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Tolfenamic Acid and Ergotamine Abuse
Author(s) -
AlaHurula V.,
Myllylä V.V.,
Hokkanen E.,
Tokola O.
Publication year - 1981
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.1526-4610.1981.hed2106240.x
Subject(s) - ergotamine , discontinuation , migraine , headaches , anesthesia , medicine , chlordiazepoxide , propranolol , surgery , diazepam
SYNOPSIS Thirteen migraine patients using ergotamine tartrate on a daily basis for their headaches were found to have developed the so called “ergotamine headache,” a dull constant headache always reappearing if the patient did not take their daily doses. They were treated with tolfenamic acid, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis and action, combined with chlordiazepoxide during the acute withdrawal phase after discontinuing their daily habit of taking ergotamine. As a whole, the results of the discontinuation of the use of ergotamine were encouraging in the group of these patients showing a serious medical problem. None of the patients relapsed into ergotamine abuse, and during the subsequent 3–6 months nine of the patients also treated their migraine attacks solely with tolfenamic acid.