Subcutaneous sumatriptan in acute treatment of migraine: a multicentre New Zealand trial

• Published in: New Zealand medical journal Vol. 106; no. 955; p. 171
• Main Authors: Thomson, A N, Arthur, G P, Bergin, P S, Pollock, M, Parkin, P J, Flanagan, M, Samson, S A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand 12-05-1993
• Subjects: Adult; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Indoles - administration & dosage; Indoles - adverse effects; Indoles - therapeutic use; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; Middle Aged; Migraine Disorders - drug therapy; Sulfonamides - administration & dosage; Sulfonamides - adverse effects; Sulfonamides - therapeutic use; Sumatriptan; Treatment Outcome; Vasoconstrictor Agents - administration & dosage; Vasoconstrictor Agents - adverse effects; Vasoconstrictor Agents - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0028-8446

To assess the effectiveness of subcutaneous sumatriptan (4 mg) in the acute treatment of migraine.
A randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study was conducted in four New Zealand centres. On developing an acute attack of migraine, patients attended a centre where they were given either sumatriptan 4 mg or placebo by subcutaneous injection. Headache severity and clinical disability were measured over a 2 hour period.
Fifty-one patients, aged 19-58 years with common or classical migraine were treated. Twenty-eight patients received 4 mg sumatriptan and 23 patients received placebo. Pretreatment headache severity was graded moderate in 76% and severe in 24%. Thirty-two percent of patients were sufficiently disabled to require bed rest and a further 48% had severe impairment of working ability. Sumatriptan was significantly more effective than placebo in relieving or reducing headache severity after 30 minutes. Sixty-four percent improved on sumatriptan compared to 27% on placebo. Functional disability, nausea, vomiting and photophobia were also greatly reduced. Adverse effects occurred in 17% of patients receiving placebo, and 82% receiving sumatriptan, the commonest being injection site reactions.
Subcutaneous sumatriptan 4 mg is an effective and well-tolerated acute treatment in adult patients with moderate to severe common or classical migraine. The efficacy rate of 64% is lower than that found in recent controlled studies using a higher dose.