Sumatriptan

Excerpt

Sumatriptan is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an abortive treatment for migraine attacks in adults, both with and without aura. Administering sumatriptan via the subcutaneous route can offer relief for acute episodes of cluster headaches. Based on clinical studies, sumatriptan is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for migraines when administered intravenously, subcutaneously, or orally. The medication is also used to alleviate symptoms of photophobia, nausea, headache, and functional disability. Triptans function by reducing the transmission of pain impulses to the trigeminal nucleus caudalis and minimizing the release of inflammatory mediators from trigeminal nerves. As a result of this mechanism, there is a reduction in the vasodilation caused by calcitonin gene–related peptide. Migraine pain is associated with dilatation of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), which lowers the regional cerebral blood flow velocity. The reversal of MCA dilatation by sumatriptan indicates the involvement of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor system in the migraine's pathogenesis. This activity discusses the indications, mechanism of action, methods of administration, significant adverse effects, contraindications, and monitoring guidelines of sumatriptan for interprofessional healthcare teams to guide patient therapy and treat indicated disorders associated with migraines.