EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF ORAL SUMATRIPTAN IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE MIGRAINE

An open prospective study of the efficacy and tolerability of oral sum atriptan in the treatment of acute migraine attacks at the Kenyatta Na tional Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya, is presented. Thirty two patients wer e initially recruited and 24 completed the trial giving a drop-out rat e of 25%. The age range was 17 to 55 years with a mean of 35 years. Su matriptan was found to be effective in 22 (92%) out of 24 patients. Si de effects occurred in 38% (9/24) patients. These were mild and transi ent and included nausea, vomiting, numbness of limbs, fever and a feel ing of heat in the head. It is concluded that oral sumatriptan is an e ffective drug in the treatment of acute migraine headaches. It has few side effects and is well tolerated by majority of patients.