Pharmacokinetics of rizatriptan tablets during and between migraine attach

Gastric stasis during migraine attacks results in delayed absorption of sev eral orally administered antimigraine agents. This study,as part of a large r trial, was conducted to examine the pharmacokinetics of rizatriptan table ts during and between migraine attacks. Participating patients met INS crit eria for migraine with or without aura, and suffered between one and eight migraines per month for the previous 6 months. in part 1 of the study, 21 p atients were randomized to receive a single 5-mg tablet of rizatriptan or p lacebo in the migraine-free state. In part 2, the same patients were treate d during migraine with rizatriptan 5-mg tablets (n=18) or placebo (n=3). Bl ood samples were obtained before dosing and 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours after dosing. The plasma concentration profile (ie, A UC((0-infinity)), C-max, T-max) of rizatriptan 5-mg tablets administered du ring and between migraine attacks were comparable. The median T-max for riz atriptan between and during attacks was 1 hour, indicating rapid absorption even during a migraine attack. Rizatriptan 5 mg was well tolerated and 67% of the patients experienced headache relief 2 hours postdose.