Two double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, multicenter, multinational, parallel-group studies were carried out to identify the optimum dose of intranasal sumatriptan for the acute treatment of migraine. Study medication was taken as a single dose through one nostril in the first study, and as a divided dose through two nostrils in the second study. Totals of 245 and 210 patients with a history of migraine were recruited into the one-and two-nostril studies, respectively. In both studies, headache severity had significantly improved at 120 min after doses of 10–40 mg sumatriptan compared to placebo (
P < 0.05)="" and="" the="" greatest="" efficacy="" rates="" were="" obtained="" with="" 20="" mg="" sumatriptan.="" with="" 20="" mg="" sumatriptan="" 78%="" and="" 74%="" of="" patients="" experienced="" headache="" relief="" in="" one-="" and="" two-nostril="" studies="" respectively.="" sumatriptan="" was="" generally="" well="" tolerated,="" the="" most="" frequently="" reported="" event="" being="" taste="" disturbance.="" the="" results="" of="" the="" two="" studies="" are="" similar="" and="" indicate="" that="" administering="" sumatriptan="" as="" a="" divided="" dose="" via="" two="" nostrils="" confers="" no="" significant="" advantage="" over="" single-nostril="">
Key words Sumatriptan - Migraine Intranasal administration - Acute therapy
The publication committee members were as follows: Prof. C. Dahlöf Gothenburg; Prof. N. E. Gilhus, Bergen; Dr. V. Lüben, Giessen; Dr. R. Salonen, Tampere; Prof. J. M. Warier, Strasbourg; Ms E. Ashford, Glaxo Group Research Limited, Greenford; Mr. R. Dawson, Glaxo Group Research Limited, Greenford; Mrs D. Noronha Glaxo Group Research Limited, Greenford.Principal investigators were as follows: One nostril study France: Dr. N. Brion, Le Chesnay; Prof. G. Chazot, Lyon; Dr. P. Dano, Marseille; Prof. A. Destee, Lille; Dr. M. Schwob, Paris; Prof. J.M. Warter, Strasbourg. Germany: Dr. J. Brand, Konigstein; Dr. R. Enkelmann, St. Goar; Prof H. D. Langohr, Fulda; Dr. V. Lüben, Giesssen; Dr. M. Mockesch, Weinheim; Dr. H Pistauer, Preetz; Dr. Schimek, Giegen; Dr. E. Siegel, Munich. Norway: Dr. J. S. Aasen, Fredrikstad; Prof. N. E. Gilhus, Bergen; Dr. I. Monstad, Elverum; Dr. T. Mörland, Skien; Dr. K. Nestvold, Nordbyhagen; Dr. O. Roald, Oslo; Dr. R. Salvesen, Bodö; Prof. O. Sjaastad, Trondheim; Dr. B. Stadnes, Drammen; Dr. K. A. Tjörstad, Stavager.Two Nostril study Eire: Dr. A. Rynne, Dublin. Finland: Dr. M. Farkkila, Helsinki; Dr. H. Havanka, Kemi; Dr. T. Jolma, Pori; Dr. H. Kilpelainen, Savonlinna; Dr. E. Koivunen-Tapio, Jyvaskyla; Reunanen, Oulu; Dr. E. Sako, Turku; Dr. R. Salonen, Tampere. Sweden: Dr. B. Andersson, Gävle; Dr. C. Behring, Vasteras; Prof. C. Dahldf, Gothenburg; Dr. S. E. Eriksson, Falun; Dr. Hindfelt, Malmö; Dr. H. Hultberg, Osmo; Dr. F. Johansson, Umea; Dr. C. Muhr, Uppsala