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Spotlight on Eletriptan in Migraine

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Abstract

Eletriptan (Relpax®)2 is an orally administered, lipophilic, highly selective serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist (‘triptan’) that is effective in the acute treatment of moderate to severe migraine attacks in adults. It has a rapid onset of action and demonstrates superiority over placebo as early as 30 minutes after the administration of a single 40 or 80mg oral dose. The efficacy of eletriptan 20mg was similar to that of sumatriptan 100mg, while eletriptan 40 and 80mg displayed greater efficacy than sumatriptan 50 or 100mg for most endpoints. Eletriptan 40mg was generally superior to naratriptan 2.5mg and equivalent to almotriptan 12.5mg, rizatriptan 10mg and zolmitriptan 2.5mg, while eletriptan 80mg was superior to zolmitriptan 2.5mg for most efficacy parameters. Eletriptan 40 and 80mg were consistently superior to ergotamine/caffeine. Eletriptan is generally well tolerated, reduces time lost from normal activities, improves patients’ health-related quality of life and appears to be at least as, if not more, cost effective than sumatriptan. Eletriptan is therefore a useful addition to the triptan family and a first-line treatment option in the acute management of migraine attacks.

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Acknowledgements

The full text article in Drugs 2006; 66 (8): 1129-49 was reviewed by: D. Deleu, Department of Neurology (Medicine), Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; S. Diamond, Diamond Headache Clinic, Chicago, Illinois, USA; A.J. Dowson, King’s College Headache Service, King’s College Hospital, London, UK; M. Färkkilä, Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; G. Sandrini, Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, IRCCS C Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy; R. Stark, Neurology Department, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; S.J. Tepper, New England Center for Headache, Stamford, Connecticut, USA; N. Wells, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

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  1. Wolters Kluwer Health Adis, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 1311, New Zealand

    Paul L. McCormack & Gillian M. Keating

  2. Wolters Kluwer Health, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA

    Paul L. McCormack & Gillian M. Keating

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  1. Paul L. McCormack
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Correspondence to Paul L. McCormack.

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McCormack, P.L., Keating, G.M. Spotlight on Eletriptan in Migraine. CNS Drugs 20, 961–964 (2006). https://doi.org/10.2165/00023210-200620110-00008

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