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Oral Sumatriptan Pharmacokinetics in the Migraine State

  • Clinical Pharmacokinetics
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Abstract

Objective: This double-blind, parallel, multicentre study investigated the effect of migraine on absorption of oral sumatriptan (25, 50 and 100mg) compared with placebo.

Design: Patients received sumatriptan or placebo in the clinic during an acute migraine and at least 7 days later, when pain-free. Pharmacokinetic and efficacy (n = 192) and safety (n = 259) parameters were assessed for 4 hours after administration of study medication.

Results: Absorption of sumatriptan from 50 and 100mg tablets was not significantly different between the migraine and pain-free periods. There was however a statistically significant decrease (approximately 23%) and delay (35 minutes) in absorption of sumatriptan from the 25mg tablet during a migraine compared with the pain-free period. Sumatriptan pharmacokinetics exhibited dose proportionality during the migraine and pain-free periods. All doses of sumatriptan were significantly superior to placebo in reducing headache pain. Adverse events were comparable among the sumatriptan groups and placebo group.

Conclusions: Absorption of sumatriptan, administered at therapeutic doses, was not statistically significantly impaired during migraine versus the pain-free state. These data suggest that coadministration of drugs that improve the absorption of sumatriptan is not necessary during sumatriptan treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. California Clinical Trials, 8500 Wilshire Blvd, 7th floor, Beverly Hills, California, 90211, USA

    John J. Sramek &  Neal R. Cutler

  2. Glaxo Research Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA

    Elizabeth K. Hussey & Bill Clements

Authors
  1. John J. Sramek
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  2. Elizabeth K. Hussey
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  3. Bill Clements
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  4. Neal R. Cutler
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Sramek, J.J., Hussey, E.K., Clements, B. et al. Oral Sumatriptan Pharmacokinetics in the Migraine State. Clin. Drug Investig. 17, 137–144 (1999). https://doi.org/10.2165/00044011-199917020-00008

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