Sumatriptan side effects

Sumatriptan is a 5HT agonist, which is indicated in the treatment of acute migraine attacks. Sumatriptan may cause vasoconstriction as a side-effect and therefore its use is reserved for patients in whom other conventional migraine analgesics have failed. 

Sumatriptan is a serotonin (5HT ) agonist, which does not cause dry mouth. Trihexyphenidyl, cinnarizine, imipramine and orphenadrine all tend to cause antimuscarinic side-effects, including dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and urinary retention. 

The most recent treatment for migraine is a class of compounds known as the "triptans" - sumatriptan and its progeny. These seem to be about 65% effective and show fewer side effects. 

The success of sumatriptan spurred a search for other antimigraine agents by molecular modification, and three new triptans were introduced in 1997 and 1998. These second-generation triptans showed some improvements over sumatriptan—specifically, a longer half-life, reduced cardiac side effects, and improved CNS penetration. 

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