Treatment of acute migraine with sumatriptan--response in 40 consecutive patients.

Forty consecutive headache patients self-administered sumatriptan for migraine, diagnosed by the criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS). Eighty percent reported excellent response. Thirty-three percent had recurrence of headache within four to twelve hours, while 67% had no recurrence. Fifty-five percent of the patients reported mild side effects, but only 8% stopped therapy because of adverse reactions. No serious cardiovascular events occurred. Recommendations for safe use of sumatriptan are suggested.