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Abstract
Objective To determine whether IV metoclopramide 20 mg + diphenhydramine 25 mg (M + D) was more efficacious than IV placebo for acute moderate or severe posttraumatic headache in the emergency room.
Methods We conducted this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in 2 urban emergency departments (EDs). Participants who experienced head trauma and presented to our EDs within 10 days with a headache fulfilling criteria for acute posttraumatic headache were included. We randomized participants in a 1:1 ratio to M + D or placebo. Participants, caregivers, and outcome assessors were blinded to assignment. The primary outcome was improvement in pain on a scale of 0 to 10 between baseline and 1 hour after treatment.
Results This study was completed between August 2017 and March 2020. We screened 414 patients for participation and randomized 160: 81 to M + D and 79 to placebo. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. All enrolled participants provided primary outcome data. Patients receiving placebo reported mean improvement of 3.8 (SD 2.6), while those receiving M + D improved by 5.2 (SD 2.3), for a difference favoring metoclopramide of 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7–2.2, p < 0.01). Adverse events were reported by 35 of 81 (43%) patients who received metoclopramide and 22 of 79 (28%) of patients who received placebo (95% CI 1–30 for difference of 15%, p = 0.04).
Conclusion M + D was more efficacious than placebo with regard to relief of posttraumatic headache in the ED.
Trial Registration Information ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03220958.
Classification of Evidence This study provides Class I evidence that for patients with acute moderate or severe posttraumatic headache, IV M + D significantly improved pain compared to placebo.
Glossary
- CI=
- confidence interval;
- COVID-19=
- coronavirus disease 2019;
- ED=
- emergency department;
- PCSS=
- Post Concussion Symptom Scale;
- SCAT=
- Sport Concussion Assessment Tool
Footnotes
Go to Neurology.org/N for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.
Class of Evidence: NPub.org/coe
- Received July 13, 2020.
- Accepted in final form February 2, 2021.
- © 2021 American Academy of Neurology
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Disputes & Debates: Rapid online correspondence
- Reader Response: Randomized Study of Metoclopramide Plus Diphenhydramine for Acute Posttraumatic Headache
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