Dual-Drug Approach Melts Migraine

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 3 -- Sumatriptan, the migraine drug, may be significantly more effective for two-hour to 24-hour sustained pain relief when augmented by naproxen, the common analgesic, researchers here found.

According to two separate but identical four-arm studies, pain relief over 24 hours was significantly better with 85 mg of sumatriptan (Imitrex) and 500 mg of naproxen when combined as investigational agent, MT-400, than with either alone, or placebo (P

While previous studies have shown efficacy combining a triptan and NSAID, the many dose combinations possible made it difficult to extrapolate efficacy and safety findings, they said.

So, the researchers aimed high with their study design.

"These studies used more rigorous evaluation of efficacy than any approved acute migraine treatment to date," they wrote, "with the incorporation of six primary outcomes, all of which should be statistically significant, as opposed to the usual single primary outcome of headache relief two hours after dosing."

Among the findings, the researchers reported:

• Combination tablets were more effective than placebo for headache relief at two hours (65% versus 28%, P