triptan

noun

trip·​tan ˈtrip-ˌtan How to pronounce triptan (audio)
-tən
: any of a class of drugs (such as sumatriptan) that bind to and are agonists of serotonin receptors and are used to treat migraine attacks

Examples of triptan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Due to this mechanism, health experts say triptans might not be safe for people with cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2023 Currently, the other non-pill rapid migraine relief medications on the market are in injection form and a nasal spray, but those are a class of medication known as triptans. Mallory Rowley, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2023 This mode of action, however, means triptans are not considered safe for use by people at risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Meera Senthilingam, CNN, 19 Nov. 2019 Prior to Reyvow, triptans have been on the market since the early '90s and have accounted for almost 80% of migraine treatments prescribed at office visits. Blair Chance, ABC News, 15 Feb. 2020 All the findings were still lower than the symptom-relieving effect shown by triptans. Meera Senthilingam, CNN, 19 Nov. 2019 But ubrogepant is not as effective as triptans are, points out Dr. Stephen Silberstein, director of the Jefferson Headache Center at Thomas Jefferson University. Meera Senthilingam, CNN, 19 Nov. 2019 In addition, medications known as triptans are used to treat migraines. Maggie O'Neill, Health.com, 11 July 2019 Ideally such pain relievers would be in pill form and would not constrict blood vessels, as triptans do. R. Allan Purdy, Scientific American, 1 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'triptan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

-triptan (as in sumatriptan)

First Known Use

1997, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of triptan was in 1997

Dictionary Entries Near triptan

Cite this Entry

“Triptan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/triptan. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

triptan

noun
trip·​tan ˈtrip-ˌtan How to pronounce triptan (audio) -tən How to pronounce triptan (audio)
: any of a class of drugs (as sumatriptan) that bind to and are agonists of serotonin receptors, that are used to treat migraine attacks, and that are thought to function by producing vasoconstriction of cranial blood vessels, by inhibiting secretion of inflammatory neuropeptides, and by blocking neurotransmission of pain
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