Lasmiditan: New first-in-class drug treatment approved for migraine

Migraine is a huge medical problem, accounting for half of the disability produced by all neurologic diseases worldwide. The medication sumatriptan (Imitrex) is well known for the treatment of a migraine attack. Sumatriptan is part of a group of medications known as the triptans. Triptan medications have been in use for over 20 years and are very effective for the acute treatment of headache (relieving migraine headaches that are already in progress). But they also have limitations; triptans can cause temporary narrowing of blood vessels in the heart and elsewhere that can result in side effects, such as chest pain or tightness or shortness of breath, which may at times be serious. A medication that worked as well as a triptan, but without the same restrictions on use (for patients with prior heart attack, angina, or those with other vascular conditions) as the triptans, would be a welcome addition. Enter lasmiditan (Reyvow), which works without causing blood vessels to narrow. How does lasmiditan work? Lasmiditan is the first of a new group of headache medicines that are being called the “ditans.” Just like the triptans, lasmiditan can block a number of the processes that lead to the development of a full-blown headache. Taken at the first sign that a migraine is starting, it has the potential to stop the development of the headache and return the patient to normal function. Clinical trials have shown a significantly greater number of patients being headache-free at two ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Drugs and Supplements Headache Health Source Type: blogs