Sumatriptan vs. Aimovig
See how Sumatriptan and Aimovig compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Sumatriptan is a fast-acting triptan taken at the first sign of a migraine attack, while Aimovig is a once-monthly injection used to prevent migraines before they start.
Sumatriptan stops pain that has already begun but is not meant for daily prevention and carries cardiovascular warnings that rule it out for some people.
Aimovig targets the CGRP receptor to reduce how often migraines happen, but it does nothing once an attack is already underway.
Sumatriptan vs. Aimovig Drug Summary
Sumatriptan
Sumatriptan is a triptan, a serotonin receptor agonist that treats a migraine attack once it starts. It comes as a tablet, injection, or nasal spray and is taken as needed, not on a daily schedule.
Aimovig
Aimovig is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the CGRP receptor, a pathway linked to migraine attacks. It is given as a once-monthly injection to prevent migraines, not to treat one already underway.
Sumatriptan vs. Aimovig Side Effects
Sumatriptan
Aimovig
Sumatriptan vs. Aimovig Dosage
Sumatriptan
Aimovig
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 25 mg once per attack | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 100 mg once per attack | If needed |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | As tolerated |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 70 mg once monthly | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 140 mg once monthly | If needed |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | As tolerated |
Sumatriptan
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 25 mg once per attack | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 100 mg once per attack | If needed |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | As tolerated |
Aimovig
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 70 mg once monthly | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 140 mg once monthly | If needed |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | As tolerated |
Sumatriptan vs. Aimovig Indications
Sumatriptan
Sumatriptan is FDA-approved for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. It is meant to stop a migraine attack that has already begun, not to prevent future attacks.
Stops a migraine attack already in progress
Works for migraine with or without aura
Taken as needed, not on a fixed schedule
Available as tablet, injection, or nasal spray
Not approved to prevent migraines
Aimovig
Aimovig is FDA-approved for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. It is meant to reduce how often migraines occur, not to relieve pain during an attack already underway.
Reduces how often migraine attacks occur
Given as one injection per month
Not effective for stopping an active attack
First CGRP receptor monoclonal antibody approved
Used long-term for ongoing prevention
Sumatriptan vs. Aimovig Pros and Cons
Sumatriptan
Sumatriptan has decades of clinical use and a well-established safety profile for stopping migraine pain quickly. It costs far less than newer preventive options but is not suitable for people with cardiovascular disease and cannot prevent attacks from happening.
Pros
Fast-acting relief once a migraine attack starts
Available as tablet, injection, or nasal spray
Decades of real-world clinical use
Roughly $12 to $185 per month for 9 tablets, much less than Aimovig
Cons
Contraindicated with heart disease, stroke history, or Prinzmetal's angina
Risk of serotonin syndrome with other serotonergic medications
Cannot be used to prevent migraines from occurring
Frequent use raises risk of medication overuse headache
Aimovig
Aimovig offers a simple once-monthly dosing schedule aimed at reducing migraine frequency rather than treating attacks in progress. It avoids the cardiovascular contraindications of triptans but carries a much higher price tag and a shorter track record than older medications.
Pros
Only needs one injection per month
Reduces how often migraine attacks happen over time
No cardiovascular contraindications like triptans carry
Targets the CGRP pathway directly involved in migraine
Cons
Does not relieve pain once an attack has started
Roughly $783 to $943 per month before insurance, much more than sumatriptan
Constipation risk, including rare serious complications
Less long-term safety data than older migraine medications
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