Pharmacoeconomic benefits of almotriptan in the acute treatment of migraine

Abstract

Almotriptan is one of seven oral triptans available in the USA and much of the rest of the world. Reviews of its efficacy and tolerability demonstrate it to be among the most effective and well tolerated of this class. Studies of almotriptan in a variety of early intervention paradigms demonstrate significant improvements in efficacy and further improved tolerability compared with standard treatment of headaches of at least moderate severity. The nature of migraine pain and symptoms is such as to produce impairment of the individual in their usual activities, including work, and leads to a significant cost of migraine to the workplace. Utilizing both specific studies examining this and drawing conclusions upon the results of additional trials suggests that, despite the direct costs of this agent, the economic advantages and personal advantages to the patients more than compensate.

Keywords::

• acute treatment
• almotriptan
• disability
• early intervention
• migraine
• presenteeism
• productivity

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has served as consultant to, been on the speakers bureau for, and his employer has received grants for research from Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Co, Pfizer, AstraZeneca. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.