Zolmitriptan (Zomig™, formerly 311C90) is a novel, oral antimigraine drug that is consistently effective and well tolerated in the acute treatment of migraine headache and its associated symptoms. The purpose of this article is to review data available from pharmacological and clinical trials with zolmitriptan and to summarize the clinically relevant features that distinguish this agent. We will review the attributes desirable in a migraine drug and use this as a template for assessing zolmitriptan. Zolmitriptan provides a new oral treatment option for physicians which should help improve patient outcomes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
RasmussenBK.Epidemiology of headache. Cephalalgia1995; 15: 45–68
2.
LiptonRB, StewartWF.Prevalence and impact of migraine. Neurol Clin1997; 15: 1–13
Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society.Classification and diagnostic criteria for headache disorders, cranial neuralgias and facial pain. Cephalalgia1988; 8 Suppl 7: 1–96
EvansRW.Diagnostic testing for the evaluation of headaches. Neurol Clin1996; 14: 1–26
7.
SaperJR.Diagnosis and symptomatic treatment of migraine. Headache1997; 37 Suppl 1:S1–14
8.
SilbersteinSD, LiptonRB.Overview of diagnosis and treatment of migraine. Neurology1994; 44 Suppl 7:S6–16
9.
De LissovovG, LazarusDD.The economic cost of migraine: present state of knowledge. Neurology1994; 44 Suppl 4:S56–62
10.
Von KorffM, OrmelJ, KeefeFJ, DorkinSF.Grading the severity of chronic pain. Pain1992; 50: 133–49
11.
LiptonRB, StewartWF, Von KorffM.The burden of migraine. A review of cost to society. PharmacoEconomics1994; 6: 215–21
12.
LiptonRB, StewartWF, von KorffM.Burden of migraine: societal costs and therapeutic opportunities. Neurology1997; 48 Suppl 3:S4–9
13.
SchoenenJ, SawyerJ.Zolmitriptan (Zomig×, 311C90), a novel dual central and peripheral 5HT1B/1D agonist: an overview of efficacy. Cephalalgia1997; 17 Suppl 18: 28–40
14.
GöbelH, Petersen-BraunM, HeinzeA. Which properties do patients expect of new and improved drugs in the treatment of primary headache disorders? In: OlesenJ, Tfelt-HansenP ed. Headache treatment: trial methodology and new drugs.Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven, 1997: 93–7
15.
RapoportAM, CadyRK, MathewNT, RamadanNM, TaylorFR, SaperJR. Optimizing the oral dose of 311C90 in the acute treatment of migraine [abstract and poster]. 6th International Headache Research Seminar 1995; 50
16.
SolomonGD, CadyRK, KlapperMO.2.5 mg 311C90 (‘Zomig’, zolmitriptan) is clinically effective in treating migraine: clinical efficacy and improvement in activity. Neurology1997; 3 Suppl 2: 48 (abs P01.132) and poster presented at 49th Annual Meeting American Academy of Neurology, Boston, 12-19 April, 1997
17.
FerrariMD.311C90: Increasing the options for therapy with effective acute antimigraine 5HT1B/1D receptor agonists. Neurology1997; 48 Suppl 3:S21–4
18.
BousserMG, D'AliensH, RichardA.Efficacy of subcutaneous sumatriptan in the acute treatment of early-morning migraine: a placebo-controlled trial. Early-Morning Migraine Sumatriptan Study Group. J Intern Med1993; 234: 211–16
19.
BrownDL, SweetRM.311C is effective in patients who respond poorly to existing antimigraine therapies. Eur J Neurol1996; 3 Suppl 5: 152 (abs P408) and poster presented at the 2nd Congress of the European Federation of Neurological Sciences, Rome, 30 Oct-3 Nov, 1996
20.
WinnerP, SheftellF, RyanR, TepperS.Overview of the clinical response to zolmitriptan (“Zomig”) in migraine sufferers identified as “poor responders” to other migraine preparations. J Head Face Pain1997; 37: 336 and poster presented at the American Association for the Study of Headache, 39th Annual Scientific Meeting, New York, 19-22 June 1997
21.
SolbachP, SargentJ, CoyneL.Menstrual migraine headache: results of a controlled experimental outcome study of non-drug treatments. Headache1984; 24: 75–8
22.
LlewelynJG, FindleyLJ, GrossMLP. Migraine symptoms: which cause the most distress. In: OlesenJ, Tfelt-HansenP editors. Headache treatment: trial methodology and new drugs.Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven, 1997: 153–6
23.
RapoportAM, WardT, KatzDA, SheftellFD.Zolmitriptan (“Zomig”): Rapid onset of migraine relief. Cephalalgia1997; 17: 422 (abs 07-A 30) and poster presented at the 8th Congress of the International Headache Society, Amsterdam 10-14 June, 1997
24.
ZagamiAS.311C90: long-term efficacy and tolerability profile for the acute treatment of migraine. Neurology1997; 48 Suppl 3:S25–8
25.
BreslauN, DavisGC, SchultzLR. Migraine and depression: a longitudinal study. Headache1994; 34: 387–93
RolanP.Potential drug interactions with the novel antimigraine compound zolmitriptan (311C90; Zomig×). Cephalalgia1997; 17 Suppl 18: 21–7
28.
DixonRM, MeireHB, EvansDH, WattH, OnN, PosnerJ. Peripheral vascular effects and pharmacokinetics of the antimigraine compound zolmitriptan in combination with oral, ergotamine in healthy volunteers. Cephalalgia1997; 17 Suppl 18: 15–20
29.
VeroneseL, GillotinC, Marion-GalloisR, WeatherleyBC, ThebaultJJ, GuillaumeM. Lack of interaction between oral dihydroergotamine and the novel antimigraine compound zolmitriptan (“Zomig”, 311C90) in healthy volunteers. Clin Drug Invest1997; 14: 217–20
30.
SeaberEJ, GillotinC, MohanlalR, LaytonG, PosnerJ, PeckR.Lack of an interaction between pizotifen and the novel antimigraine compound zolmitriptan (“Zomig”, 311C90). Clin Drug Invest1997; 14: 221–5
31.
EdmeadsJ, MillsonDS.Tolerability profile of zolmitriptan (Zomig×; 311C90), a novel dual central and peripheral 5HT1B/1D agonist. Cephalalgia1997; 17 Suppl 18: 41–52
32.
DowsonAJ.311C90: patient profiles and typical case histories of migraine management. Neurology1997; 48 Suppl 3:S29–33
