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Double‐Blind Study of Belladonna‐Ergotamine‐Phenobarbital for Interval Treatment of Recurrent Throbbing Headache
Author(s) -
Stieg Richard L.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1977.hed1703120.x
Subject(s) - crossover study , ergotamine , medicine , placebo , phenobarbital , anesthesia , crossover , double blind , statistical significance , pediatrics , migraine , alternative medicine , artificial intelligence , computer science , pathology
SYNOPSIS In a double‐blind study comparing crossover and parallel group designs, 55 patients with recurrent throbbing headache were given either belladonna‐ergotamine‐phenobarbital (BEP) or placebo for headache prophylaxis. Analysis of the crossover design showed BEP to be significantly more effective than placebo in reduction of headache severity and overall effectiveness. During BEP treatment, patients had less days during which medications for relief of headache symptoms were required. Although there were period effects favoring BEP, no significant differences between treatments were observed in the parallel design. The greater variability in the parallel portion of the study precluded demonstration of statistical significance with this number of patients. The crossover design indicates that BEP offers benefits in the prophylaxis of recurrent throbbing headache, without serious or frequent side effects.