Triptans have at least three modes of action. Ditans provide a different mechanism of action compared to triptans in the treatment of a migraine attack.
Handbook of clinical neurology, 2010.
Triptan mechanism of action. The beneficial effects of the triptans in patients with migraine are related to their multiple mechanisms of action at sites implicated in the pathophysiology of migraine. 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 sumatriptan decreases carotid arterial blood flow, but increases blood flow velocity in the internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery. In 2019, it was the 162nd most commonly prescribed medication in the united states, with more than 3 million prescriptions.
Sumatriptan and rizatriptan have been shown to cause vasoconstriction in the human middle meningeal arteries. As to the possible action of triptans in the tnc, there is an important distinction between a possible presynaptic action, on the central terminals of nociceptors, and a postsynaptic action, on the second order ‘pain’ transmission neuron. Ergot alkaloids are similar to each other, because they all have an ergoline moiety.
Triptan mechanism of action triptans work by binding to serotonin receptors in the brain, which leads to a reversal of blood vessel swelling. Determination of its mechanism of action in human should further the understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine and cluster headache. The triptans have at least 3 distinct modes of action, all of which may be additive in their antimigraine effects.
Triptans have at least three modes of action. Triptans are all similar in mechanism of action in how they work. Vasoconstriction of pain producing intra cranial extracerebral vessels by a direct effect on vascular smooth muscle.
6,15 these effects include vasoconstriction of painfully distended intracranial extracerebral vessels by a direct effect on vascular smooth muscle, inhibition of the release of vasoactive neuropeptides by trigeminal terminals innervating the intracranial vessels. It shows a remarkably selective pharmacological profile in animals. So, it is not necessarily that one is better than another and some people may respond better to one versus another.
Sumatriptan is a novel, highly effective drug against migraine and cluster headache attacks. The pharmacophore of ergotamine (bold bonds) resembles serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for thermoregulation in human physiology. Two studies argue for a significant central, presynaptic mechanism.
Ditans provide a different mechanism of action compared to triptans in the treatment of a migraine attack. It is available as a generic medication. Although originally designed to constrict dilated intracranial blood vessels, the mechanism and site of action by which triptans abort the migraine pain remain unknown.
2 , 2 , 2 Rizatriptan was patented in 1991 and came into medical use in 1998. Ergotamine has a pharmacophore that resembles serotonin, thus it activates several serotonin receptors.
Mechanism of action the triptans interact potently with 5ht 1b and 5ht 1d receptors and have a low or no affinity for other subtypes of 5ht receptors or for α 1 and α 2 adrenergic, β adrenergic, dopaminergic, muscarinic cholinergic, and benzodiazepine receptors. Handbook of clinical neurology, 2010.