Table 7 Acute treatment of the migraine attack, second step: Triptans, which are available in Denmark (listed according to the date of marketing in Denmark). If there is an effect of the first dose of a triptan but the migraine recurs, an additional dose may be taken at least 2 h after the first dose. Therapeutic gain is the response to treatment of active substance minus the response to placebo
| Triptan | Formulation |
Therapeutic gain (pain freedom after 2 h) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumatriptan | Tablet 50 mg | 17% | |
| Tablet 100 mg | 21% | ||
| Nasal spray 10 & 20 mg | 21% (20 mg) | ||
| Subcutaneous injection 6 mg | 44% | ||
| Zolmitriptan |
Tablet 2.5 mg Soluble tablet 2.5 mg | 20% | Soluble tablets have same efficacy as tablets |
| Naratriptan | Tablet 2.5 mg | 15% | Side effects equals placebo |
| Rizatriptan |
Tablet & soluble tablets 5 and 10 mg | 30% | 5 mg if concomitant treatment with propranolol |
| Almotriptan | Tablet 12,5 mg | 23% | Side effects equal placebo |
| Eletriptan | Tablet 40 mg | 28% | 80 mg suggested, if 40 mg does not work |
| Frovatriptan | Tablet 2.5 mg | 8% | Probable slower onset of effect but longer lasting compared to sumatriptan |