triptan
noun
trip·tan
ˈtrip-ˌtan 
-tən
-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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Triptan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/triptan. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
triptan
noun
trip·tan
ˈtrip-ˌtan
-tən
-tən
: 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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