Introduction
Naratriptan is a drug in the group of drugs called triptans. Triptans belong to the well-tolerated and effective drugs against migraine due to a special mechanism of action at the 5 HT receptor.
Indications
Naratriptan has its main use in the treatment of migraine. Here, migraine accompanied by an aura can be treated just as well as migraine not caused by an aura. The aura is usually the name given to neurological symptoms or precursors that can trigger a migraine attack.
Patients often suffer from visual disturbances shortly before a migraine attack, which become noticeable by small, fast-spinning flashes. The visual disturbances occur shortly before a migraine attack and disappear as soon as the headache typical of migraines begins. Another area of application for Naratriptan is the so-called cluster headache, a rare but very severe headache that penetrates the eye and usually occurs at night. It is often associated with running nose or tears in the eyes.
Effect
After ingestion, triptans attach themselves to special receptors that are distributed throughout the body. After they dock on the receptors, also known as 5 HT receptors, they stimulate them. After stimulation, the receptors lead to the release of the messenger substance serotonin, which is responsible for many metabolic processes such as pain transmission and mood.
In the gastrointestinal tract, the receptors take over important tasks in digestion; in the central nervous system, the receptors are responsible for psyche and neurological processes. Binding to the 5HT receptor and stimulation leads to three different mechanisms of action. First, the blood vessels of the meninges, which are dilated during a migraine attack, constrict, which leads to a rapid reduction in pain.
Furthermore, the inflammatory response is attenuated by a reduction in inflammatory mediators. The third mode of action is pain transmission, which is also reduced by Naratriptan. After taking Naratriptan, an improvement of the symptoms can be expected after about one hour.
Naratriptan should not be taken as a preventive measure, but only when the first signs of migraine headache appear. A significant improvement in migraine should already occur one hour after taking the drug. The highest plasma level of the drug and thus the greatest effect is usually achieved after 2-3 hours.
After this time the medication is systematically drained off. Usually the drug lasts up to 8 hours. In the best case, the headaches have completely disappeared.
If they are not, another tablet can be taken. In order to avoid overdose, the full effect of the medication should be waited for first and only then another tablet should be taken. The duration of the effect varies from person to person and can be longer or shorter.
