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A migraine-fighting medication containing
trace amounts of the artificial sweeter aspartame triggered
headaches in two patients believed to be sensitive to the
substance.
Aspartame,
or NutraSweet, is believed to trigger migraines in a small
percentage of headache sufferers.
The wafer version of the drug, known
as Maxalt-MLT, melts on the tongue rather than being swallowed
like a traditional pill. For added sweetness, the drug's manufacturer,
Merck, has added about 3.75 milligrams of aspartame, about
one-tenth of the amount found in a single packet of Equal.
Maxalt, or rizatriptan benzoate, is one
of a new class of drugs known as triptans, which are taken
to treat migraines as they occur. A second dissolvable migraine
drug, AstraZeneca's new Zomig-ZMT, also contains small amounts
of aspartame.
Headache
2001;41:899-901
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