Chest Symptoms after Sumatriptan

Abstract

Objectives: To assess, in clinical practice, the (i) incidence, (ii) within-patient consistency, and (iii) clinical spectrum of chest symptoms (chest symptoms) after subcutaneous (sc) and oral sumatriptan, and (iv) to identify risk factors for chest symptoms. Design: Two-year retrospective survey with mailed self-administered questionnaire. Setting: Neurolgy outpatient clinic of university hospital. Subjects: Migraine patients with or without aura ( n=869). Main outcome measures: incidence, within-patient consistency and characteristics of chest symptoms; demographic and clinical characteristics of patients. Results: There were 735 (85%) respondents. Sumatriptan was used by 453 patients, during 25 months (median), for 28 000 attacks (median: 33 attacks/patient). Of sumatriptan users, 41 % (sc) and 24% (oral) had chest symptoms in all attacks, 39% (sc) and 58% (oral) in none, and the remaining in some attacks. Because of chest symptoms, 10% discontinued sumatriptan. Chest symptoms mostly consisted of heavy arms and chest pressure, started within 5 (sc) to 30 (oral) min, and lasted 30 (sc) to 60 (oral) min. Compared with patients without chest symptoms, patients with chest symptoms more often were females and younger, and went to rest immediately after sumatriptan administration (all p