Ergotamine enhances circadian amplitude and diurnally mitigates nitroglycerin-induced mechanical hypersensitivity.
The journal of headache and pain May 23, 2025 Chorong Han, Hwayoung Baek, Ji Ye Lim et al. 5 citations
Ergotamine, a drug used for cluster headache and migraine, amplifies the amplitude of circadian clock gene expression in mouse fibroblast cells and trigeminal ganglion explants without altering period length. This effect appears to be mediated through serotonin 1D and 2C receptors. In a mouse model of chronic headache, ergotamine raised hindpaw pain thresholds when administered during the daytime (ZT4) but not at night (ZT16), suggesting a chronotherapeutic benefit. The findings indicate that ergotamine's efficacy may vary with time of day, providing a rationale for timed dosing in migraine treatment.