NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Sumatriptan given subcutaneously relieves cyclic vomiting syndrome associated with migraine, researchers from Japan report in the December 8th online Cephalalgia.

“Try sumatriptan for young children with cyclic vomiting syndrome,” Dr. Toshiyuki Hikita from Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan told Reuters Health by email. “Prophylactic therapy for cyclic vomiting is also available.”

Dr. Hikita and colleagues evaluated the efficacy of sumatriptan in an open-label trial of 11 children and 1 adult with severe cyclic vomiting syndrome. Sumatriptan was given by subcutaneous injection or as a nasal spray.

Of 11 patients treated with subcutaneous injection of sumatriptan, 4 showed complete resolution and 5 showed an effective response (defined as a reduction of at least half in the frequency of vomiting). Overall, 19 (54%) of 35 attacks were classified as responsive to sumatriptan treatment.

Only 1 of 5 patients treated with nasal sumatriptan spray had complete resolution and 1 showed an effective response, whereas 3 patients did not respond to nasal spray treatment.

Dr. Hikita said that increasing the dose of nasal spray from the 20 mg used in this study would not likely improve the outcome.

Sumatriptan appeared to be more effective in the 4 patients with a family history of migraine.

There were no adverse effects associated with sumatriptan treatment.

Dr. Hikita added that a double-blind trial is planned to investigate the safety and efficacy of sumatriptan in patients with cyclic vomiting syndrome.

Reference:

Sumatriptan as a treatment for cyclic vomiting syndrome: A clinical trial

Cephalalgia 8 December 2010.