Here is text


 


 

 

 

 


 



 

 

Relpax information: Studies and References

Relpax (Eletriptan, Pfizer) is the newest triptan and is believed to be more efficacious in comparative trials.  The three comparative studies ( Sandrini (1), Goadsby (2), Mathew (3), refs below) show the following:

Mathew Study

Headache Response

 

Pain Free at 2 hours

 

24 Hour sustained response

  One hour Two hour  

 

 

 

Eletriptan 40mg

34%*

67%**

 

36%*

 

43%**

Sumatriptan 100mg

27%

59%

  27%  

34%

  *p<0.01 **p<0.001  

*p<0.0001

 

**p<0.0003

           
Sandrini Study Headache Response  

Pain Free at 2 hours

 

24 Hour sustained response

  One hour Two hour        
Eletriptan 80mg

37%*

67%*

 

37%*

  54%*
Eletriptan 40 mg

30%

64%*

 

31%**

  50%*
Sumatriptan 100mg

27%

53%

 

18%

 

38%

Sumatriptan 50mg

24%

50%

 

19%

 

34%

  *p0.05 vs. suma. 100mg *p0.05 vs. suma. 100mg   *p<0.0005 vs. suma 100mg   *p<0.0005 vs. suma 100mg
**p<0.05 vs. suma. 100mg **p0.05 vs. suma. 100mg
             
Goadsby Study Headache Response  

Pain Free at 2 hours

 

24 Hour sustained response

  One hour Two hour        
Eletriptan 80mg

41%*

77%*

 

37%*

 

No data

Eletriptan 40 mg

38%*

65%

 

29%

   
Sumatriptan 100mg

20%

55%

 

23%

   
  *p<0.01 vs. suma. 100mg *p<0.01 vs. suma. 100mg  

*p<0.05 vs. suma. 100mg

   
             

An argument has been put forth that the encapsulation of sumatriptan had an effect on the trials, but other evidence suggests that encapsulation had no effect on the outcome (4) and that the sumatriptan results are quite comparable to efficacy found in other sumatriptan trials.

(1) Sandrini G, Farkkila M, Burgess G, Forster E, Haughie S, Eletriptan Steering Committee. Eletriptan vs sumatriptan: a double-blind, placebo controlled, multiple migraine attack study. Neurology 2002;59: 1210-1217.
(2) Goadsby PJ, Ferrari MD, Olesen J, et al. Eletriptan in acute migraine: a double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison to sumatriptan. Eletriptan Steering Committee. Neurology 200;54:156-163.
(3) Mathew NT, Schoenen J, Winner P, Muirhead N, Sikes CR. Comparative efficacy of eletriptan 40 mg versus sumatriptan 100 mg. Headache 2003;43:214-222.
(4) Sandrini G, Farkkila M, Forster E. Eletriptan vs sumatriptan: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple migraine attack study (letter) Neurology 2003;60:1222 

  These trials appear to show that Relpax (eletriptan) 40 mg has superior efficacy compared to sumatriptan (Imitrex.) 100 mg.

Printable MS Word Document

Pfizer Relpax Page

Return to New Treatment Section

                                    © eMEDMAN