Clinical experience with triptans

Abstract

Many drugs are now available for treating migraine attacks, including agents specifically indicated for this condition. Since 1990 sumatriptan, the first 5–HT_1B,1D receptor agonist, was introduced and realized a real breakthrough in therapy; other agents of this class of drugs called triptans have more recently been used. All of them are effective in relieving the symptoms of migraine, but each exhibits pharmacological and/or clinical features that must be considered for the optimal care and management of the patient. We present here a short overview on the main clinical features of the triptans already in use in Italy.