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Zolmitriptan versus sumatriptan for the acute oral treatment of migraine: a randomized, double‐blind, international study
Author(s) -
GruffydJones K.,
Kies B.,
Middleton A.,
Mulder L. J. M. M.,
Røsjø Ø.,
Millson D. S.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-1331.2001.00218.x
Subject(s) - zolmitriptan , sumatriptan , medicine , migraine , anesthesia , tolerability , population , randomized controlled trial , adverse effect , agonist , receptor , environmental health
This randomized, double‐blind, parallel‐group study compared the efficacy and tolerability of zolmitriptan (2.5 or 5 mg) and sumatriptan (50 mg) in the acute oral treatment of up to six moderate‐to‐severe migraine attacks. The intention to treat (ITT) population comprised of 1522 patients: 500 treated with zolmitriptan 2.5 mg (2671 attacks), 514 with zolmitriptan 5 mg (2744 attacks) and 508 with sumatriptan 50 mg (2693 attacks). Overall, the 2‐h headache response rates in these groups were 62.9, 65.7 and 66.6%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between sumatriptan 50 mg and zolmitriptan 2.5 mg ( P =0.12) or 5 mg ( P =0.80). Approximately 40% of patients in each group reported a 2‐h headache response in ≥ 80% of attacks. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the rates of headache response at 1 h (zolmitriptan 2.5 mg 36.9%, zolmitriptan 5 mg 39.5% and sumatriptan 50 mg 38.0%) or 4 h (70.3, 72.9 and 72.2%, respectively) or in the rates of meaningful migraine relief at 1, 2 or 4 h or sustained (24‐h) pain relief. All treatments were well tolerated. In conclusion, zolmitriptan (2.5 or 5 mg) proved similarly efficacious compared with sumatriptan (50 mg), both in terms of response rates and consistency across attacks.