18-MONTH LONG-TERM ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT IVENESS, SAFETY AND TOLERABILITY OF SUBCUTANEOUS SUMATRIPTAN IN ACUTE MIGRAINE TREATMENT

Citation
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
Citations number
63
Categorie Soggetti
Psychiatry,"Clinical Neurology
Journal title
ISSN journal
00282804
Volume
67
Issue
6
Year of publication
1996
Pages
471 - 483
Database
ISI
SICI code
0028-2804(1996)67:6<471:1LAOTE>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
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.