episodes are usually longer, more intense, more disabling and more refractory than nonmenstrual attacks. Acute management of MM should initially be abortive and primarily sought with triptans. If this fails, short-term perimenstrual prophylaxis with NSAIDs, coxibs, triptans or ergotamine derivatives can be considered. Hormone manipulations, mainly application of percutaneous estradiol gel in PMP or administration of oral contraceptives in extended cycles, constitute an alternative approach for nonresponders.

Menstrual migraine: a review of hormonal causes, prophylaxis and treatment

Migraine in some women is associated with changes in sex hormone levels. Many women suffer from increased frequency of migraine around the time of menses. Menstrual migraine (MM) may be more severe than migraine that occurs at other times of the cycle. The pathogenesis of MM is probably related to declining estrogen levels after exposure to high levels of the hormone for several days. The acute treatment of MM is similar to that of non-menstrually-related attacks. 5-HT(1B/1D) agonists (triptans), ergots, NSAIDs, or combination analgesics may be used, although the response to some drugs may not be as robust as that of non-menstrual attacks. Women who suffer from frequent or debilitating MM attacks may benefit from perimenstrual prophylaxis that can be either hormonal or non-hormonal.

The use of triptans in the management of menstrual migraine

Many women experience headaches, including migraine, in association with their menstrual cycles. Although definitions vary, menstrual migraine generally refers to migraine without aura that occurs within several days prior to and several days after the onset of menses. Although menstrual migraine has been reported to be more difficult to treat than other types of migraines, there is no evidence from controlled clinical trials to support this assertion. Thus, the pharmacological treatment of menstrual migraine should be similar to that of other types of migraines, except with respect to the use of hormonal manipulations to treat menstrual migraine. Serotonin 5-HT(1B/1D) receptor agonists (triptans) are effective for the acute treatment of both menstrual and non-menstrual migraines. When used as acute therapy, a triptan should be administered early, when the headache is still mild in severity. Ideally, an acute therapy will provide rapid and complete pain relief with no disability. Some patients may require preventive therapy for menstrual migraine based on suboptimal response to an adequate trial of acute therapy. Patient diaries that record headache onset, relationship to the menstrual cycle and treatment response through three complete cycles will allow accurate prediction of the onset of menstrual migraine; this information is also needed to make decisions about timing of intermittent preventive therapy. The goals of intermittent preventive therapy are to reduce the frequency, duration and intensity of menstrual migraine attacks. Clinical studies show that triptans are effective when used as either acute therapy or as intermittent preventive therapy for menstrual migraine. Sumatriptan and zolmitriptan have been evaluated in prospective, randomised, controlled trials for acute treatment. Retrospective analyses and open-label studies also support the use of other triptans as acute therapy. In addition, sumatriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan and zolmitriptan have been evaluated as intermittent preventive therapy in prospective studies. Thus, data from clinical studies indicate that triptans are effective for the treatment of menstrual migraine.

Menstrual migraine

The initial treatment of menstrual migraine (MM) should be the same as that of migraine that occurs at any other time during the month and should include lifestyle modifications and the use of appropriate acute therapies aimed at decreasing attack symptoms, duration, and disability. If results of acute therapy are incomplete or unsatisfactory, then preventive strategies may be required. Comorbidities may, however, influence choice of preventive therapy or accelerate initiation of preventive therapy. Comorbid dysmenorrhea, menometrorrhagia, and endometriosis argue for early use of hormonal therapies. Hormonal strategies may be appropriate because the premenstrual decline in estradiol concentration predictably precipitates MM, and targeting and preventing this decline can decrease headache occurrence. Continuous combined hormonal contraceptives can reduce hormone fluctuations and, for some MM sufferers, can deliver more than contraceptive benefits. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are appropriate for treatment of co-occurring dysmenorrhea or when hormonal strategies are contraindicated; their efficacy may be caused partly by the role of prostaglandins in MM and dysmenorrhea. As with the use of hormonal therapy, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs allows for treatment of breakthrough headache with triptans. Results of clinical trials suggest that daily use of triptans in the menstrual window may bring about as much as 50% reduction in headache frequency, but such use still requires acute treatment of breakthrough headache and adherence to daily triptan limits. Use of this strategy requires that headache occurrence be highly predictable.

Efficacy and tolerability of sumatriptan tablets administered during the mild-pain phase of menstrually associated migraine

Two randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled clinical trials were conducted to assess the efficacy of sumatriptan tablets, 50mg and 100mg, for treatment during the mild-pain phase of a menstrually associated migraine among patients who typically experienced moderate to severe migraine preceded by an identifiable phase of mild pain. Subjects (n = 403 in Study 1 and n = 349 in Study 2) treated one menstrually associated migraine on an outpatient basis. The results demonstrate that sumatriptan tablets, 50 mg or 100 mg, were significantly more effective than placebo at conferring pain-free response 1 h and 2 h post-dose; migraine-free response (i.e. no pain and no associated symptoms) 2 h post-dose; returning patients to normal functioning 2 h post-dose; and conferring sustained freedom from pain from 2 through 24 h post-dose. Although the studies were not designed or statistically powered to show differences between the sumatriptan doses, a trend for slightly higher efficacy was observed for the 100-mg dose compared with the 50-mg dose on many measures. Both doses of sumatriptan were well-tolerated. The only adverse events reported in more than 2% of subjects in a treatment group were nausea, paresthesia, dizziness and malaise/fatigue, all of which were reported at incidences comparable to or slightly higher than those with placebo. Considered in the context of other findings, these data suggest that--with menstrually associated migraine as with non-menstrual migraine--optimal therapeutic benefit of sumatriptan tablets may be realised when they are administered during the mild-pain phase of an attack rather than delaying treatment until headache is moderate or severe.

Migraine diagnosis and treatment

Migraine is a prevalent condition that causes significant disability in otherwise healthy persons. Diagnosis is clinical, based on recognition of a constellation of signs and symptoms. Treatment includes nonpharmacologic management, including lifestyle alterations,abortive treatment of individual attacks, and preventive medications for patients with frequent or troublesome attacks. Guidelines are available that summarize the quality of evidence for individual interventions, but treatment must be individualized.

Triptans: do they differ?

Headache care specialists agree that the introduction of sumatriptan constitutes a major advance in headache therapy, but they differ about whether other triptans offer clinically significant advantages over sumatriptan. This article examines this issue by considering the similarities and differences among triptans.

The placebo effect and randomized trials: analysis of conventional medicine

Randomized controlled trials are generally regarded as the gold standard of study designs to determine causality. The inclusion of a placebo group in these trials, when appropriate, is critical to access the efficacy of a drug or supplement. The placebo response itself has received some attention in the medical literature over the past fifty years. The recent increasing utilization of dietary supplements and herbal medications by patients makes it imperative to reevaluate the placebo response in conventional and alternative medicine. This article will review a whole series of unique conditions (allergies/asthma, alopecia, BPH, erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis, weight loss...) and the placebo response associated with them from conventional medical randomized trials.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the triptan antimigraine agents: a comparative review

The current approach to antimigraine therapy comprises potent serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonists collectively termed triptans. Sumatriptan was the first of these compounds to be developed, and offered improved efficacy and tolerability over ergot-derived compounds. The development of sumatriptan was quickly followed by a number of 'second generation' triptan compounds, characterised by improved pharmacokinetic properties and/or tolerability profiles. Triptans are believed to effect migraine relief by binding to serotonin (5-hydroxy-tryptamine) receptors in the brain, where they act to induce vasoconstriction of extracerebral blood vessels and also reduce neurogenic inflammation. Although the pharmacological mechanism of the triptans is similar, their pharmacokinetic properties are distinct. For example, bioavailability of oral formulations ranges between 14% (sumatriptan) and 74% (naratriptan), and their elimination half-life ranges from 2 hours (sumatriptan and rizatriptan) to 25 hours (frovatriptan). Clearly, such diverse pharmacokinetic properties will influence the effectiveness of the compounds and favour the prescription of one over another in different patient populations. This article reviews the pharmacological properties of the triptans (time to peak plasma concentration, half-life, bioavailability and receptor binding) and relates these properties to efficacy and time of onset. It also considers the effects of concomitant medication, food, age and disease on the pharmacokinetics of the compounds. In addition, the relative merits, such as headache recurrence, tolerability and route of administration, are discussed. Finally, the performance of the triptans is considered in the context of direct head-to-head comparative trials that have assessed the efficacy profile of the compounds.

Menstrual migraine: diagnosis and treatment

Of the nearly 20 million American women suffering with migraine, approximately 12 million experience a worsening of their migraines in association with their menstrual cycle. Prior to puberty the prevalence of migraine is slightly higher in boys; however, after puberty there is an emerging female predominance. Estrogen likely plays an important role in explaining this gender difference; however, hormones unlikely explain the entire epidemiologic variation. This article reviews the diagnosis and treatment options for menstrually associated migraine.

Menstrual Migraine

Slightly less than half of women with migraine report that menstruation is an important trigger of headache episodes. However, it is rare that menstruation is the only trigger for a patient and its importance as a trigger may be over- emphasized. Accurate diagnosis requires a prospectively kept diary of information showing a consistent and mechanistically valid temporal correlation between migraine attacks and menstrual periods. Abnormal central nervous system response to normal fluctuations in hormones is the likely underlying cause of menstrual migraine. Patients with menstrual migraine do not generally have hormonal abnormalities. Currently available abortive therapy works well for menstrual-related migraine attacks. For the small subset of women for whom this is not the case, and whose menstrual periods and associated headaches are predictable, pre-emptive treatment of the expected headache with scheduled perimenstrual use of a number of agents can be helpful. A hormonal trigger for migraine headache does not mean that treatment must also be hormonal in nature. Choice of therapy depends on the frequency of menstrual migraine, predictability of menstrual periods, patient preference, and cost. For the small group of women with refractory menstrual migraine, hormonal therapy can be tried, with the understanding that the quality of evidence for these interventions is low and their risk to benefit ratios not established. The perimenstrual use of triptan medications is currently being investigated for the treatment of menstrual migraine. Preliminary results are inconclusive, and until further evidence regarding the efficacy, safety, practicality, and cost effectiveness of this approach is available, their routine use in this manner for menstrual migraine is not recommended.

Gender-based differences and menstrual cycle-related changes in specific diseases: implications for pharmacotherapy

Pharmacists should be aware of gender-based differences and menstrual cycle-related changes in six diseases: asthma, arthritis, migraine, diabetes, depression, and epilepsy. In general, women report symptoms of physical illness at higher rates, visit physicians more frequently, and make greater use of other health care services than men. Whereas reasons for these gender differences are not fully clear, a combination of biologic, physiologic, social, behavioral, psychologic, and cultural factors most likely contributes. A significant percentage of women with asthma, arthritis, migraine, diabetes, depression, or epilepsy experience worsening of their disease premenstrually. The mechanism is unknown, but is speculated to be multifactorial because of many endogenous and exogenous modulators and mediators of each disease. As part of general therapy for cycle-related exacerbations of any one of these disorders, patients should be encouraged to use a menstrual calendar to track signs and symptoms for two to three cycles; if cyclic trends are identified, the women should anticipate exacerbations and avoid triggering factors. Cyclic modulation with pharmacotherapy may be attempted. If unsuccessful, a trial of medical ovulation suppression with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog may be warranted. If that is successful, continuous therapy with a GnRH analog and steroid add-back therapy or less expensive alternatives may be effective. If pharmacotherapy is impractical, hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy with estrogen replacement therapy is a last resort. Gender differences and menstrual cycle-related changes are important areas for clinical and mechanistic research.