Frovatriptan

Routes of
administrationOralATC codeLegal statusLegal status Pharmacokinetic dataBioavailability20–30%MetabolismHepaticElimination half-life26 hoursExcretionRenalIdentifiersCAS NumberPubChem CIDIUPHAR/BPSDrugBankChemSpiderUNIIKEGGChEMBLCompTox Dashboard (EPA)Chemical and physical dataFormulaC₁₄H₁₇N₃OMolar mass243.310 g·mol⁻¹3D model (JSmol) ^NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Frovatriptan, sold under the brand name Frova, is a triptan drug developed by Vernalis for the treatment of migraine headaches^[1] and for short term prevention of menstrual migraine.^[2] The product is licensed to Endo Pharmaceuticals in North America and Menarini in Europe.^[3]

Medical uses

Frovatriptan is used in the treatment of migraine.

Available forms

It is available as 2.5 mg tablets.

Contraindications

Frovatriptan should not be given to patients with:

• Ischemic heart disease
• Cerebrovascular syndrome
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Hemiplegic or basilar migraine

Side effects

Rare, but serious cardiac events have been reported in patients with risk factors predictive of CAD. These include: coronary artery vasospasm, transient myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Frovatriptan is a serotonin receptor agonist, with high affinity for the 5-HT_1B/1D receptors. It has no significant effects on the GABA_A mediated channel activity and benzodiazepine binding sites. Frovatriptan inhibits excessive dilation of arteries that supply blood to the head.

Pharmacokinetics

Frovatriptan has a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 26 hours, making it the longest within its class.^[4]

Society and culture

US licensing

Frovatriptan is available only by prescription in the United States and Canada, where a secondary New Drug Approval (sNDA) was filed in July 2006.^[5]

References

External links

• Frova (manufacturer's website)
• Frovatriptan Succinate (patient information)
• FDA labeling