From the Guidelines
Sumatriptan is an example of a triptan medication, as stated in the most recent guideline from the American College of Physicians 1. Triptans are a class of drugs primarily used to treat migraine headaches. Other examples include rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, naratriptan, eletriptan, almotriptan, and frovatriptan. Some key points to consider when using triptans include:
- They should be used for acute treatment of migraine attacks, not as preventive medications
- They work by binding to serotonin receptors in the brain, specifically 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors, which causes blood vessels to constrict and blocks pain pathways
- They should not be used by people with certain cardiovascular conditions or within 24 hours of taking ergotamine medications or other triptans
- The choice of a specific triptan should be based on individualized decision making, taking into consideration patient preferences on such factors as route of administration and cost, as recommended by the American College of Physicians 1. It's also important to note that if one triptan is ineffective in a patient, a different triptan should be tried, as suggested in an older study 1. However, the most recent guideline from the American College of Physicians 1 provides the most up-to-date recommendations for the use of triptans in the treatment of migraine headaches.
From the FDA Drug Label
SUMATRIPTAN tablets, USP are a serotonin (5-HT1B/1D) receptor agonist (triptan) indicated for acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. An example of a triptan is sumatriptan 2.
From the Research
Definition and Examples of Triptans
- Triptans are a class of drugs used for the acute treatment of migraine attacks, as mentioned in 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- An example of a triptan is sumatriptan, which is a selective serotonin (5-HT)1B/1D agonist, as stated in 3, 4, 5, 7.
- Other examples of triptans include zolmitriptan, rizatriptan, and naratriptan, as mentioned in 3, 6.
- Triptans are effective in relieving migraine headache and other symptoms associated with migraine, such as nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia, as reported in 3, 4, 5, 7.
Forms and Administration of Triptans
- Sumatriptan is available in various forms, including subcutaneous, oral, nasal spray, and suppository, as mentioned in 3, 4, 5, 7.
- The choice of form and administration route depends on the patient's preferences and needs, such as rapid relief or ease of use, as discussed in 3, 4, 7.
Efficacy and Safety of Triptans
- Triptans have been shown to be effective and well-tolerated in the acute treatment of migraine attacks, as reported in 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- The most common adverse events associated with triptans include nausea, vomiting, malaise, and fatigue, as mentioned in 4, 7.
- Serious adverse events are rare, but triptans are contraindicated in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, as stated in 4, 7.