Profiles of 5-HT1B/1D agonists in acute migraine with special reference tosecond generation agents

The efficacy of 5-hydroxytryptamine(1B/1D) (5-HT1B/1D) agonists is related to their inhibitory effects on neurogenic inflammation mediated through ser otoninergic control mechanisms. Recently, a series of oral second generatio n 5-HT1B/1D agonists (eletriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan and zolmitriptan ) have been developed and are reviewed in this paper. Their in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties, clinical efficacy, drug interactions, and adverse effects are evaluated and compared to the gold standard in the tre atment of acute migraine, sumatriptan.