Naratriptan: an alternative for migraine.

Objective: To critically evaluate the literature regarding naratriptan's clinical pharmacology, efficacy, safety, and indications.

Data Source: A MEDLINE search was conducted for the period from January 1990 to June 1998. Key words used included naratriptan, triptan, serotonin agonists, migraine, and migraine therapy. In addition, pertinent references cited in articles obtained from MEDLINE and product information for triptans were reviewed.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: All original and review articles and abstracts pertaining to naratriptan were reviewed, as were product information extracts. Clinical trials of naratriptan were critically reviewed and compared with pertinent clinical trials of other oral triptans.

Data Synthesis: The treatment of migraine has been dramatically improved with the use of sumatriptan, other triptans, and serotonin-receptor subtype 1B and 1D agonists. Drawbacks to these medications, however, have included poorly tolerated adverse effects and the recurrence of the migraine. Naratriptan has been recently approved for acute oral migraine therapy. In two Phase III trials of naratriptan compared with placebo, relief at four hours was obtained in 60% and 68% of patients using the 2.5-mg dose, with recurrence of headache in 24 hours in 27% and 28% of patients. The data on migraine recurrence were similar to those of other oral triptans; the efficacy of naratriptan at two hours was not specifically analyzed. Adverse effects of naratriptan were similar to placebo, and its tolerability seemed superior compared with studies of other oral triptans.

Conclusions: Naratriptan is a promising new oral therapy for acute migraine; it may successfully treat patients who poorly tolerate other triptan therapies or have longer duration migraine headaches.