WEDNESDAY, Aug. 1 , 2001 (HealthDayNews) -- The 30 million Americans who suffer from moderate-to-severe migraine headaches now have a choice of prescription medication.
The FDA has approved Axert (almotriptan malate) tablets for effective treatment of most migraine headaches. Axert is made by Pharmacia & Upjohn Company. Before the approval, the most widely prescribed medicine to treat migraines was Imitrex (sumatriptan
succinate), which is manafactured by GlaxoSmithKline.
This FDA form gives all the pertinent information about Axert, which it approved on May 7.
Migraine headaches have perplexed the medical community for decades. The intense pain can occur on one side of the head, or both sides, in the eye or in the sinuses. Severe symptoms can include sensitivity to light and noise, nausea and dizziness. Some migraine headaches last up to three days. This site from the Journal of the American Medical Association is an excellent resource for migraine information.
Axert claims fewer side effects than Imitrex, particularly fewer chest pains. This article from the Doctor's Guide describes the clinical trials on both medications.
