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A Review of Needle‐Free Sumatriptan Injection for Rapid Control of Migraine
Author(s) -
Rothrock John F.,
Freitag Frederick G.,
Farr Stephen J.,
Smith Edward F.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/head.12183
Subject(s) - sumatriptan , triptans , migraine , medicine , zolmitriptan , anesthesia , dihydroergotamine , acute migraine , onset of action , bioequivalence , pharmacology , pharmacokinetics , agonist , alternative medicine , placebo , receptor , pathology
The treatment of migraine was transformed in 1992 with the introduction of the first triptan‐based therapy, subcutaneous ( SC ) sumatriptan. SC sumatriptan has high efficacy and a rapid onset of action compared with other available triptans and formulations presumably because of its short T max , high C max , and avoidance of enteral absorption. Because of these characteristics, SC sumatriptan is still considered the most reliably and rapidly effective self‐administered medication available for acute migraine. Even so, it is relatively little used possibly in part because of patient “needle‐phobia.” The needle‐free sumatriptan injection system ( S umavel D ose P ro) was developed to address this concern. Clinical trials have shown that the needle‐free system is bioequivalent to needle‐based injection systems, easy to use, and capable of providing rapid and effective symptom relief for many migraine episodes. S umavel D ose P ro is an effective treatment for migraine and should be part of the therapeutic armamentarium, particularly in cases where a rapid onset of action is critical or where oral administration is problematic.