Via practica 2/2012

Frovatriptan in the treatment of migraine

Frovatriptan is a selective 5HT1B/1D receptor agonist for management of migraine attacks in patients from 18 to 65 years. Frovatriptan has a long half-time (26 h), five times longer in comparison to other triptans and low incidence of migraine recurrence. Frovatriptan is indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura, and has a very good safety and tolerability profile. Recent studies have also shown that a 6-day regimen of frovatriptan scheduled during the perimenstrual period significantly reduced the incidence and severity of menstrual migraine (attacks that regularly start day -2 to +3 relative to menses). Prevention may be important because menstrual migraine attacks have been characterized as being of longer duration, more severe and more refractory to treatment than non-menstrual migraine attacks.

Keywords: migraine, frovatriptan, long half-time, good tolerability profile, menstrual migraine.