Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology Online
In Collaboration With
Frovatriptan
Therapeutics
Brands
• Frova, Migard
Generic?
No
Class
• Triptan
Commonly Prescribed for
(FDA approved in bold)
• Migraine
• Menstrual migraine
How the Drug Works
• Selective
5-HT1 receptor agonist, working predominantly at the B and D receptor
subtypes. Effectiveness may be due to blocking
the transmission of pain signals
from the trigeminal nerve to the trigeminal nucleus caudalis and
preventing release of inflammatory
neuropeptides rather than just
causing vasoconstriction
How Long Until It Works
• 2 hours or less
If It Works
• Continue to take as needed. Patients taking acute treatment more than 2 days/week are at risk for medication-overuse headache,
especially if they have migraine
If It Doesn't Work
• Treat early in the attack - triptans are less likely to work after the development of cutaneous allodynia, a marker of central
sensitization
• For patients with partial response or reoccurrence, add an NSAID
• Change to another agent
Best Augmenting Combos for Partial Response or Treatment-Resistance
• NSAIDs or neuroleptics are often used to augment response
Tests
• None required