Triptans
- 5-HT1B/1D agonists for acute migraine
- Best when taken early in attack
- Sumatriptan has the most formulations
- Naratriptan/frovatriptan: slower, longer acting
- Vasoconstriction limits use in vascular disease
- Chest/neck pressure can occur without ischemia
- Not migraine-prevention drugs
Class at a glance
- 5-HT1B/1D agonists for acute migraine
Practical pearls
- Best when taken early in attack
Members / distinctions
- Sumatriptan has the most formulations
- Naratriptan/frovatriptan: slower, longer acting
Clinical role
- Vasoconstriction limits use in vascular disease
- Chest/neck pressure can occur without ischemia
- Not migraine-prevention drugs
Pearls
- One triptan fails → another may still work
- Headache recurrence common; a second dose often helps
- Use ≥10 days/month → medication-overuse headache
- Avoid in hemiplegic migraine or migraine with brainstem aura
- Caution with vascular risk factors, especially diabetes
Self-check
- Which triptan has the most formulations?
Sumatriptan. - When is a triptan best taken?
Early in the attack.
Drugs in this class (7)
Triptans prescription history
Animated chart of estimated U.S. prescriptions per year, Migraine-specific meds (1936–2026). Triptans highlighted from 1993.
All drug classes · Open Triptans in the interactive console ↗