Experimental Drug May Fight Migraine

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"It looks like it's going to work as well as a good triptan, and possibly even better, over a 24-hour period, possibly having fewer side effects and not constricting blood vessels," Rapoport said.

The study reported little about side effects, but they did appear to be minor, he added.

"The typical triptan side effects we all worry about are pressure and pain in the chest, tightness in the throat, tingling all over, and we didn't see that with this study. That's pretty impressive," Rapoport said.

Dr. Ellen Drexler, director of the Headache Center at Maimonides Medical Center in New York City called the new drug "quite promising," but she cautioned that "many things are tested, and not everything comes to market."

Dr. Seymour Diamond, executive chairman of the National Headache Foundation, also called the study "encouraging," but he also cautioned against getting too excited at an early stage.

More information

Learn more about coping with the pain of migraine from the American Academy of Family Physicians.