Evaluating Triptan Safety in Pediatric Migraine Management: A Comprehensive Pharmacovigilance Analysis

Junchen Chen, Shunqiu Huang, Yashi Chen, Cheng Luo, Yong Li Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yong Li, Email yli8@stu.edu.cnIntroduction: Triptans are the only FDA-approved mi...

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Main Authors: Chen J, Huang S, Chen Y, Luo C, Li Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Pain Research
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/evaluating-triptan-safety-in-pediatric-migraine-management-a-comprehen-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR
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author Chen J
Huang S
Chen Y
Luo C
Li Y
author_facet Chen J
Huang S
Chen Y
Luo C
Li Y
author_sort Chen J
collection DOAJ
description Junchen Chen, Shunqiu Huang, Yashi Chen, Cheng Luo, Yong Li Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yong Li, Email yli8@stu.edu.cnIntroduction: Triptans are the only FDA-approved migraine-specific treatment for pediatric patients, yet comprehensive real-world safety data remains limited, particularly regarding rare adverse events and age-specific safety profiles.Methods and Materials: We conducted a pharmacovigilance analysis using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database from 2004– 2024, focusing on adverse events associated with sumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, and almotriptan in patients aged 6– 18 years. After systematic deduplication following FDA guidelines, disproportionality analysis was performed using reporting odds ratios (ROR) and risk-signal detection ratios (RSDR). Subgroup analyses compared safety signals between children (6– 11 years) and adolescents (12– 18 years) at both Preferred Terms and System Organ Class levels.Results: Among 19,557 triptan-related cases in FAERS, 375 (1.9%) were pediatric cases, predominantly female (70.7%) and aged 12– 18 years (91.2%). Sumatriptan was most frequently reported (77.3%), followed by rizatriptan (17.9%). Significant safety signals included posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with sumatriptan (ROR=86.69, 95% CI=26.6– 282.54), acute respiratory failure with rizatriptan (ROR=98.12, 95% CI=40.17– 239.64), and renal infarction with zolmitriptan (ROR=2231.93, 95% CI=667.65– 7461.24). Age-stratified analysis revealed distinct profiles: younger children (6– 11 years) showed higher risks for gastric emptying impairment (ROR=331.24) and throat tightness (ROR=77.14), while adolescents (12– 18 years) experienced more diverse adverse events, notably pharyngeal swelling (ROR=133.81) and chest discomfort (ROR=19.05).Conclusion: Real-world triptan safety profiles reveal age-specific risks in pediatric populations, emphasizing the need for tailored monitoring strategies and age-appropriate safety protocols.Keywords: triptans, faers, migraine, pediatric, pharmacovigilance, adverse events
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spelling doaj-art-88b115187a4e4c77be9deaa66b4122542025-08-20T03:27:14ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902025-06-01Volume 18Issue 131853205104283Evaluating Triptan Safety in Pediatric Migraine Management: A Comprehensive Pharmacovigilance AnalysisChen J0Huang S1Chen Y2Luo C3Li Y4Department of NeurosurgeryDepartment of NeurosurgeryDepartment of NeurosurgeryDepartment of NeurosurgeryDepartment of NeurosurgeryJunchen Chen, Shunqiu Huang, Yashi Chen, Cheng Luo, Yong Li Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yong Li, Email yli8@stu.edu.cnIntroduction: Triptans are the only FDA-approved migraine-specific treatment for pediatric patients, yet comprehensive real-world safety data remains limited, particularly regarding rare adverse events and age-specific safety profiles.Methods and Materials: We conducted a pharmacovigilance analysis using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database from 2004– 2024, focusing on adverse events associated with sumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, and almotriptan in patients aged 6– 18 years. After systematic deduplication following FDA guidelines, disproportionality analysis was performed using reporting odds ratios (ROR) and risk-signal detection ratios (RSDR). Subgroup analyses compared safety signals between children (6– 11 years) and adolescents (12– 18 years) at both Preferred Terms and System Organ Class levels.Results: Among 19,557 triptan-related cases in FAERS, 375 (1.9%) were pediatric cases, predominantly female (70.7%) and aged 12– 18 years (91.2%). Sumatriptan was most frequently reported (77.3%), followed by rizatriptan (17.9%). Significant safety signals included posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with sumatriptan (ROR=86.69, 95% CI=26.6– 282.54), acute respiratory failure with rizatriptan (ROR=98.12, 95% CI=40.17– 239.64), and renal infarction with zolmitriptan (ROR=2231.93, 95% CI=667.65– 7461.24). Age-stratified analysis revealed distinct profiles: younger children (6– 11 years) showed higher risks for gastric emptying impairment (ROR=331.24) and throat tightness (ROR=77.14), while adolescents (12– 18 years) experienced more diverse adverse events, notably pharyngeal swelling (ROR=133.81) and chest discomfort (ROR=19.05).Conclusion: Real-world triptan safety profiles reveal age-specific risks in pediatric populations, emphasizing the need for tailored monitoring strategies and age-appropriate safety protocols.Keywords: triptans, faers, migraine, pediatric, pharmacovigilance, adverse eventshttps://www.dovepress.com/evaluating-triptan-safety-in-pediatric-migraine-management-a-comprehen-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPRTriptansFAERSMigrainePediatricPharmacovigilanceAdverse events
spellingShingle Chen J
Huang S
Chen Y
Luo C
Li Y
Evaluating Triptan Safety in Pediatric Migraine Management: A Comprehensive Pharmacovigilance Analysis
Journal of Pain Research
Triptans
FAERS
Migraine
Pediatric
Pharmacovigilance
Adverse events
title Evaluating Triptan Safety in Pediatric Migraine Management: A Comprehensive Pharmacovigilance Analysis
title_full Evaluating Triptan Safety in Pediatric Migraine Management: A Comprehensive Pharmacovigilance Analysis
title_fullStr Evaluating Triptan Safety in Pediatric Migraine Management: A Comprehensive Pharmacovigilance Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating Triptan Safety in Pediatric Migraine Management: A Comprehensive Pharmacovigilance Analysis
title_short Evaluating Triptan Safety in Pediatric Migraine Management: A Comprehensive Pharmacovigilance Analysis
title_sort evaluating triptan safety in pediatric migraine management a comprehensive pharmacovigilance analysis
topic Triptans
FAERS
Migraine
Pediatric
Pharmacovigilance
Adverse events
url https://www.dovepress.com/evaluating-triptan-safety-in-pediatric-migraine-management-a-comprehen-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR
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