The following information is obtained from various newswires,
published medical journal articles, and medical conference presentations.
Company: Pfizer
Approval Status: Approved December 2002
Treatment for: Migraine Headaches
General Information
Relpax (eletriptan hydrobromide), novel a triptan, relieves pain in nerve endings and associated symptoms caused by migraine headaches.
Relpax was shown to be effective at doses of 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg. The maximum recommended single dose of Relpax is 40 mg.
Relpax should not be used by patients with severe hepatic impairment. Relpax tablets should not be used within at least 72 hours with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors.
Clinical Results
Approval for Replax was based on 10 randomized, double-blind clinical studies. More than 9,000 patients participated in the clinical trials and more than 70,000 migraine attacks were treated .
Relpax was effective in relieving migraine pain and the associated symptoms of nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. The drug has a rapid onset of action(as early as 30 minutes), superior efficacy, and a lower headache recurrence rate than those reported for other triptans.
Side Effects
Adverse events associated with the use of Relpax may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Fatigue
- Somnolence
- Nausea
- Dizziness
Mechanism of Action
Relpax is a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B/1D (5-HT1B/1D) receptor agonist that acts at serotonin 5HT1B receptors on intracranial blood vessels and 5HT1D receptors on sensory nerve endings to relieve the pain and associated symptoms of a migraine attack.
Literature References
Ferrari FD, Roon, Krista I, Lipton RB, Goadsby, PJ. Oral triptans (5-HT1B/1D agonists) in acute migraine treatment: a meta-analysis of 53 trials. Lancet 2001; 358: 1668-75
Hettiarachi J On behalf of the Eletriptan Steering Committee. Headache 1999; 39: 358-359
Smith LA et al. Eletriptan for acute migraine (Cochrane Review). The Cochrane Library, 2001: Issue 4.
Additional Information
For additional information on Relpax, please contact
The Pfizer Web Site
For information on Migraine Headaches, visit
The National Headache Foundation
