Efficacy of intravenous diphenhydramine versus intravenous DHE-45 in the treatment of severe migraine headache

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2005 Feb;9(1):65-70. doi: 10.1007/s11916-005-0077-5.

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of intravenous diphenhydramine with dihydroergotamine mesylate (DHE-45; Novartis International AG, Switzerland) in the treatment of severe, refractory, migraine headache. A retrospective review was conducted to include eighty randomly chosen patients who were admitted to the Michigan Head Pain & Neurological Institute's inpatient program at Chelsea Community Hospital. Patients had received nine doses of diphenhydramine or nine doses of DHE-45 during a 3-day period. Patients receiving DHE-45 also received metoclopramide (Reglan; AH Robins Company, Inc., Richmond, VA) as prophylaxis for nausea. Demographics, headache diagnosis, psychiatric discharge diagnoses, abortive medications, and adverse events were recorded and assessed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / administration & dosage*
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / adverse effects
  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / therapeutic use
  • Antiemetics / therapeutic use
  • Dihydroergotamine / administration & dosage*
  • Dihydroergotamine / adverse effects
  • Dihydroergotamine / therapeutic use
  • Diphenhydramine / administration & dosage*
  • Diphenhydramine / adverse effects
  • Diphenhydramine / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists / administration & dosage*
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Metoclopramide / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Migraine Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Migraine Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Nausea / prevention & control

Substances

  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
  • Antiemetics
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists
  • Dihydroergotamine
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Metoclopramide