Comparison of preference for rizatriptan 10-mg wafer versus sumatriptan 50-mg tablet in migraine.

Abstract

Rizatriptan (MAXALT, a registered trademark of Merck & Co. Inc.) is a selective 5-HT(1B/1D) receptor agonist with rapid oral absorption and early onset of action in the acute treatment of migraine. This randomized, open-label, crossover outpatient study assessed the preference of 481 patients for rizatriptan 10-mg rapidly disintegrating tablets versus sumatriptan (IMIGRAN, a registered trademark of GlaxoWellcome PLC) 50-mg tablets in the treatment of a single migraine attack with each therapy. Almost twice as many patients preferred rizatriptan 10-mg rapidly disintegrating tablet to sumatriptan 50-mg tablet (64.3 vs. 35.7%, p < or = 0.001). Faster relief of headache pain was the most important reason for the preference, cited by 46.9% of patients preferring rizatriptan and 43.4% of patients who preferred sumatriptan. Headache relief at 2 h was 75.9% with rizatriptan and 66.6% with sumatriptan (p < or = 0.001), with rizatriptan being superior to sumatriptan within 30 min of dosing. Fifty-five percent of patients were pain free 2 h after rizatriptan, compared with 42.1% treated with sumatriptan (p < or = 0.001), rizatriptan being superior within 1 h of treatment. Forty-one percent of patients taking rizatriptan were pain free at 2 h and had no recurrence or need for additional medication, compared to 32.3% of patients on sumatriptan. Rizatriptan was also superior to sumatriptan in terms of the proportions of patients with no nausea, phonophobia or photophobia, and patients with normal function 2 h after treatment intake (p < 0.05). More patients were (completely, very or somewhat) satisfied 2 h after treatment with rizatriptan (73.3%) than 2 h after treatment with sumatriptan (59.0%) (p < or = 0.001). Additionally, 2 h after the dose, more patients found rizatriptan to be very convenient, convenient or somewhat convenient (87.2%) than they did sumatriptan (76.3%) (p < or = 0.001). Both active treatments were well tolerated. The most common side effects with rizatriptan and sumatriptan were nausea (6.6 and 6.9% of patients, respectively), dizziness (6.1 and 5.8%) and somnolence (7.4 and 6.7%).

• Authors: J Pascual, G Bussone, J F Hernandez, C Allen, F Vrijens, K Patel, Rizatriptan-Sumatriptan Preference Study Group
• Journal: European neurology (Eur Neurol) Vol. 45 Issue 4 Pg. 275-83 ( 2001) ISSN: 0014-3022 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 11385269 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel

Chemical References

• Serotonin Receptor Agonists
• Tablets
• Triazoles
• Tryptamines
• rizatriptan
• Sumatriptan

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Cross-Over Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Migraine Disorders (drug therapy)
• Patient Satisfaction
• Serotonin Receptor Agonists (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Sumatriptan (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Tablets
• Triazoles (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Tryptamines