Migraine spray does well in real-life trials: Zolmitriptan.(Clinical Rounds)

Migraine Spray Does Well in Real-Life Trials

SAN FRANCISCO -- Zolmitriptan nasal spray to treat migraine headache performed well in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 912 patients designed to mimic use in real-life settings, Dr. Marek Gawel said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Neurological Association.

In many clinical trials of migraine therapies, patients are instructed to treat migraine attacks when the headache reaches a specified intensity or to treat within a specified time period. The current trial randomized patients to treat a single migraine attack of any intensity with zolmitriptan 5-mg nasal spray or placebo. Patients could use the spray at any time during the migraine attack.

One hour after treatment, 15% in the zolmitriptan group and 5% in the placebo group reported on diary cards that they achieved total symptom relief, meaning they were free of pain, nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia, said Dr. Gawel, of the University of Toronto. AstraZeneca, which makes zolmitriptan, funded the study.

A significant difference between the two treatment groups was seen within 10 minutes for improving headache alone and within 30 minutes for improving ...