Table 7.

Acute treatment of the migraine attack, second step: Triptans, which are available in Denmark (listed according to the date of marketing in Denmark). If there is an effect of the first dose of a triptan but the migraine recurs, an additional dose may be taken at least 2 h after the first dose. Therapeutic gain is the response to treatment of active substance minus the response to placebo

Triptan	Formulation	Therapeutic gain (pain freedom after 2 h)	Comments
Sumatriptan	Tablet 50 mg	17%
	Tablet 100 mg	21%
	Nasal spray 10 & 20 mg	21% (20 mg)
	Subcutaneous injection 6 mg	44%
Zolmitriptan	Tablet 2.5 mg Soluble tablet 2.5 mg	20%	Soluble tablets have same efficacy as tablets
Naratriptan	Tablet 2.5 mg	15%	Side effects equals placebo
Rizatriptan	Tablet & soluble tablets 5 and 10 mg	30%	5 mg if concomitant treatment with propranolol
Almotriptan	Tablet 12,5 mg	23%	Side effects equal placebo
Eletriptan	Tablet 40 mg	28%	80 mg suggested, if 40 mg does not work
Frovatriptan	Tablet 2.5 mg	8%	Probable slower onset of effect but longer lasting compared to sumatriptan