SUMATRIPTAN SUPPOSITORIES FOR THE ACUTE TREATMENT OF MIGRAINE

A randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial w as undertaken to assess the efficacy and tolerability of the sumatript an suppository in 184 patients with acute migraine, Patients used a su matriptan suppository (12.5 mg or 25 mg) or placebo at home for the tr eatment of a moderate or severe migraine attack and those who experien ced headache recurrence within 24 hours of dosing had the option to re peat the dose, By 2 hours post-dose, 68% of patients in the sumatripta n 25 mg group and 47% of patients in the sumatriptan 12.5 mg group com pared with 25% of placebo patients achieved headache relief, Relief ra tes 2 hours post-dose for nausea, vomiting, photophobia and phonophobi a were similar to those reported 2 hours post-dose for headache. Post hoc review of the recurrence data showed that administration of a seco nd suppository was effective in alleviating recurrent headache in over 80% of the sumatriptan-treated patients experiencing recurrence, No s erious or unusual adverse events were reported, and the pattern and in cidence of adverse events did not vary as a function of dose. These da ta demonstrate that the sumatriptan suppository is a well-tolerated, e ffective treatment for the acute treatment of migraine pain and its as sociated symptoms.