Background: Rescue medication options that are consistent with the product labeling for sumatriptan/naproxen sodium (S/N) and that have been permitted in >or=1 clinical trial include the use of a second tablet of S/N, sumatriptan tablets (to a total daily dose of 200 mg), and naproxen sodium tablets (within the maximum limits recommended in the labeling). Sumatriptan subcutaneous (SC) injection might be especially useful as rescue medication mostly because of its rapid onset of activity.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of sumatriptan SC used as rescue medication after the administration of oral S/N for the treatment of migraine.
Methods: This randomized, open-label, 3-period crossover study compared the exposure to sumatriptan (Cmax and AUC to 14 hours after the administration of the second dose [AUC(0-14)]) between 3 treatment regimens: an initial dose of S/N 85/500 mg followed 2 hours later by sumatriptan 4 or 6 mg SC (S/N + S4 and S/N + S6, respectively) (test), or sumatriptan 100 mg PO (2 tablets administered 2 hours apart) (S100 + S100) (reference). Healthy adults aged 18 to 55 years were randomly assigned to receive all 3 regimens in a randomized sequence. On day 1 of each treatment period, continuous cardiovascular monitoring (ECG telemetry), serial 12-lead ECG, and serial blood pressure (BP) measurements were conducted 1 hour before to 10 hours after the administration of the first dose. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic assessment were collected up to 14 hours after the administration of the first dose. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored from the time of consent until study completion. Participants returned to the clinic for pharmacokinetic blood sampling (for S/N + S4 and S/N + S6) and for tolerability assessment at 24, 48, and 72 hours after S/N administration.
Results: A total of 30 healthy adults were randomized. Five withdrew prematurely (3, withdrawn consent; 1, AE; and 1, protocol deviation). Half of the subjects were men, the mean age was 27.8 years, and the mean weight was 79.3 kg (range, 54.6-100.8 kg). With S/N + S4, sumatriptan Cmax and AUC(0-14) did not exceed those with S100 + S100. Sumatriptan Cmax was 1.26-fold higher with S/N + S6 than with S100 + S100. Sumatriptan AUC(0-14) with S/N + S6 was not significantly greater than that with S100 + S100. Differences in serial BP measurements between the SC and S100 + S100 regimens were not statistically significant. The numbers of subjects in whom any AE was reported were 10 (37%) with S/N + S4, 14 (54%) with S/N + S6, and 13 (48%) with S100 + S100.
Conclusions: Sumatriptan 4 and 6 mg SC administered 2 hours after an S/N tablet yielded sumatriptan exposure that did not exceed that of S100 + S100. Cmax with the S/N + S6 regimen was 1.26-fold higher than reference values. Both regimens were reasonably well tolerated. Randomized controlled trials are needed to test the efficacy and tolerability of these SC regimens. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00875784.