HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Correspondence: View responses Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Silberstein, S.D. Articles by Alam, A.S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Silberstein, S.D. Articles by Alam, A.S. Related Collections All Headache Migraine All Clinical trials Clinical trials Randomized controlled (CONSORT agreement)

Acute migraine treatment with droperidol

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

From Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (Drs. Silberstein and Young), Philadelphia, PA; University of South Alabama (Drs. Mendizabal and Rothrock), Mobile; and Taylor Pharmaceuticals (Dr. Alam), Lincolnshire, IL.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Stephen Silberstein, Jefferson Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 111 South Eleventh Street, Suite #8130, Philadelphia, PA 19107; e-mail: stephen.silberstein{at}mail.tju.edu

Background: The treatment of a migraine attack can be difficult when first-line medication is unsuccessful and options for parenteral "rescue" therapy are limited.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, multicenter study was conducted to assess the efficacy and tolerability of droperidol 0.1 mg, 2.75 mg, 5.5 mg, and 8.25 mg for the acute treatment of moderate to severe migraine headache in adults.

Results: A total of 331 patients were enrolled; 305 were treated. Headache response at 2 hours was better (p < 0.002) in the treatment groups receiving droperidol IM at doses of 2.75 mg (87%), 5.5 mg (81%), and 8.25 mg (85%) compared with placebo (57%). The percent of patients achieving a pain-free response at 2 hours after treatment was significantly greater than placebo for the droperidol 2.75-mg, 5.5-mg, and 8.25-mg dose groups. The frequency of headache recurrence (within 24 hours) for patients initially responding by 2 hours was lower in patients treated with droperidol than placebo, but differences failed to reach significance. A significantly greater percentage of patients receiving droperidol 2.75 mg reported the elimination of migraine-associated symptoms (nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia) than those who received placebo. Although most adverse events were of mild or moderate intensity, anxiety, akathisia, and somnolence were rated as severe in 30% of patients who experienced those symptoms. Hypotension was uncommon. No patient had QT prolongation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. W. Friedman, P. Greenwald, T. C. Bania, D. Esses, M. Hochberg, C. Solorzano, J. Corbo, J. Chu, E. Chew, P. Cheung, et al. Randomized trial of IV dexamethasone for acute migraine in the emergency department Neurology, November 27, 2007; 69(22): 2038 - 2044. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Askanas and W. K. Engel Inclusion-body myositis: A myodegenerative conformational disorder associated with A{beta}, protein misfolding, and proteasome inhibition Neurology, January 24, 2006; 66(1_suppl_1): S39 - S48. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. L. Ehrenberg, W. B. Young, and S. D. Silberstein Correspondence Neurology, December 23, 2003; 61(12): 1826 - 1826. [Full Text] [PDF]

Correspondence: