Sumatriptan 3 mg subcutaneous : Clinical relevance of acute treatment of migraine despite dose reduction

Abstract

Triptans are ahighly effective substance class in the acute treatment of migraine attacks. They contribute to a substantial improvement in the quality of life and help to reduce the socioeconomic burden of the disease. Sumatriptan is the only triptan that is available for subcutaneous administration. It is primarily indicated in patients with the need for rapid relief or insufficient enteral resorption due to nausea and vomiting. In the treatment of migraine attacks with 6 mg subcutaneous sumatriptan the number needed to treat (NNT) is 2.3 for freedom from pain within 2 h and the NNT is 2.1 for pain relief within 2 h; however, the fast resorption of sumatriptan after subcutaneous administration induces more side effects than the oral route, for example dizziness, paresthesia or chest pressure sensation. Clinical studies showed that reducing the subcutaneous dose to 3 mg in migraine treatment has significantly better tolerability with high response rates and freedom from pain within 2 h with 66.7% (3 mg) or 50% (6 mg).