H. Gobel et al., 18-MONTH LONG-TERM ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT IVENESS, SAFETY AND TOLERABILITY OF SUBCUTANEOUS SUMATRIPTAN IN ACUTE MIGRAINE TREATMENT, Nervenarzt, 67(6), 1996, pp. 471-483
The aim of the open prospective study was to investigate the efficacy,
safety and tolerability of subcutaneous sumatriptan in acute migraine
treatment. Patient self-treatment was monitored over a time period of
6-18 months with 6 mg of sumatriptan administered subcutaneously by a
n autoinjector. In total, 2,263 patients participated in the study. He
adache intensity was documented by the patient in a headache diary bef
ore and 1 and 2h after application. During the study period from Octob
er 1991 to June 1993, 43,691 migraine attacks were investigated. Treat
ment with sumatriptan was efficient in 89.5% of the attacks. Headache
relief was achieved in 71%. Headache reoccurred in 22.7% of the attack
s, and therefore a second injection was administered. An intraindividu
al treatment efficacy of 80-100% was achieved in 82.9% of the patients
. During long-term treatment the ratio of effective treatment and head
ache frequency was constant 4.9% of the patients withdrew from the stu
dy because of adverse events and because they felt the treatment was n
ot effective. A total of 44.5% of the patients reported adverse events
that were serious in 1.7%. Subcutaneous self-treatment with sumatript
an in the acute treatment of migraine is effective and well tolerated
by the patients.