In-patient treatment of chronic daily headache using dihydroergotamine: a long-term follow-up study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The treatment of chronic daily headache (CDH) due to medication overuse remains a common and difficult problem. For selected patients refractory to outpatient management we have used a treatment protocol using dihydroergotamine (DHE) as introduced by Raskin, during a brief (typically 48 hours) in-patient stay. While many studies have documented the short-term efficacy of the DHE protocol, there are limited data on its long-term effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate quality of life, at three months post treatment and the present time.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review of all patients admitted for the DHE protocol from 1991 to 1996 revealed 174 cases. Of these, 132 patients were interviewed by phone.

RESULTS:

The DHE protocol was shown to decrease headache frequency, severity, headache medication use, and absences from work both at three months and the time of interview.

CONCLUSION:

This study has the largest patient base and the longest follow-up period for the use of DHE for CDH. The results confirm that the DHE protocol is helpful in breaking the cycle of CDH, although the long-term outcomes of this study are more conservative than other studies have reported.

• Authors: T Pringsheim, D Howse
• Journal: The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques (Can J Neurol Sci) Vol. 25 Issue 2 Pg. 146-50 (May 1998) ISSN: 0317-1671 [Print] England
• PMID: 9604137 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Vasoconstrictor Agents
• Dihydroergotamine

Topics

• Dihydroergotamine (administration & dosage)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Headache (drug therapy, psychology)
• Humans
• Inpatients
• Male
• Outpatients
• Pain Measurement
• Quality of Life
• Retrospective Studies
• Sick Leave
• Treatment Outcome
• Vasoconstrictor Agents (administration & dosage)