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Migraine is a condition characterised by attacks of moderate to severe, throbbing headache, which is usually unilateral.
This is often associated with other symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, photophobia or phonophobia. Approximately one-third of patients with migraines
also experience a preceding aura. Worldwide, approximately one in every seven people are affected by migraines, which are often associated with significant
personal and socioeconomic impact.1 In the Global Burden of Disease Survey 2010, migraine was ranked as the third most prevalent disorder and the
seventh-highest specific cause of disability.2
For information on diagnosing migraine, see:
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guideline: Headaches. Diagnosis and management of headaches
in young people and adults, 2012. Available from: www.nice.org.uk
British Association for the Study of Headache (BASH) Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of migraine,
tension-type headache, cluster headache, medication-overuse headache, 2010. Available from:
www.bash.org.uk
“Headache in primary care”, BPJ 7 (Aug, 2007), available from: www.bpac.org.nz
A stepwise approach to managing migraine: triptans are appropriate at step two
There are a number of treatment guidelines for acute migraine, all of which differ slightly in their recommended approach
(see the NICE and BASH guidelines).3, 4 Most algorithms, however, recommend stepwise treatment, with triptans usually
tried after paracetamol and NSAIDs.
A reasonable approach is:
Step 1: Over-the-counter analgesics (paracetamol, NSAIDs)
Step 2: Triptan
Step 3: Combination treatment with a triptan and an NSAID
+/- anti-emetic (prochlorperazine, metoclopramide) at any step
Recommended doses for these medicines can be found in Tables 2 and 3.
NICE guidelines recommend considering an anti-emetic in addition to other acute treatment for migraine, even in the
absence of nausea and vomiting.4
Non-oral preparations can be offered to patients who have tried oral preparations and found them ineffective or intolerable,
e.g. buccal prochlorperazine, diclofenac suppositories, subcutaneous sumatriptan or intranasal zolmitriptan.4
Ergotamine and opioids are generally not recommended for the treatment of patients with acute migraine.4
N.B. Triptans are not used to treat patients with rarer types of migraine, such as hemiplegic, basilar or ophthalmoplegic
migraine.5 This is because theoretical concerns about the safety of using a medicine with vasoconstrictor effects in patients
with focal migraine mean that these patient groups were not included in clinical trials.
Triptans available in New Zealand
Currently there are four triptans available in New Zealand: sumatriptan, rizatriptan, naratriptan and zolmitriptan.
These have slightly differing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles (Table 1). Almotriptan, eletriptan and frovatriptan
are other triptans available internationally, however, they are not currently available in New Zealand.6
Choice of triptan can be guided by a patient’s symptoms
As all triptans have similar effectiveness (see: “How effective are triptans at relieving migraine”), it is
appropriate to choose a triptan based on patient preference. Patients often prefer oral treatment, and oral sumatriptan
is an acceptable first choice.14
Vomiting and nausea may restrict oral treatment for some patients and in these cases, an alternative form of treatment
such as subcutaneous sumatriptan (6 mg) or intranasal zolmitriptan (5 mg) are appropriate choices.4, 16 Subcutaneous sumatriptan
may be the best choice for patients who have rapidly developing migraines or for patients with nausea or vomiting that
develop early in the migraine.14
“Melt” preparations dissolve on the tongue and are only absorbed after swallowing.16 They may be useful for people who
find drinking water intolerable during a migraine or who are unable to swallow tablets, but are not usually suitable if
vomiting is problematic.3
There is evidence that patients who do not respond to one triptan may respond to another.15 Therefore, it is reasonable
to try an alternative triptan for a subsequent attack if one proves to be ineffective.16 In particular, patients who do
not respond to oral triptans should be encouraged to try subcutaneous sumatriptan.14
Table 1: Triptans – formulations and number needed to treat (NNT)7, 8
Triptan |
Formulations available |
Onset of action |
NNT for two hours pain free response vs placebo |
Drug interactions |
Sumatriptan |
Subcutaneous injection 6 mg; tablet 50 mg, 100 mg |
Subcutaneous 15 minutes; oral 30 minutes |
2.3 (subcutaneous)
6.1 (50 mg tablet)
4.7 (100 mg tablet) |
MAOIs (avoid use within 14 days); ergotamine, other triptans (within 24 hours) |
Rizatriptan |
Orally disintegrating tablet 10 mg; wafer 10 mg (NS) |
0.5 – 1 hour |
3.1 |
MAOIs (avoid use within 14 days); propranolol (increased bioavailability of rizatriptan – do not use concurrently
because there is no lower strength rizatriptan tablet available in New Zealand); ergotamine, other triptans (within
24 hours) |
Zolmitriptan |
Nasal spray 5 mg (NS) |
10 – 15 minutes |
4.3 |
MAOIs (avoid use within 14 days); CYP1A2 inhibitor medicines (e.g. ciprofloxacin); ergotamine, other triptans
(within 24 hours) |
Naratriptan |
Tablet 2.5 mg (NS) |
1 – 3 hours |
8.2 |
Ergotamine, other triptans (within 24 hours) |
Key: NNT= number needed to treat; NS=Not subsidised; CI=confidence interval; MAOI=monoamine oxidase inhibitor
Subsidy: For current subsidy information consult the
New Zealand Formulary or the Pharmaceutical Schedule. At present the tablet and
subcutaneous injections of sumatriptan are subsidised, as is the orally disintegrating rizatriptan tablet. The other triptans are not currently subsidised.
Zolmitriptan nasal spray and sumatriptan 50 mg tablets are available without prescription as pharmacist-only medicines.
Prescribing triptans and monitoring use
A triptan should be taken early during a migraine attack but not during the aura phase
Triptans are most effective if taken early in a migraine attack while the pain is still mild.7 Triptans
should not be taken during the aura phase of a migraine because:
- Trials in which triptans were administered in the aura phase showed no significant benefit of triptan use over placebo.7
- There are concerns around distinguishing migraine aura from early stroke symptoms, particularly in patients with complex
aura presentations.7
Do not repeat the dose of triptan if not responding to first dose
Individual advice varies for the different triptans but in general patients should not repeat the dose of a triptan
if there is no relief of migraine after the first dose. The dose can be repeated after two to four hours if there was
initial relief from the migraine and it has then reoccurred (Table 2).
Avoid using triptans for ≥ ten days per month
Medication overuse headache can result from excessive use of analgesics used to treat headache, including the use of
triptans for migraine. To avoid this, triptans should not be used for more than (or equal to) ten days per month on a
regular basis.3 It is also recommended that paracetamol and NSAIDs should not be taken for headache on more
than 15 days per month.3 Most guidelines advise that codeine and other opioids should not be used to treat
migraine or other primary headache disorders, because of high rates of medication overuse headache with these preparations.
Medication overuse headache may manifest as a tension-type daily headache or migraine-like attacks. Headaches often
improve within two months following the withdrawal of the overused medicine, although symptoms typically initially worsen
before this improvement is seen.2, 7
Withdrawing triptans
There are a number of different strategies to manage withdrawal of triptans in people who have overused this medicine.
Most involve the abrupt withdrawal of the triptan and the use of other medicines to cover symptoms after the triptan is
withdrawn, e.g. headache, nausea and vomiting.
The following medicines may be used for withdrawal symptoms:17
- Naproxen 250 mg, three times daily or 500 mg, twice daily, or as required. Treatment may be continued for three to
four weeks (some experts recommend only two to three weeks).
- Prednisone 60 – 100 mg tapered over five to six days; there is less evidence that this is effective for medication
overuse headache
- Metoclopramide or domperidone can be used as required for nausea and vomiting
The patient should be reviewed after two to three weeks to ensure withdrawal has been achieved. Prophylactic medicines
for migraine may be required, e.g. beta-blockers. Triptans may need to be reintroduced for acute migraine, but the patient
should be advised to avoid using them for more than two days per week.17
A study of 98 patients with medication overuse headache found that following triptan withdrawal, the mean duration of
headache was 4.1 days, and overall improvement in associated symptoms, e.g. nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbance, occurred
within 7 – 10 days.18
Referral to a Neurologist is sometimes useful for patients who are unable to successfully withdraw from overused medicine.
For further information, see: “Medication
overuse headache: when the cure becomes the cause”, BPJ 16 (Sept, 2008).
How effective are triptans at relieving migraine?
The evidence shows that triptans are effective in reducing the pain associated with acute migraine. There is little
difference in efficacy between different types of triptans.
Recent systematic reviews of the effectiveness of sumatriptan concluded that sumatriptan (oral and subcutaneous) was
superior to placebo for all efficacy outcomes.9, 10 For oral sumatriptan 50 mg versus placebo, the number
needed to treat (NNT) was 6.1 for pain-free response at two hours. For oral sumatriptan 100 mg, the NNT was 4.7 and for
subcutaneous sumatriptan 6 mg, the NNT was 2.3 for the same outcome.9, 10
Other reviews have found that all triptans are superior to placebo, with small differences in efficacy between the various
triptans.11, 12 A study in 2002 found that rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, almotriptan, eletriptan and frovatriptan
were therapeutically similar to 100 mg oral sumatriptan, but naratriptan was marginally less effective.12 A
more recent review in 2013 found that eletriptan (not available in New Zealand) appeared to be the most effective triptan
at relieving pain at two and 24 hours.11 Rizatriptan appeared to be the second most favourable treatment and
was effective at two hours but did not have the same efficacy at 24 hours. Oral sumatriptan 100 mg was the third most
effective treatment at two hours and appeared to maintain efficacy at 24 hours.11
The mechanism of action of triptans
Triptans are selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor agonists with high affinity for 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors.13 Stimulation
of the 5-HT1B receptors on smooth muscle cells of blood vessels causes cranial vasoconstriction. This was originally thought
to be the main mechanism of action of triptans in relieving migraine.13 5-HT1D receptors lie on the perivascular
trigeminal nerve terminals and in the dorsal horn. It is thought that stimulation of these receptors blocks the release
of vasoactive peptides from trigeminal neurons and of neurotransmitters in the dorsal horn, which convey nociceptive information
to the thalamus.13
Table 2: Triptan dose and instructions5
N.B. If there is no response to the first dose, patients should not take a second dose for the same attack
Triptan |
Dose |
Instructions |
Sumatriptan |
Oral: 50 mg (some patients may require 100 mg) |
Dose may be repeated after at least two hours if migraine recurs; maximum 300 mg in 24 hours |
Subcutaneous: 6 mg |
Dose may be repeated once after at least one hour if migraine recurs; maximum 12 mg in 24 hours |
Rizatriptan |
Oral: 10 mg |
Dose may be repeated after at least two hours if migraine recurs; maximum 30 mg in 24 hours. If prescribing the
wafer formulation, advise patient that it should be placed on the tongue and allowed to dissolve. |
Zolmitriptan |
Intranasal: 5 mg into one nostril |
Dose may be repeated after at least two hours if migraine recurs; maximum 10 mg in 24 hours.
N.B. this advice is from the UK datasheet for zolmitriptan nasal spray; the New Zealand datasheet does not include
information about repeat dosing. |
Naratriptan |
Oral: 2.5 mg |
Dose may be repeated after at least four hours if migraine recurs; maximum 5 mg in 24 hours. |
Safety and precautions with triptans
Cardiovascular safety
All triptans are associated with “triptan sensations”, which are symptoms of burning, tingling, or tightness in the
face, neck, limbs or chest. Chest pressure may be alarming for the patient, however, in most cases it is not associated
with ECG changes or other evidence of decreased myocardial perfusion.14 To improve tolerability, the triptan
dose may be lowered in patients who are very sensitive to the adverse effects.14
There have been reports of serious cardiovascular events, including death, associated with triptan use. Most of these
cases were linked to patients having prior cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with multiple cardiac risk factors may
require cardiac evaluation before triptans are initiated.15
Triptans are contraindicated in people with uncontrolled or severe hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, or previous
myocardial infarction, stroke or coronary vasospasm (including Prinzmetal’s angina) due to their vasoconstrictive effect.5
Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding
Migraines are approximately three times more common among females than males, with an average age of onset of 18 years.
The peak prevalence of migraine in females occurs between ages 25 and 55 years, making the safety of triptans in pregnancy
and breastfeeding a potentially significant issue.19
Sumatriptan can be considered for the acute treatment of migraine in pregnant women if clinically indicated
see: “Management
of acute migraine in pregnancy”). It is the triptan with the most evidence of use during pregnancy because it has
been available for longer than other triptans. A large number of studies have confirmed that sumatriptan exposure during
any stage of pregnancy has not been associated with an increased risk of major malformations.20 Other triptans
require more study. There is also no compelling evidence of other adverse pregnancy outcomes from exposure to sumatriptan
during pregnancy,21 although some evidence suggests that triptan use later in pregnancy is associated with
a slightly increased risk of complications, especially pre-term birth, atonic uterus and haemorrhage during labour (due
to 5-HT effects on uterine blood vessels and platelet aggregation).22, 23
Data regarding the use of triptans during breastfeeding is limited, but sumatriptan is considered compatible with breastfeeding.5,
20 In one study of five women who received subcutaneous sumatriptan, infants received approximately 3.5% of the
weight-adjusted maternal dose through breast milk.24 Given the low oral bioavailability of sumatriptan, the
dose that infants would receive following a mother taking intermittent doses of oral sumatriptan is expected to be even
lower.
Medicine interactions
There are several medicine interactions to be aware of when prescribing triptans. Triptans are contraindicated in people
either currently taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or within two weeks of stopping a MAOI. Clinical evidence
suggests that moclobemide approximately doubles the bioavailability of sumatriptan and other MAOIs (phenelzine and tranylcypromine)
would be expected to interact in a similar way.5, 25
There is also a potential risk of serotonin syndrome with the concurrent use of triptans in patients taking serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), however, this interaction appears to be rare. The American Headache Society advised that
the limited evidence provided by case reports does not support limiting the use of triptans with SSRIs or serotonin-noradrenaline
reuptake inhibitors.26 If these medicines are used together, monitor patients for signs of serotonin syndrome,
e.g. weakness, hyperreflexia and poor co-ordination.5 There is also a possible risk of serotonin syndrome
with the combination of St John’s wort and triptans (one case report in the literature).25
There is a theoretical risk of additive vasoconstriction, and possible significant coronary vasoconstriction, with the
combined use of triptans and ergot derivatives (e.g. ergotamine) and the combination is generally contraindicated.25 It
is advised to avoid using ergotamine for six hours after using sumatriptan, and to avoid using sumatriptan for 24 hours
after using ergotamine.5
Propranolol increases the plasma concentration of rizatriptan. International advice is to use a 5 mg dose of rizatriptan
and limit the number of doses to two in 24 hours.25 However, New Zealand does not currently have a 5 mg formulation
and the 10 mg formulations available are unable to be halved. Therefore in New Zealand, it may be best to avoid using
this combination.
Management of acute migraine in pregnancy
There is no clear evidence that migraines are a significant risk factor for adverse outcomes during pregnancy, however,
recent population-based studies have found a possible link suggesting that pregnant women with migraines may be more at
risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia.2 Many women with a history of migraine report that the incidence
of their migraines decreases during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters. This is thought to be due
to sustained oestrogen levels.2 However, in women who do get migraines during pregnancy it is important that they are
offered appropriate and adequate treatment to avoid adverse effects on maternal wellbeing, e.g. sleep deprivation, poor
nutrition (due to vomiting and nausea) and increased stress.20
Paracetamol is recommended first-line for the acute treatment of migraine in pregnant women. Sumatriptan can be considered
as a second-line option, depending on the need for treatment balanced against the risk. NSAIDs (ibuprofen is preferred)
may be considered in the second trimester, but should be avoided in the first and third trimesters, and are generally
only used in pregnant women if their benefit outweighs the risk.5
Other treatment options for the relief of acute migraine
Triptans are one of a number of therapeutic options available for the management of migraine. Other treatments that
are used to manage migraine include paracetamol, NSAIDs and anti-emetics (see Table 3 for recommended doses). Ergotamine
and opioids are not generally recommended.
There is limited evidence that directly compares triptans with other classes of medicines used for treating migraine.
Two reviews found that triptans are superior to ergotamine compounds for treating migraine, however, both reviews found
no significant difference in the effectiveness of triptans compared with other pharmacological approaches to treating
migraine.13, 27
A Cochrane review evaluated the combination of naproxen and sumatriptan to treat migraine. It was concluded that naproxen
plus sumatriptan was significantly better that naproxen alone. However, there was only a small benefit when using the
combination compared with using sumatriptan alone.28
Ergotamine (combined with caffeine in Cafergot) is an older treatment for migraine that is still occasionally used.
Current advice suggests that it is not appropriate to use ergots for migraine as there is evidence that they are not as
effective as triptans and they are associated with an increased risk of adverse effects.4, 16
Opioids are also not recommended as they may exacerbate nausea, increase the risk of medication overuse headache, and
have the risk of potential addiction.13
Table 3: Other pharmacological options for the treatment of migraine in adults5, 29
Drug class |
Drug name |
Dose and instructions |
Analgesics |
Paracetamol |
1 g every 4–6 hours, no more than 4 doses in 24 hours |
|
Aspirin |
600 – 900 mg every 4–6 hours, no more than 4 doses in 24 hours |
|
Ibuprofen |
200 – 400 mg every 4–6 hours, no more than 2.4 g in 24 hours |
|
Naproxen |
750 mg at onset, followed if necessary by a further 250 – 500 mg at least 1 hour after initial dose, no more than
1250 mg in first 24 hours; if ongoing migraine relief required, 250 mg every 6 – 8 hours as necessary, no more than
4 doses in 24 hours (or a maximum of 1 g daily)
Naproxen sodium*: 825 mg at onset, followed if necessary by a further 275 – 550 mg at least 30 minutes after the
initial dose. Maximum 1375 mg (5 tablets) in 24 hours
* not subsidised, can be purchased over-the-counter (Naprogesic, Sonaflam) |
|
Diclofenac |
Diclofenac sodium (oral): immediate release 50 – 75 mg at onset, repeated after 2 hours if necessary and then
after 4 – 6 hours, no more than 200 mg in first 24 hours; if ongoing migraine relief required, modified release 75
mg once or twice daily as necessary, no more than 150 mg in 24 hours
Diclofenac sodium (rectal): 100 mg at onset, repeated up after 2 hours if necessary by 100 mg rectally, up to 200
mg on the first day if required; if ongoing migraine relief required, 50 mg as necessary up to 3 times daily, no more
than 150 mg in 24 hours
Diclofenac potassium (oral)*: 50 mg at onset, repeated after 2 hours if necessary and then after 4 – 6 hours, maximum
150 mg in 24 hours
* not subsidised, can be purchased over-the-counter (Voltaren Rapid) |
Anti-emetics |
Domperidone |
10 mg, up to 3 doses in 24 hours |
|
Metoclopramide |
10 mg, up to 3 doses in 24 hours. Do not prescribe for longer than 5 days (risk of neurological adverse events
– see NZF for further details) |
|
Prochlorperazine |
Oral tablets: 20 mg at outset, repeated if necessary by 10 mg 2 hours later; if ongoing anti-emetic required,
5–10 mg as necessary up to 3 times daily.
Buccal tablets: 3 – 6 mg, up to 2 doses in 24 hours |
Combination drugs |
Paracetamol and metoclopramide (Paramax)*
* Paramax to be delisted on 1 November 2014 due to supplier discontinuation. |
Paracetamol (500 mg) + metoclopramide (5 mg): two tablets should be taken at the onset of the attack, repeated
four-hourly as required; no more than 6 doses in 24 hours |
Acknowledgement
Thank you to Dr John Mottershead, Consultant Neurologist and Clinical Senior Lecturer, Dunedin School of Medicine,
University of Otago, Dunedin and Dr Lynette Murdoch, General Practitioner and Senior Teaching Fellow, University of Otago,
Christchurch for expert review of this article.
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