The Effectiveness of Almotriptan Malate (AXERT®) 12.5 Milligrams When Taken at the Onset of Migraine Pain

Ortho-McNeil

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 4

Conditions

Migraine

Treatments

Drug: almotriptan malate

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Industry

Identifiers

NCT00212823

CR004708

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of AXERT when treating a migraine at the onset of headache pain, as compared to treating a migraine only after the headache pain has reached at least moderate intensity..

Full description

AXERT has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of migraine headache with or without aura in adults. Early treatment of a migraine headache, independent of headache pain intensity symptoms, may provide the optimal therapeutic response. This is a multi-center, open label study to test the efficacy (effectiveness) and tolerability of AXERT when treating a migraine at the onset of headache pain versus treating a migraine only after the headache pain has reached at least moderate intensity. Patients will self-administer 12.5 milligrams of AXERT for the treatment of 2 migraine headaches. Centers will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment interventions in which patients will sequentially treat both migraine headaches with 12.5 milligrams of AXERT using either the early treatment regimen (ET; ie, at the onset of pain) or conditional treatment regimen (CT; ie, after the headache has reached at least moderate intensity). Data will be collected regarding treatment response during and after each migraine headache. For each headache, patients will record study information and data during 3 telephone calls using Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) technology. It is expected that patients who take 12.5 milligrams of AXERT at the first sign of pain of any intensity due to a migraine headache will experience an overall shorter duration of their migraine than patients who take AXERT 12.5 mg when their migraine pain has reached at least moderate pain intensity. In addition, it is expected that almotriptan malate (AXERT®) is generally well-tolerated.

AXERT 12.5 milligram tablet orally either at the onset of migraine pain (within 1 hour of the start of a migraine-ET regimen) or when migraine pain reaches at least moderate intensity (CT regimen).

Enrollment

1,450 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 65 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

History of a confirmed diagnosis of migraine headache with or without aura that meets the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria of migraine headache for at least 1 year
Average frequency of 1 - 6 migraine headaches per month over the past 3 months
History of migraine headaches of at least moderate pain intensity within the past year
If taking a medication for migraine prophylaxis, taking a maintenance dose for at least 4 weeks prior to Visit 1, and remaining on a stable dose for the duration of the study
In generally good health
Capable of taking oral medication, perform study procedures and follow directions regarding collection of study information, e.g., subjects must be able and willing to read and comprehend written instructions, use a stopwatch, and comprehend and complete the telephone requirements, and must be willing to return to the office for a final study visit
If female of childbearing potential, using birth control

Exclusion criteria

Onset of migraine after age 50
Chronic migraine or chronic tension-type headache defined by having 15 or more headache days per month in the previous 6 months
Exclusively migraine aura without headache, or headaches that occur predominantly upon awakening in the morning
Patients in whom triptans are contraindicated or who have previously discontinued AXERT therapy due to adverse events, history of substance abuse, or chronic alcohol abuse within the past 6 months