A pharmacokinetic interaction study between butorphanol and sumatriptan nasal sprays in healthy subjects: importance of the timing of butorphanol administration

Vachharajani NN, Shyu W-C, Nichola PS & Boulton DW. A pharmacokinetic interaction study between butorphanol and sumatriptan nasal sprays in healthy subjects: importance of the timing of butorphanol administration. Cephalalgia 2002; 22:282–287. London. ISSN 0333-1024

ABSTRACT

Sumatriptan and butorphanol nasal sprays are commonly used agents for the management of migraine headaches. Under certain circumstances, these two agents may be administered closely in time. However, the possibility of a pharmacokinetic interaction and the safety of this regime have not been examined. In this crossover design study, 24 healthy subjects received the following four treatments, each separated by at least 7 days: 1 mg butorphanol (Stadol NS7^®); 20 mg sumatriptan (Imitrex^® Nasal Spray); or both formulations together with butorphanol administered either 1 or 30 min after sumatriptan. Serial plasma samples were collected for 24 h post-dose and analysed for butorphanol and/or sumatriptan by HPLC-MS/MS. Butorphanol plasma concentrations were reduced when it was administered 1 min (mean 28.6% decrease in AUC_0–∞), but not 30 min, after sumatriptan. The pharmacokinetics of sumatriptan were not substantially altered by butorphanol. The combination of nasally administered sumatriptan and butorphanol appeared safe. However, if butorphanol nasal spray is administered <30 min after sumatriptan nasal spray, the analgesic effect of butorphanol may be diminished due to reduced nasal absorption resulting from probable transient vasoconstriction of nasal blood vessels by sumatriptan.