Wang Z et al. Safety of triptans in patients who have or are at high risk for cardiovascular disease: A target trial emulation. Mayo Clin Proc 2024 Nov; 99:1722. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2024.03.023)

How unsafe are triptans

triptans — the mainstays of migraine therapy — are vasoactive, the U.S. FDA considers them to be contraindicated in patients with cardiovascular (CV) disease or elevated CV risk. 

many patients with migraine (including those with CV disease) request triptans because they work

how bad are they??

Within 60 days of starting treatment, 52 patients who received triptans and 13 who received nontriptans experienced major adverse CV events — a significant difference (1.5% vs. 0.4%; relative risk, 4.0). 

Compared with nontriptans, triptans are associated with elevated risk for major adverse CV events in patients with migraine and established CV disease or elevated CV risk; however, the absolute risk difference in this study was small (1.1%).