Triptans - what is it?
Triptans are a group of migraine medicines that are similar. There are (in 2010) seven different brands in the Danish market. They have almost the same chemical structure, and as a group are called 'triptans'.
The first triptan approved for marketing in 1992 was sumatriptan (marketed as Imigran).
Although triptans are similar chemically, they are also slightly different. Some works quickly and are also excreted rapidly, others are a little more slow to give us relief and remain in the body longer (see table - sorted by half life in the body, ie. How many hours that go before the amount of active substance in the body is halved).
| Triptans | active substance, quantity | Trade Name | Half-life in the body hours | % of subjects who feel a significant improvement within 2 or 4 (*) hours | % relapse within 24 hours |
| Rizatriptan | 10 mg | Maxalt | 2 | 65 | 50 |
| sumatriptan | 100 mg | Imigran | 2 to 2.5 | 57 | 33 |
| Zolmitriptan | 2.5 mg | Zomig | 2.5 to 3 | 66 | 31 |
| Almotriptan | 12.5 mg | Almogran | 3.5 | 60 | 25 |
| Naratriptan | 2.5 mg | Naragran | 6 | 64 | 23 |
| Eletriptan | 40 mg | RELPAX | 5 | 64 | 24 |
| Frovatriptan | 2.5 mg | Migard | 25 | 63 | 17 |
Many migraineurs want a quick effect of their medication so they can get started with today's doings. However, there is not much difference between the different triptans in effect after two hours.
The shorter half-life, the faster the active substance is also secreted. Consequently there are several migraine sufferers, who find that they need to take a dose more, for example after 12 or 24 hours if they choose the triptans, which are excreted quickly. It is a personal choice whether one wants to take more doses, or if you want to the active ingredient stays in the body longer.
Common to triptans is that they do not remove the migraine attack, but they counteract the changes in the brain which causes us to feel ill while the active substance in the body. When a large proportion of the active substance is excreted, the migraine symptoms recur because the attack has not yet subsided.
Some triptans contain a sulpha group (read more about triptan side effects, others have not this group.
G. Gérard, C. Keywood, J. M. Senard, 2003. Migraine headache recurrence: relationship two clinical, pharmacological, and pharmacokinetic properties of triptans.Headache 43, 376-388.
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