Rizatriptan in the treatment of migraine

Rizatriptan is a selective 5-hydroxytriptamine(1B/1D) receptor agonist that was launched in 1998 for the acute treatment of migraine in adults. Based on data from 6 large clinical trials in patients greater than or equal to 1 8 years of age in whom migraine was diagnosed according to International He adache Society criteria, the marketed 10-mg and 5-mg oral doses of rizatrip tan are effective in relieving headache pain and associated migraine sympto ms. The 10-mg dose is more effective than the 5-mg dose. At 2 hours after d osing, up to 77% of patients taking rizatriptan 10 mg had pain relief compa red with 37% of those taking placebo, up to 44% were completely pain free c ompared with 37% of those taking placebo, and up to 77% were free of nausea compared with 58% of those taking placebo (P < 0.05 for all 3 comparisons) . Both doses of rizatriptan are generally well tolerated. In placebo-contro lled studies involving treatment of a single migraine attack, the most comm on side effects (incidence greater than or equal to 2%) occurred in <10% of patients, typically were transitory (2 to 3 hours), and were mild or moder ate. Rizatriptan is an effective and well-tolerated acute treatment for mig raine.