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. 2007 Oct 23;8(5):273–276. doi: 10.1007/s10194-007-0411-x

Parenteral vs. oral sumatriptan and naratriptan: plasma levels and efficacy in migraine. A comment

Peer Tfelt-Hansen 1,✉
PMCID: PMC3476154  PMID: 17955173

Abstract

The clinical efficacy in migraine was compared for oral and subcutaneous sumatriptan and naratriptan. Doses of the two administration forms were chosen as resulting in comparable blood concentrations. Subcutaneous administrations of the drugs were superior for efficacy than the oral forms. This most likely due to a quicker rise in blood concentrations after subcutaneous injections.. In designing new therapies for migraine one should aim at a quick absorption of the drug, which will probably result in an increased efficacy.

Keywords: Migraine, Sumatriptan, Naratriptan, Oral administration, Subcutaneous administration

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