Clinical profile and practice experience of almotriptan.

Author(s): Gendolla A

Affiliation(s): University Clinic and Policlinic of Essen, Essen, Germany. astrid.gendolla@uni-essen.de

Publication date & source: 2004, Cephalalgia., 24 Suppl 2:16-23.

Publication type: Review

Patients expect their acute migraine treatment to have a rapid onset of action, achieve complete pain relief that is sustained for 24 h, and to have a good tolerability profile. Almotriptan has a favourable pharmacokinetic profile that translates clinically to a rapid onset of action and consistent absorption regardless of age, sex, food intake and status of the acute migraine attack. In addition, almotriptan is not associated with any clinically relevant drug-drug interactions. Pain-free status at 2 h postdose is achieved by approximately 39% of patients receiving almotriptan in clinical trials. Recurrence of headaches within 24 h is low with almotriptan (<22%). Almotriptan has a sustained pain-free rate of 25-27%, which in a meta-analysis of triptans was superior to sumatriptan 100 mg. Almotriptan therapy is associated with a low incidence of adverse events, including those affecting the central nervous system and chest.