Naratriptan – the enduring one
When developing Naratriptan (Naramig), the main focus was on finding an active ingredient with fewer side effects than sumatriptan and at the same time less frequent recurring headaches.
Naratriptan is preferred for migraine patients who are particularly sensitive to side effects. Naratriptan hardly produces any more side effects than a so-called dummy drug (placebo). And: The frequency of recurring headaches is very low at 19 percent.
Naratriptan is given as a 2.5 mg tablet. If the effect is not sufficient, 5 mg can also be taken. Naratriptan in tablet form, like all other triptans, should be used as early as possible after the headache occurs. The clinical efficacy is slightly lower at the 2.5 mg dose compared to sumatriptan. However, by appropriately increasing the dose of naratriptan to 5 mg, good effectiveness can be achieved even in patients who do not respond adequately to 2.5 mg. For very long attacks lasting 2 to three days, the combination of 5 mg Naramig® and 500 mg naproxen or Arcoxia® 120 mg has proven effective.
Since April 2006 it has also been available without a prescription as Formigran. Likewise, as of March 2012, bioequivalent and surcharge-free generics are on the market, while the first-party preparation is priced above the fixed price.
Special features in keywords
- Due to its good tolerability, Naratriptan can be recommended particularly for patients who are being treated with a triptan for the first time.
- The same applies to young patients and to patients who are particularly sensitive to drug therapy procedures.
- Its use is also recommended for patients in whom the attacks are moderately severe and nausea and vomiting are only mild.
- Due to the low rate of recurrent headaches, Naratriptan is also recommended for patients who frequently experience recurrent headaches during other therapeutic procedures.
- The side effects are minor. Only occasionally do you experience slight tiredness, abnormal sensations in the skin area, and a feeling of tightness in the chest and neck area. Feelings of heaviness in the arms and legs, as well as slight dizziness, may also be present.
- The disadvantage is the slow onset of action. This can last up to four hours. Therefore, care should be taken to take it early.