To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: ANA: Eletriptan Improves Efficacy When Earlier Triptans Fail URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/23D2D2.htm Doctor's Guide October 28, 2003
By Jill Stein SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- October 28, 2003 -- Eletriptan can significantly reduce acute migraines, and may be especially useful when prior triptan therapy has failed, according to the results of a study released on October 20th at the 128th Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association. John Claude Krusz, PhD, MD, Anodyne Headache and Pain Care, Dallas, Texas, United States, presented results in 30 patients in whom prior triptan therapy, though successful, was considered suboptimal over time. "While triptans have revolutionised the treatment of acute migraine headaches, the frequent use of a particular triptan may show a poorer pattern of successful response over time," Dr. Krusz pointed out. "Sometimes, the migraine is evolving, as in a transformed migraine pattern. The patient will develop more migraines per unit of time, and the response to triptans may become suboptimal." Another possibility is that the patient is developing a rebound phenomenon to the triptan medication. While there is no universal consensus on this theory, it seems that the shorter-half-life triptans (e.g., rizatriptan, sumatriptan and zolmitriptan) may be more strongly associated with this occurrence, Dr. Kruscz added. It is not clear whether the longer-half-life triptans (almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, and naratriptan) are also associated with rebound migraines with frequent use. The 30 patients enrolled in the trial reported less effectiveness per dose and/or the need for repeat dosing with their usual triptan. Prior triptan therapy involved rizatriptan in 6 patients, sumatriptan in 19, and zolmitriptan in 5. Patients were offered a trial of eletriptan 40 mg to treat their next 5 migraine headaches, and were asked to maintain headache diaries during treatment with eletriptan. No other medication strategies, including any prophylaxis or adjunctive therapy, were changed during treatment with eletriptan. Overall, 24 (80%) patients reported that eletriptan was at least as effective as prior therapy in 120 of 150 migraines treated with eletriptan. This was consistent in over 90% of migraine attacks treated with eletriptan. Recurrence of migraines was also reduced, with 6 patients consistently using a second dose of eletriptan compared to 14 patients who requiring repeat dosing with their prior triptan. Dr. Krusz said the results demonstrate the usefulness of switching to eletriptan when prior therapies are suboptimal, or when repeat dosing is needed. [Study Title: Eletriptan: Switching Triptans for Better Efficacy. Abstract 56] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.