Comparison of rizatriptan 10 mg vs. naratriptan 2.5 mg in migraine

Rizatriptan (MAXALT(TM), Merck & Co., Inc.) is a selective 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist with rapid oral absorption and early onset of action for the acute treatment of migraine, This randomized, double-masked, double-dummy, placebo-controlled study compared rizatriptan 10 mg to naratriptan (NARAMIG(TM), AMERGE(TM), both Glare Wellcome pie) 2.5 mg in 522 patients treating a single migraine attack, Rizatriptan was more effective than naratriptan. Rizatriptan provided earlier headache relief than naratriptan (hazard ratio 1.62, p < 0.001), acting as early as 30 min. More patients were pain free at 2 h on rizatriptan than on naratriptan (44.8 vs. 20.7%, p < 0.001). Rizatriptan also provided earlier relief of associated mig rai ne symptoms within 2 h than naratriptan and more patients had normal function at 2 h (39.3 vs. 22.6%, p < 0.001). Both active treatments were effective compared to placebo. Both active treatments were well tolerated. The most common side effects with rizatriptan were dizziness, asthenia/fatigue, nausea and somnolence, while the most common side effects with naratriptan were dizziness and asthenia/fatigue.