#1 Clinical Trials Search in Europe

Lasmiditan

Lasmiditan is an emerging drug being studied in clinical trials for the acute treatment of migraine. This article summarizes key findings from several clinical trials evaluating the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of lasmiditan in adults and children with migraine. The trials examine various aspects including dosing, long-term use, effects in special populations, and comparison to existing treatments.

Table of Contents

What is Lasmiditan?

Lasmiditan is a new medication developed for the acute treatment of migraine headaches. It’s also known by its other names, LY573144 and COL-144[1]. Unlike many other migraine medications, Lasmiditan belongs to a new class of drugs called “ditans.” This means it works differently from older migraine treatments and may offer new hope for people who haven’t found relief with other medications.

How Does Lasmiditan Work?

Lasmiditan is a serotonin 5-HT1F receptor agonist[2]. In simpler terms, this means it activates specific receptors in the brain that are involved in migraine processes. Unlike some older migraine medications that work by constricting blood vessels, Lasmiditan doesn’t have this effect. This is important because it means Lasmiditan may be safer for people with certain heart conditions who can’t take other migraine medications[2].

What Conditions Does Lasmiditan Treat?

Lasmiditan is specifically designed to treat acute migraine attacks. It has been studied in adults with various types of migraine, including:

  • Migraine with aura (where people experience visual or sensory disturbances before the headache)
  • Migraine without aura
  • Chronic migraine (headaches occurring 15 or more days per month)[2]

It’s important to note that Lasmiditan is used to treat migraine attacks once they’ve started, not to prevent them from occurring.

How Effective is Lasmiditan?

Clinical trials have shown promising results for Lasmiditan’s effectiveness in treating migraine attacks. Here are some key findings:

  • Pain freedom: A significant percentage of people taking Lasmiditan reported being pain-free 2 hours after taking the medication[3].
  • Relief from most bothersome symptom: Many patients found relief from their most bothersome migraine-associated symptom (such as nausea, sensitivity to light, or sensitivity to sound) within 2 hours[3].
  • Improved function: A large proportion of patients reported being able to function normally 2 hours after taking Lasmiditan[2].

Dosage and Administration

Lasmiditan is available as an oral tablet. In clinical trials, it has been studied at various doses, including 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg[4]. The specific dose prescribed may depend on individual factors and should be determined by a healthcare provider. Lasmiditan is typically taken as a single dose at the onset of a migraine attack.

Side Effects and Safety

Like all medications, Lasmiditan can cause side effects. The most common side effects reported in clinical trials were:

  • Dizziness
  • Sleepiness (somnolence)
  • Tingling or prickling sensations (paresthesia)[2]

These side effects are generally related to the central nervous system, as Lasmiditan can cross into the brain. It’s important to note that Lasmiditan may cause drowsiness, so patients should be cautious about driving or operating machinery after taking it.

Use in Special Populations

Research is ongoing to understand how Lasmiditan affects different groups of people:

  • Children and adolescents: Studies are being conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Lasmiditan in children and teenagers aged 6 to 17 with migraine[5].
  • People with kidney problems: Research is looking at how Lasmiditan is processed in the body of people with various levels of kidney function[6].

Ongoing Research

Scientists continue to study Lasmiditan to better understand its long-term effects, optimal dosing, and potential benefits for different patient groups. Some ongoing areas of research include:

  • Long-term safety and effectiveness studies[3]
  • Comparison of different formulations, such as regular tablets and orally disintegrating tablets[7]
  • Effects of food on how the body processes Lasmiditan[1]
  • Studies in specific populations, such as people in different countries[4]

As research continues, we may learn even more about how Lasmiditan can help people with migraine. If you’re considering Lasmiditan for your migraine treatment, be sure to discuss it with your healthcare provider to determine if it’s right for you.

Aspect Details
Drug Name Lasmiditan (also known as LY573144)
Drug Class Serotonin 5-HT1F receptor agonist
Indication Acute treatment of migraine in adults and children
Dosage Forms Oral tablets (50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg)
Key Efficacy Measures Pain freedom at 2 hours, pain relief at 2 hours, freedom from most bothersome symptom at 2 hours
Common Side Effects Dizziness, sleepiness, tingling sensations
Special Populations Studied Children/adolescents, patients with kidney impairment
Ongoing Research Long-term safety and efficacy, use in real-world settings, comparison to existing treatments

FAQ

  • What is lasmiditan and how does it work? Lasmiditan is a new type of migraine medication called a serotonin 5-HT1F receptor agonist. Unlike older migraine drugs, it does not cause blood vessel constriction, which may make it safer for people with cardiovascular issues. It works by targeting receptors in the brain involved in migraine pain.
  • What doses of lasmiditan were studied in the clinical trials? The clinical trials evaluated various doses of lasmiditan, including 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg oral tablets. Some studies compared different doses to determine the optimal effective dose with minimal side effects.
  • How effective was lasmiditan in treating migraine symptoms? Several trials found lasmiditan to be effective in providing pain freedom and relief from other migraine symptoms like nausea and sensitivity to light/sound at 2 hours after dosing. One study showed consistent effectiveness across multiple migraine attacks.
  • What were the most common side effects of lasmiditan? The most commonly reported side effects in the clinical trials were dizziness, sleepiness, and tingling sensations. These were generally described as mild to moderate and related to effects on the central nervous system.
  • Is lasmiditan being studied in children with migraine? Yes, some of the clinical trials included children and adolescents aged 6-17 years old with migraine. These studies are evaluating the safety, effectiveness, and appropriate dosing of lasmiditan for pediatric migraine patients.

Ongoing Clinical Trials on Lasmiditan

  • Study on Lasmiditan for Treating Migraine in Children Aged 6 to 17

    Not recruiting

    1 1 1
    Investigated drugs:
    Belgium France Germany Italy The Netherlands Romania +1

  • Study on the Safety and Tolerability of Lasmiditan for Treating Migraine in Children Aged 6 to 17

    Not recruiting

    1 1 1 1
    Investigated drugs:
    Belgium France Germany Italy The Netherlands Romania +1

Glossary

  • Pharmacokinetics: The study of how a drug moves through the body, including how it is absorbed, distributed, metabolized and excreted. This helps determine proper dosing and timing of medication.
  • Bioequivalence: When two medications have the same active ingredient and produce the same effects in the body. Studies compare how different formulations of a drug are absorbed and processed.
  • Open-label study: A type of clinical trial where both the researchers and participants know which treatment is being given. This is in contrast to blinded studies.
  • Acute treatment: Medication taken to stop a migraine attack once it has started, as opposed to preventive treatment taken regularly to reduce frequency of attacks.
  • Most Bothersome Symptom (MBS): The migraine-associated symptom (like nausea, sensitivity to light, or sensitivity to sound) that a patient identifies as being the most troublesome during an attack.
  • QT interval: A measurement on an electrocardiogram (ECG) that represents the time for electrical activation and inactivation of the heart ventricles. Some medications can affect this.
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR): A measure of how well the kidneys are filtering blood, used to determine level of kidney function and stage of kidney disease.

References

  1. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02233296
  2. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05903040
  3. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02565186
  4. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04218162
  5. https://clinicaltrials.eu/trial/study-on-the-safety-and-tolerability-of-lasmiditan-for-treating-migraine-in-children-aged-6-to-17/
  6. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03009162
  7. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04881747