Sumatriptan and other triptans have been shown to be effective for the treatment of moderate and severe migraine. They are currently considered an appropriate initial treatment choice in patients with moderate to severe migraine who have no contraindications to its use. Prior to our study, similar studies have been performed with either subcutaneous sumatriptan or oral sumatriptan; however, these studies differed from ours in methodology (i.e., method of patient recruitment and/or dose of sumatriptan administered) .

In our study, 13 out of 15 study completers preferred Sumatriptan to their baseline medication, and, in addition, all of our study completers were satisfied or extremely satisfied with their overall migraine care after trying Sumatriptan. This was quite interesting in light of the fact that the majority (53%) of patients were neutral with respect to their overall quality of migraine care, with 14% being dissatisfied or very dissatisfied at baseline (i.e., we would have expected a much greater percentage to be greatly dissatisfied). We felt these baseline results unusual since these patients were clearly not dissatisfied with respect to their pre-triptan migraine care. This would suggest that far too many patients are simply triptan naïve.

We demonstrated a decrease in ER, scheduled, and unscheduled office visits post-sumatriptan administration. In addition, we also demonstrated a decrease in the number of work days missed due to migraine and a decrease in the number of days working with a migraine.

Sources for above:

Practice Parameter: Evidence-based guidelines for migraine headache (an evidence-based review): Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology, Stephen D. Silberstein for the US Headache Consortium, Neurology, 55(6), Sept. 26, 2000: 754-762

Improvement in Health –Related Quality of Life with Sumatriptan Treatment for Migraine, Priti Jhingran, PhD, et. Al., Journal of Family Practice, 1996; 42, 36-42

Impact of Sumatriptan on Workplace Productivity, Nonwork Activities, and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Hospital Employees with Migraine, George R. Mushet, M.D., Et. Al, Headache 1996;36:137-143

Sumatriptan Treatment for Migraine in a Health Maintenance Organization: Economic, Humanistic, and Clinical Outcomes, Jeffrey A. Cohen, M.D., et. Al., Clinical Therapeutics, Vol. 21(1), 1999, 190-204

Impact of Sumatriptan on Workplace Productivity, Nonwork Activities, and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Hospital Employees with Migraine, George R. Mushet, M.D., Et. Al, Headache 1996;36:137-143

Changes in Resource Use and Outcomes for Patients With Migraine Treated With Sumatriptan, A Managed Care Perspective, Jennifer H. Lofland, PharmD, et. Al., Arch Intern Med, Vol 159, Apr 26, 1999, 857-863