Almotriptan has a high and specific affinity for serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptors. Binding of the drug to the receptor leads to vasoconstriction of the cranial blood vessels and thus affects the redistribution of cranial blood flow. Almotriptan significantly increases cerebral blood flow and reduces blood flow through extracerebral cranial vessels. Even though it affects cranial blood vessels a single dose of almotriptan (12.5 mg) has no clinically significant effect on blood pressure or heart rate in both young and elderly healthy volunteers. However larger doses seem to slightly increase blood pressure but not beyond clinical relevance. As mentioned previously almotriptan is metabolized mainly by MAO-A and to lesser extent by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. Almotriptan is prescribed to treat the acute headache phase of migraine attacks with or without aura.
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