Almotriptan reduces the incidence of migraine-associated symptoms: a pooled analysis.

Objective: Evaluate the reduction in migraine-associated symptoms after administration of a single oral dose of almotriptan.

Methods: This pooled analysis (N=1773) used data from three randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III trials (studies A, B, and C) to determine the incidence of migraine-associated symptoms (defined as nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia) 2 hours after a single oral dose of study medication (almotriptan, sumatriptan, or placebo). Outcome data was extracted from studies A and B for placebo and the almotriptan 6.25-mg and 12.5-mg groups, and from study C for placebo, almotriptan 12.5-mg, and sumatriptan 100-mg groups.

Results: The incidence of nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia at 2 hours after dosing with study medication was significantly reduced (all P <.05) with almotriptan 6.25 mg or 12.5 mg compared with placebo. The percentage of patients with vomiting was lower with both doses of almotriptan in studies A and B compared with placebo, although differences were significant only for the 6.25-mg dose in study A (P <.001). For study C, the incidence of nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia was similar for almotriptan and sumatriptan and lower than with placebo at 2 hours after dosing. Significant reductions (all P <.05) versus placebo were observed in the incidence of vomiting and phonophobia with almotriptan 12.5 mg, and photophobia and phonophobia with sumatriptan 100 mg.

Conclusions: Almotriptan provides relief from migraine-associated symptoms of nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia, and thus represents an attractive treatment option for a wide spectrum of migraine symptomatology.