Efficacy of rizatriptan for menstrual migraine in an early intervention model: a prospective subgroup analysis of the rizatriptan TAME (Treat A Migraine Early) studies.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective subgroup analysis of the TAME (Treat A Migraine Early) studies examined the efficacy of rizatriptan in patients treating a menstrual migraine attack. METHODS: Both TAME studies were randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind. Adults with migraine were assigned (2:1) to either rizatriptan 10-mg tablet or placebo. Patients were instructed to treat within 1 hour of migraine onset and when the pain was mild. The primary endpoint was 2-hour pain freedom. The diagnosis of menstrual migraine was established according to the revised 2004 International Headache Society (IHS) diagnostic criteria. Data from both studies were pooled for logistic regression analyses. A test for interaction was performed to compare rates of 2-hour pain freedom between patients treating a menstrual and non-menstrual attack. RESULTS: A total of 94 patients (63 in the rizatriptan group and 31 in the placebo group) met IHS criteria for menstrual migraine and treated a menstrual attack. The percentage of patients reporting 2-hour pain freedom was significantly greater for rizatriptan than for placebo (63.5% vs 29.0%; odds ratio = 4.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.7, 11.9; P = .002) in those treating a menstrual attack. In those treating with rizatriptan, the percentage of patients with 2-hour pain freedom did not statistically differ between those treating a menstrual or non-menstrual migraine attack (63.5% vs 57.5%; P = .454). CONCLUSION: Rizatriptan 10 mg was effective for the treatment of menstrual migraine in an early intervention model, as measured by 2-hour pain freedom. Rates of 2-hour pain freedom were comparable for patients treating menstrual and non-menstrual migraine attacks with rizatriptan.

An evaluation of butoconazole nitrate 2% site release vaginal cream (Gynazole-1) compared to fluconazole 150 mg tablets (Diflucan) in the time to relief of symptoms in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis.

BACKGROUND: It is estimated that as many as 13 million cases of vulvovaginal infection occur in the United States annually, the majority of which are the result of Candida albicans infection. The symptoms of vulvovaginal infections are often painful and distressing to the patient. The objective of this study was to compare the time to symptomatic relief of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) with butoconazole nitrate 2% Site Release vaginal cream (Gynazole-1) and oral fluconazole 150 mg tablets (Diflucan). METHODS: This randomized, open-label, parallel study evaluated 181 female patients with moderate to severe symptoms of VVC. Patients were randomized to single-dose therapy with either butoconazole nitrate 2% Site Release vaginal cream or fluconazole. The primary outcome measure was the time to onset of first relief of symptoms. Secondary measures included the time to overall relief of symptoms and the reinfection rate over the first 30 days following treatment. The overall safety of both products was investigated through the collection of adverse event reports. RESULTS: The median time to first relief of symptoms occurred at 17.5 h for butoconazole patients as compared to 22.9 h for fluconazole patients (p < 0.001). The time at which 75% of patients experienced first relief of symptoms was 24.5 h versus 46.3 h for butoconazole and fluconazole, respectively (p < 0.001). By 12- and 24-h post-treatment, 44.4% and 72.8% of patients in the butoconazole treatment group reported first relief of symptoms versus 29.1% and 55.7% of patients in the fluconazole group (p = 0.044 and p = 0.024 respectively). In patients experiencing first relief of symptoms within 48 h of dosing, the median time to first relief of symptoms in the butoconazole treatment group was significantly shorter at 12.9 h compared to 20.7 h for the fluconazole treatment group (p = 0.048). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to time to total relief of symptoms or reoccurrence of infection within 30 days of treatment. Butoconazole therapy was shown to have fewer reported adverse events, including drug-related adverse events, than fluconazole therapy. Vulvovaginal pruritus and vulvovaginal burning were the most common drug-related adverse events attributed to butoconazole. Headache, diarrhea, nausea, upset stomach and skin sensitivity were the most common drug-related adverse events attributable to fluconazole. CONCLUSIONS: Single-dose butoconazole nitrate 2% Site Release vaginal cream provides statistically significant improvement in time to first relief of symptoms in the treatment of VVC compared to fluconazole. There is no difference between these two treatments with respect to total relief of symptoms or reinfection rate. Although there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events judged by the investigator to be treatment-related, butoconazole treatment did result in fewer patients experiencing adverse events than fluconazole.

A multicenter, prospective, open-label study of tolterodine extended-release 4 mg for overactive bladder: the speed of onset of therapeutic assessment trial (STAT).

BACKGROUND: Antimuscarinic agents are the primary treatment for overactive bladder (OAB), but there is a lack of information regarding when maximum symptom relief and maximum perceived patient benefit occur. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the speed of onset of therapeutic benefit with tolterodine extended-release (ER) 4 mg. METHODS: This 12-week, multicenter, prospective, open-label study enrolled patients with OAB who either had received no previous pharmacologic treatment for OAB (drug naive) or were receiving such treatment at enrollment (previously treated). Efficacy was assessed at 1, 4, and 12 weeks using a micturition diary and measures of patients' and physicians' perceptions of improvement. Safety was assessed in terms of adverse events and study withdrawals. RESULTS: The intent-to-treat population included 1138 patients (302 men, 836 women; 88.4% white; age range, 18-91 years), 735 drug naive and 403 receiving treatment for OAB at enrollment. After 1 week, tolterodine ER 4 mg had produced a significant improvement in all efficacy variables in both groups of patients (P < 0.01); 72% of the maximum effect on urge incontinence was observed in both groups; and 84.7% of drug-naive patients and 83.6% of previously treated patients perceived a benefit from treatment. After 4 weeks, drug-naive and previously treated patients reported a respective 93% and 100% of the maximum effect on episodes of urge incontinence. Tolterodine was well tolerated, with dry mouth (mostly mild) the most commonly reported adverse event (15.5% in each group). The 330 (81.9%) patients who had reported unacceptable efficacy and the 87 (21.6%) patients who had reported unacceptable tolerability of previous OAB treatment responded favorably to tolterodine ER 4 mg. CONCLUSIONS: Tolterodine ER 4 mg was effective and well tolerated in both drug-naive and previously treated patients with OAB. More than 80% of patients reported benefit from treatment after 1 week, but maximum symptom relief was achieved with longer treatment.