What is ZAVZPRET prescribed for?
ZAVZPRET is prescribed for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults.
What is the name of the drug and what does it do?
Zavzpret (generic name: zavegepant), pronounced “zav-spret,” is a medication for adults suffering from migraine headaches, with or without a warning sensation (aura) before the migraine hits.
It’s important to know that Zavzpret is meant to treat migraine attacks as they happen, not to prevent them from happening in the first place.
How does it work?
ZAVZPRET works in the body by blocking a specific receptor involved in migraines. During a migraine, a substance called CGRP increases and causes pain and other symptoms.
ZAVZPRET stops CGRP from working by blocking its receptor, reducing migraine pain and symptoms like sensitivity to light and sound.
This medication is taken as a nasal spray, which allows it to act quickly to relieve migraine attacks.
What did the research discover?
The safety of ZAVZPRET, a nasal spray for treating migraines in adults, was tested in two randomized (meaning participants in trials and studies are assigned to different treatment groups by chance to reduce bias), double-blind (meaning neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the treatment or the placebo), placebo-controlled trials (meaning some participants receive an inactive substance (placebo) while others receive the treatment being tested to compare the effects).
A total of 1,023 patients received ZAVZPRET 10 mg and 1,056 received a placebo. Participants were mostly female (83%), White (81%), Hispanic or Latino (20%), and Black (15%), with an average age of 41 years.
Adverse reactions like facial swelling and hives occurred in less than 1% of ZAVZPRET users.
Long-term safety was evaluated in a study with 603 patients, showing intermittent use for up to a year was safe.
Efficacy was shown in two trials where patients treated moderate to severe migraine pain.
In Study 1, 623 patients received ZAVZPRET and 646 received a placebo.
ZAVZPRET significantly improved pain freedom and most bothersome symptom (MBS) freedom 2 hours after a dose.
Pain freedom was seen in 22.5% of ZAVZPRET users in Study 2, compared to 15.5% with placebo. MBS freedom was 41.9% with ZAVZPRET and 33.7% with placebo.
Common MBS included increased sensitivity to light, nausea, and increased sensitivity to sound.
What are some of the side effects?
The side effects listed are from the product manufacturer. As health scientists, we share this information to keep you informed without causing undue worry. Many side effects diminish over time, and not all patients experience them. If prescribed medication, take it as directed and consult your healthcare professional if you have any concerning side effects.
- Taste disorders
- Nausea
- Nasal discomfort
- Vomiting
- Facial Swelling
What are the dosage recommendations and how should I take it?
Take Zavzpret only when you need it for a migraine attack and do only one spray (10mg) in one nostril is all you need at a time. Don’t take more than one spray (10mg) within 24 hours.
Source:
ZAVZPRETTM (zavegepant) nasal spray Initial U.S. Approval: 2023 [Internet]. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2023 [cited 2024 Jul 1]. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/216386s000lbl.pdf
