What is the recommended dosage and usage of Frovatriptan (Frovatriptan) for migraine treatment?

From the Guidelines

Frovatriptan is recommended at a dose of 2.5 mg taken orally at the first sign of a migraine headache, with a maximum of 3 tablets (7.5 mg total) in a 24-hour period, as supported by the most recent clinical guideline from the American College of Physicians 1. The choice of a specific triptan, such as frovatriptan, should be based on individualized decision making, taking into consideration patient preferences on such factors as route of administration and cost 1. Some key points to consider when prescribing frovatriptan include:

• It should be swallowed whole with water and can be taken with or without food.
• It works best when taken early in the migraine attack rather than waiting until the pain becomes severe.
• Patients with heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, hemiplegic or basilar migraines, or a history of stroke should not take frovatriptan.
• Common side effects include dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth, and hot flashes.
• If a patient experiences chest pain, severe headache, or other unusual symptoms after taking frovatriptan, they should seek medical attention immediately. It's also important to note that frovatriptan belongs to the triptan class of medications and works by narrowing blood vessels in the brain and blocking pain pathways, specifically targeting serotonin receptors to reduce inflammation and pain signals 1. Additionally, patients should be aware of medication overuse headache, which is a potential complication of migraine treatment, and should be counseled to begin treatment of migraine headache as soon as possible after its onset, using combination therapy (such as a triptan with an NSAID or acetaminophen) to improve efficacy 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

The recommended dose is a single tablet of FROVA (frovatriptan 2.5 mg) taken orally with fluids. If the headache recurs after initial relief, a second tablet may be taken, providing there is an interval of at least 2 hours between doses. The total daily dose of frovatriptan should not exceed 3 tablets (3 x 2.5 mg per day). The recommended dosage and usage of Frovatriptan for migraine treatment is:

• A single tablet of 2.5 mg taken orally with fluids
• A second tablet may be taken if the headache recurs after initial relief, with an interval of at least 2 hours between doses
• The total daily dose should not exceed 3 tablets (3 x 2.5 mg per day) 2 Key points:
• Do not take more than 3 tablets in a day
• Do not take a second dose if there is no response to the first dose for the same headache
• The safety of treating more than 4 migraine attacks in a 30-day period has not been established 2

From the Research

Dosage and Usage of Frovatriptan for Migraine Treatment

• The recommended dosage of Frovatriptan for the acute treatment of migraine is 2.5 mg, taken orally at the onset of a moderate or severe migraine headache 3, 4, 5, 6.
• This dose has been shown to be effective in relieving headache and migraine-associated symptoms, with a significant proportion of patients achieving headache response at 2 hours post-dose 3, 5, 6.
• The 2.5-mg dose also appears to have a favourable tolerability profile, with the majority of adverse events being mild or moderate in severity 3, 4, 5, 6.
• Higher doses of Frovatriptan (above 2.5 mg) do not appear to confer greater efficacy and are associated with an increased incidence of adverse events 5, 6.

Administration and Timing

• Frovatriptan is most effective when administered early in a migraine attack, while the headache is still mild 3, 4.
• Administration of Frovatriptan at the onset of a migraine attack has been shown to be more efficacious than delayed administration 3.
• The long terminal elimination half-life of Frovatriptan (approximately 26 hours) may contribute to its sustained treatment effect 3, 4.

Safety and Tolerability

• Frovatriptan has been shown to be well tolerated in clinical trials, with the majority of adverse events being mild or moderate in severity 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
• The most common adverse events associated with Frovatriptan include dizziness, fatigue, headache, paraesthesia, flushing, skeletal pain, hot or cold sensation, dry mouth, chest pain, and dyspepsia 3.
• Frovatriptan has been shown to be safe and well tolerated in patients with coronary artery disease or at high risk of coronary artery disease 3, 7.