Zolmitriptan - A review of its use in migraine

Zolmitriptan is a selective serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist ('triptan' ). Its efficacy and tolerability have been assessed in a number of randomis ed, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials in large numbers of adults with moderate to severe migraine attacks. Oral zolmitriptan 2.5 and 5mg has a rapid onset of action (significant head ache relief is observed at 45 minutes) and efficacy is sustained in most pa tients who respond at 2 hours. The drug is significantly more effective tha n placebo as measured by a number of parameters including 2-hour headache r esponse rates and pain-free response rates. Other symptoms of migraine, inc luding nausea, photophobia and phonophobia are also alleviated with zolmitr iptan. Zolmitriptan is effective in the treatment of migraine associated with mens es and migraine with aura. There is some evidence to support the use of zol mitriptan in patients with migraine who have had a poor response to previou s therapy. The efficacy of zolmitriptan appears to be maintained, with no tachyphylaxi s, following repeated administration for multiple attacks of migraine over a prolonged period of time, with high headache response rates reported over all attacks. In comparison with placebo, the incidence of persistent migraine headache i s reduced by zolmitriptan and recurrent migraine headache occurs less frequ ently with the active treatment. Zolmitriptan has also demonstrated efficac y in the treatment of persistent and/or recurrent migraine headache. For relief of migraine headache, zolmitriptan 5mg had similar efficacy to s umatriptan 100mg for a single attack, but generally was more effective than sumatriptan 25 and 50mg for multiple attacks, in single trials. The incide nce of recurrent headache with zolmitriptan was similar to that with sumatr iptan. Zolmitriptan is generally well tolerated with most adverse events being mil d to moderate, transient and resolving without intervention or the need for treatment withdrawal. The most common adverse events with zolmitriptan the rapy are asthenia, heaviness other than that of the chest or neck, dry mout h, nausea, dizziness, somnolence, paraesthesia, warm sensation, tightness, vasodilation and chest pain. Conclusion: Zolmitriptan is effective across a wide range of migraine subty pes, maintains efficacy when used in the long term and is generally well to lerated. Further clinical experience is necessary to define the position of zolmitriptan among other currently or soon to be available selective 5-HT1 B/1D receptor agonists. However, on the basis of available data, zolmitript an should emerge as a useful treatment option in the management of patients with moderate to severe migraine.