Repetitive intravenous dihydroergotamine as therapy for intractable migraine

For patients with chronic intractable headache, we compared a new treatment and a traditional one. Fifty-five patients (36 dependent on ergotamine, analgesics, diazepam, or corticosteroids) were given IV dihydroergotamine (DHE) and metoclopramide every 8 hours. Fifty-four age- and sex-matched patien...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNeurology Vol. 36; no. 7; p. 995
Main Author Raskin, N H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.07.1986
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Chronic Disease
Clinical Trials as Topic
Diazepam - therapeutic use
Dihydroergotamine - administration & dosage
Dihydroergotamine - therapeutic use
Female
Humans
Injections
Injections, Intravenous
Male
Middle Aged
Migraine Disorders - drug therapy
Suppositories
Time Factors
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Summary:For patients with chronic intractable headache, we compared a new treatment and a traditional one. Fifty-five patients (36 dependent on ergotamine, analgesics, diazepam, or corticosteroids) were given IV dihydroergotamine (DHE) and metoclopramide every 8 hours. Fifty-four age- and sex-matched patients (38 drug-dependent) were given diazepam intravenously every 8 hours. Forty-nine of the 55 DHE-treated patients became headache-free within 48 hours, and 39 of them sustained benefits in a mean follow-up of 16 months. In contrast, 7 diazepam-treated patients became free of headache within 3 to 6 days, and 31 had improved somewhat in 10 days. Repetitive IV DHE helps to terminate cycles of intractable migraine.
ISSN:0028-3878
DOI:10.1212/WNL.36.7.995