Word: sumatriptan
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...overly sensitive nerve cells are the problem, it makes sense to try to calm them down--and that's exactly what the first drug tailored to block an oncoming migraine was designed to do. Approved in the U.S. in 1993, sumatriptan mimics the action of a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which plays many roles in the brain, including regulation of mood and pain. In the case of migraines, the drug prevents nerve endings in the dura from releasing their stimulatory proteins. No proteins, no pain...
...Sumatriptan's success launched a new class of drugs called triptans that provide most migraineurs substantial relief. Like the painkillers before them, the triptans deliver their best results when taken early in an attack. Unfortunately, their effect is often temporary (drug companies are working on longer-lasting versions). Also, the drugs can trigger certain cardiovascular side effects, which means they should not be used by patients who have an increased risk of heart attack or stroke...
...sources, from caffeine to changes in weather to menstrual periods--catalysts, doctors believe, that result in a flood of serotonin that causes blood vessels in the brain to contract. Some of the more than 23 million Americans who suffer from migraines can find relief in a new drug, sumatriptan succinate, which blocks serotonin and prevents vessels from swelling initially...
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