Posted by dougW (208.181.136.34) on February 24, 2001 at 10:30:25:
This artile also comes to us from the "Migraine Guys", but lots of us use sumatriptan. Has anyone ever tried this to abort the first CH and then prevent for the balance of the night????
Thought???
DougW
Sumatriptan Nasal Spray Plus Tablets Effective For Relief of Migraine
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WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Feb 20 - Sumatriptan nasal spray can be combined with oral sumatriptan for relief of persistent migraine symptoms or recurrent headache, according to a report in Headache Quarterly.
Dr. Howard S. Derman and colleagues, from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, asked 24 patients to use 20-mg sumatriptan nasal spray to treat acute migraine. If the headache did not improve within at least 2 hours after use of the nasal spray, or if it recurred, patients could take one 50-mg sumatriptan tablet. If necessary, they could take a second 50-mg tablet within 24 hours after using the nasal spray and within 2 hours after the first tablet.
The investigators note that 48 headaches were treated. Thirty-nine headaches (81%) were relieved by the nasal spray alone, while nine (19%) did not respond. Of these nine, four were relieved by one 50-mg sumatriptan tablet, and three were relieved by the second tablet.
The researchers report that 15 of the 39 headaches relieved with nasal spray alone did not recur. "In those with recurrence," they say, "17 were relieved with one 50-mg tablet, and five required the second tablet."
"There were no increased side effects with the combined use," Dr. Derman and colleagues conclude, "making this regimen a favorable alternative for headache recurrence or persistent symptoms."
Headache Q 2000;11:211-212.