Use of the Triptans

In the past 10 years, there have been great advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of the migraine. This has been due in part to the realization that the migraine attack can be blocked by activating the serotonin receptor, namely the 5-hydroxytryptamine/1D receptor. This switches off t...

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Main Author: Marek J Gawel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2000-01-01
Series:Pain Research and Management
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2000/459180
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author Marek J Gawel
author_facet Marek J Gawel
author_sort Marek J Gawel
collection DOAJ
description In the past 10 years, there have been great advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of the migraine. This has been due in part to the realization that the migraine attack can be blocked by activating the serotonin receptor, namely the 5-hydroxytryptamine/1D receptor. This switches off the inflammatory process around the blood vessel, which is the cause of the migraine pain, and constricts the blood vessel involved, thus relieving pressure on it. The first drug that was developed to activate this system was sumatriptan, followed by zomitriptan, naratriptan and rizatriptan. These drugs are, as a group, called the 'triptans'. This review summarizes the pathophysiology of migraine, examines the guidelines for the diagnosis of migraine, which is important because the drugs are relatively specific for migraine itself, and discusses the differences among the components in this class.
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series Pain Research and Management
spelling doaj-art-b3cedd4ec3e046c3a89d171634a172212025-02-03T00:59:45ZengWileyPain Research and Management1203-67652000-01-0151646710.1155/2000/459180Use of the TriptansMarek J Gawel0Department of Medicine/Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaIn the past 10 years, there have been great advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of the migraine. This has been due in part to the realization that the migraine attack can be blocked by activating the serotonin receptor, namely the 5-hydroxytryptamine/1D receptor. This switches off the inflammatory process around the blood vessel, which is the cause of the migraine pain, and constricts the blood vessel involved, thus relieving pressure on it. The first drug that was developed to activate this system was sumatriptan, followed by zomitriptan, naratriptan and rizatriptan. These drugs are, as a group, called the 'triptans'. This review summarizes the pathophysiology of migraine, examines the guidelines for the diagnosis of migraine, which is important because the drugs are relatively specific for migraine itself, and discusses the differences among the components in this class.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2000/459180
spellingShingle Marek J Gawel
Use of the Triptans
Pain Research and Management
title Use of the Triptans
title_full Use of the Triptans
title_fullStr Use of the Triptans
title_full_unstemmed Use of the Triptans
title_short Use of the Triptans
title_sort use of the triptans
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2000/459180
work_keys_str_mv AT marekjgawel useofthetriptans