Intravenous ibuprofen for acute treatment of migraine: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) Ibuprofen for acute treatment of migraine. BACKGROUND: IV nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an alternative to oral NSAIDs, especially in patients with severe migraine who have emesis or gastroparesis. To date, only three IV NSAIDs (ketorolac, ibuprofen, and meloxicam) are available in the United States for use in moderate and severe pain, but no placebo-controlled trial is available for migraine. We performed a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IV ibuprofen as an acute treatment of migraine (NCT01230411). METHODS: Individuals with episodic migraine were screened at the Jefferson Headache Center. Qualified subjects were treated for migraine attacks within 2-72 h following the headache onset with either 800 mg of IV ibuprofen or placebo in 250 ml saline bolus. Migraine pain intensity (4-point Likert scale) and associated symptoms were assessed at predetermined time points (0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 8, 24 h). The primary endpoint was pain relief at 2 h after infusion. Important secondary endpoints included pain freedom at 2 h, sustained relief over 24 h, use of rescue therapy, and absence of associated symptoms. Adverse events (AEs) were also collected. RESULTS: Seventy-four participants were enrolled between 2011 and 2017. Forty-four subjects (female 33/44; 75.0%) with mean (SD) age 41.0 (11.2)   11.2 years came for the treatment. All treated subjects (n = 44) were included in the analysis. Among them, 23 were randomized to receive IV ibuprofen. Both groups were demographically similar except for longer migraine duration (i.e., years lived with disease) in the active treatment than in the placebo group. At 2 h posttreatment, pain relief was found in 74% (17/23) and 48% (10/21) after IV ibuprofen and placebo, respectively (odds ratio [OR] 3.12, 95% CI: 0.88-11.0; p = 0.078). Other secondary endpoints at 2 and 24 h were not significant. The longitudinal repeated-measures analysis within 2 h on ibuprofen treatment showed significant pain relief (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.08-5.7; p = 0.033) and absence of associated symptoms: photophobia (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.57-10.3; p = 0.004), phonophobia (OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.16-8.4; p = 0.025), and osmophobia (OR 3.45, 95% CI 1.01-11.8; p = 0.048). AEs were observed in seven subjects in both groups, with arm pain being the most common. No serious AE was reported. CONCLUSION: This study did not meet the primary endpoint but showed pain relief and elimination of several associated symptoms within 2 h on repeated-measures analysis. Although limited by small sample size and high placebo response, our results indicate that IV ibuprofen may be a safe and effective option for acute treatment of migraine, but more extensive studies are necessary.

Dihydroergotamine for early and late treatment of migraine with cutaneous allodynia: an open-label pilot trial.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45) is equally effective and safe for migraine with allodynia, when administered either early or late in an attack. BACKGROUND: Central sensitization may account for the extracranial tenderness and cutaneous allodynia that can occur with migraine. Once allodynia is established, triptans are less effective. Dihydroergotamine is often effective for patients whose refractory headaches have failed prior triptan therapy. METHODS: In this single-center, open-label pilot trial, patients with episodic migraine associated with cutaneous allodynia were treated on 2 occasions with dihydroergotamine 1.0 mg intramuscularly. One attack was treated within 2 hours (early) and a second attack at 4 hours (late) after the onset of throbbing pain. Headache pain and any associated symptoms, subjective cutaneous allodynia, and mechanical (brush) allodynia were assessed. All data were analyzed using the Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Thirteen patients met the entry criteria; however, data from only 9 patients, those who completed treatment for 2 migraine attacks, were used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dihydroergotamine. Whether they took dihydroergotamine early or late in the attack, most patients (>55%) had headache relief within 2 hours, and at least 44% of patients achieved headache-free status by 8 hours postdose. Subjective cutaneous allodynia started to decline after 30 minutes postdose in the early treated group and after 120 minutes postdose in the late-treated group. Brush allodynia began to decline after 15 minutes postdose in the early treated group and after 90 minutes postdose in the late-treated group. Six of 9 patients (67%) reported at least 1 adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot trial provide proof of concept for the headache-relief benefit of dihydroergotamine in patients with migraine headache and allodynia. A large, placebo-controlled trial of dihydroergotamine in allodynic patients is warranted.

Olanzapine in the treatment of refractory migraine and chronic daily headache.

BACKGROUND: Olanzapine, a thienobenzodiazepine, is a new "atypical" antipsychotic drug. Olanzapine's pharmacologic properties suggest it would be effective for headaches, and its propensity for inducing acute extrapyramidal reactions or tardive dyskinesia is relatively low. We thus decided to assess the value of olanzapine in the treatment of chronic refractory headache. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 50 patients with refractory headache who were treated with olanzapine for at least 3 months. All previously had failed treatment with at least four preventative medications. The daily dose of olanzapine varied from 2.5 to 35 mg; most patients (n = 19) received 5 mg or 10 mg (n = 17) a day. RESULTS: Treatment resulted in a statistically significant decrease in headache days relative to baseline, from 27.5 +/- 4.9 before treatment to 21.1+/-10.7 after treatment (P <.001, Student t test). The difference in headache severity (0 to 10 scale) before treatment (8.7+/-1.6) and after treatment (2.2 +/- 2.1) was also statistically significant (P <.001). CONCLUSION: Olanzapine may be effective for patients with refractory headache, including those who have failed a number of other prophylactic agents. Olanzapine should receive particular consideration for patients with refractory headache who have mania, bipolar disorder, or psychotic depression or whose headaches previously responded to other neuroleptic medications.