Sumatriptan effective for acute migraine in adults

Subcutaneous (SC) administration was the most effective route, with pain reduced from moderate or severe to none by 2 hours in 59% of those taking sumatriptan 6mg compared with approximately 15% taking placebo (NNT* 2.3). The most commonly used doses of oral, rectal and intranasal sumatriptan also provided clinically useful pain relief, with the oral 50mg dose providing complete relief of pain in 28% of people compared with 11% after placebo (NNT 6.1). SC administration provided more rapid pain relief than the other routes. Taking medication early, when pain was mild, was more effective than waiting until the pain was moderate or severe. Adverse events were generally of mild or moderate severity, of short duration and more common with SC sumatriptan and higher doses of oral and intranasal sumatriptan than with other dose and route combinations.
*NNT = number needed to treat to benefit one individual.