Comparative Efficacy and Tolerability of Sumatriptan, Ergotamine, Naproxen and Rizatriptan in Moderate to Severe Acute Attack of Migraine.

ABSTRACT

A double-blind, randomized, parallel study was done to compare sumatriptan, ergotamine, naproxen and rizatriptan in 40 outpatients treating a single migraine attack of moderate to severe intensity. Among these groups, significantly more number of patients had headache relief at 2 hours postdose in naproxen and rizatriptan group as compared to ergotamine. Naproxen, rizatriptan and sumatriptan were better than ergotamine in causing freedom from the associated symptoms of nausea, vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia at 2 hour postdose. Naproxen, rizatriptan and sumatriptan were also efficacious in causing functional normalization at 2 hours postdose as compared to ergotamine. The overall results of the study suggest that naproxen is as efficacious as triptan group of drugs but better than ergotamine group in treatment of moderate-severe acute migraine attack. It is more cost effective than triptans and also a well tolerated drug.