Abstract:

▴ Sumatriptan is a serotonin 5-HT_1B/1D receptor agonist that is used for the acute treatment of migraine attacks. A new fast-disintegrating/rapid-release sumatriptan tablet (sumatriptan FDT/RRT) has been developed with the goal of speeding absorption and onset of effect compared with standard sumatriptan tablets.

▴ Bioequivalence of sumatriptan FDT/RRT tablets to standard sumatriptan tablets was established in healthy volunteers. Initial data suggest that sumatriptan FDT/RRT tablets may disintegrate faster and get emptied from the stomach faster than standard sumatriptan tablets.

▴ In a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, early intervention trial in adults with mild migraine, significantly more sumatriptan FDT/RRT 50 and 100mg recipients than placebo recipients were pain free or migraine free 2 hours after receiving study medication.

▴ Compared with placebo, pain relief was significantly greater with sumatriptan FDT/RRT 100mg at 25 and 17 minutes following administration, and with sumatriptan FDT/RRT 50mg at 50 and 30 minutes following administration, in two randomised, double-blind, multicentre trials in adults with moderate to severe migraine.

▴ Sumatriptan FDT/RRT tablets were generally well tolerated; the tolerability profile was similar to that reported for standard sumatriptan tablets in other studies.

Keywords: Adis Drug Profiles; Migraine; Sumatriptan

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Adis International Limited, Auckland, New Zealand