September 20, 2024: The issue of headaches is common not just in India but worldwide. Research has found that triptan medications are more effective in treating migraines compared to new and expensive drugs. These medications work by altering blood circulation in the brain and calming overactive nerves to alleviate pain. The study involved nearly 90,000 participants.
An analysis published in the British Medical Journal revealed that eletriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan were more effective in providing pain relief compared to recently developed drugs like lasmiditan, rimegepant, and ubrogepant. All these medications are marketed in India.
Researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, along with others, reached a clear consensus on which medication works best for treating this neurological condition, which affects over a billion people worldwide. Migraines are a leading cause of poor health among women aged 15 to 49.
The researchers noted that triptan medications could be more effective in treating migraines. For the study, researchers identified a total of 137 trials published up to June 24, 2023. The authors stated that when these medications were compared, eletriptan appeared to provide relief from pain more effectively than almost all other medications within two hours. Following that were rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan.
