Treatment of refrectory migraine in emergency departament
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https://doi.org/10.48208/HeadacheMed.2024.50Keywords:
Refractory migraine , Migraine treatment, Haloperidol, DexamethasoneAbstract
Background: Headaches are among the most common neurological complaints in emergency care, predominantly affecting young women of childbearing age. Migraines, as a subtype, are particularly disabling, significantly reducing quality of life and posing a burden on healthcare systems. When standard preventive and acute treatments fail, migraines are classified as refractory, requiring alternative therapeutic strategies.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic response to a treatment protocol for refractory migraine in the Emergency Unit of the Barbacena Hospital Complex.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024, involving 16 patients (15 females, 1 male, mean age: 32 years) classified as refractory due to non-response to at least three adequately dosed migraine medications. After obtaining informed consent, demographic and medical history data were collected, and pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Patients received 5 mg of haloperidol and 4 mg of dexamethasone, either orally or intravenously. The pain was reassessed two hours post-treatment.
Results: All patients demonstrated a reduction of at least 2 points on the VAS two hours after treatment. The combination of haloperidol and dexamethasone proved effective, providing significant pain relief in this refractory population.
Conclusion: The study highlights the potential of haloperidol and dexamethasone as a promising treatment strategy for refractory migraine, offering meaningful pain reduction in patients unresponsive to conventional therapies. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings in larger populations.
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