Intravenous metoclopramide versus dexketoprofen trometamol versus metoclopramide+ dexketoprofen trometamol in acute migraine attack in the emergency department: A randomized double-blind controlled trial.

Study Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the analgesic efficacy and safety of intravenous, single-dose metoclopramide versus dexketoprofen trometamol versus metoclopramide+ dexketoprofen trometamol in patients presenting with acute migraine attack to the emergency department (ED).

Methods: This single-center, randomized, double-blind study was conducted in a tertiary care ED. Eligible patients met the migraine criteria of the International Headache Society were randomized to receive 10 mg intravenous metoclopramide, 50 mg intravenous dexketoprofen trometamol, or 50 mg dexketoprofen trometamol +10 mg metoclopramide. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for pain measurement at baseline, after 15 and 30 min. The primary outcome measure was the changes in the VAS scores at the 15th and 30th minutes of treatment. The secondary outcome measures were the presence of adverse effects and the requirement of rescue medicine.

Results: Patients (n = 150) were randomized into 3 groups with similar VAS scores at baseline. While there was no significant difference between metoclopramide and dexketoprofen trometamol in reducing pain at the 15th and 30th minute (p = 0.618 and p = 0.862, respectively) and between metoclopramide and metoclopramide + dexketoprofen trometamol at the 15th minute (p = 0.074), metoclopramide + dexketoprofen trometamol was superior to both metoclopramide [mean difference: -13.2 mm (95% CI -23.1 to -3.3)] and dexketoprofen trometamol [mean difference: -11.02 mm (95% CI -20.9 to -1.1)] at the 30th min (p = 0.006 and p = 0.025 respectively). The rescue drug was required by 3 patients (6%) were in metoclopramide group, 4 patients (8%) in dexketoprofen trometamol group and one patient (2%) in the metoclopramide + dexketoprofen trometamol group. No side effects were observed in subjects in three treatment groups.

Conclusion: No significant difference in VAS was found between three treatment groups at the 15th minute, but metoclopramide + dexketoprofen trometamol was superior to both metoclopramide and dexketoprofen trometamol at the 30th min.