Effects of sumatriptan nasal spray (Imigran) on human nasal mucosa

• Published in: Clinical otolaryngology 2018-08, Vol.43 (4), p.1031-1035
• Main Authors: Cheng, L‐H., Wu, P‐C., Lin, Y‐Y., Chu, Y‐H., Wang, H‐W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Headache; human nasal mucosa; Imigran; Incubation; Migraine; Mucosa; Mucous membrane; Nose; Sumatriptan; sympathetic function; Tension
• ISSN: 1749-4478; 1749-4486
• DOI: 10.1111/coa.13091

Objectives Sumatriptan (Imigran) is a potent and highly selective 5‐HT1 receptor agonist often used in treating acute migraine. Intranasal sumatriptan is well absorbed and is generally effective in relieving headache. However, the effects of Imigran on human nasal mucosa have rarely been well explored, to verify the effect of Imigran, which act on human nasal mucosa directly in vitro. Design and participants We examined the effectiveness of Imigran on human nasal mucosa by testing: (i) effect on human nasal mucosa resting tension; (ii) effect on contraction caused by 10−6 mol/L methoxamine as a sympathetic mimetic; and (iii) effect of the drugs on electrically induced on human nasal mucosa contractions. Results The results indicated that addition of methoxamine to the incubation medium caused the nasal mucosa to contract in a dose‐dependent manner. Addition of Imigran at doses of 10−4 mol/L elicited a significant relaxation response to 10−6 mol/L methoxamine‐induced contraction. Imigran could not inhibit electrical field stimulation‐induced spike contraction. It also had a minimal effect on the basal tension of nasal mucosa as the concentration increased. Conclusions The study indicated that high concentrations of Imigran had a significant spasmolytic effect by antagonising α‐adreoceptors and nasal obstruction could not be released in the patient combined with acute migraine and stuffy nose by concomitant α‐adrenergic agonist nasal spray plus Imigran nasal spray.