Almotriptan

Almotriptan (trade names Axert (US, Canada), Almogran (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea… ), Almotrex (Italy) and Amignul (Spain)) is a triptan drug discovered and developed by Almirall for the treatment of heavy migraine headache. It is available in 12.5 mg in most countries and also 6.25 mg in US and Canada.

Indications

Almotriptan is prescribed to treat the acute headache phase of migraine attacks with or without aura.
Almotriptan is the only oral triptan approved in the USA for the treatment of migraine in adolescent from 12 to 17 years of age.

Mechanism of action

Almotriptan has a high and specific affinity for serotonin 5-HT_1B/1D receptors. Binding of the drug to the receptor leads to vasoconstriction of the cranial blood vessels and thus affects the redistribution of cranial blood flow. Almotriptan significantly increases cerebral blood flow and reduces blood flow through extracerebral cranial vessels. Even though it affects cranial blood vessels a single dose of almotriptan (12.5 mg) has no clinically significant effect on blood pressure or heart rate in both young and elderly healthy volunteers. However larger doses seem to slightly increase blood pressure but not beyond clinical relevance.