Efficacy of Intravenous Paracetamol, Dexketoprofen, and Ibuprofen in Treating Headache Induced by Acute Migraine Attack

Abstract

Aim: Migraine is the most prevalent cause of admission to the emergency department (ED) with pain complaints. This study seeks to provide a comparative evaluation of the efficacy of intravenous paracetamol, dexketoprofen, and ibuprofen in treating headache induced by acute migraine attack. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and seven volunteers with headache due to migraine attack were randomized into three groups. Group I was administered with intravenous paracetamol, Group II with intravenous dexketoprofen trometamol, and Group III with intravenous ibuprofen. A 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used as an assessment scale to monitor dynamic changes in headaches during the 1-h observation of migraineurs. Results: In Group I, the mean baseline VAS score was 79.65±13.87 and 11.83±14.37 at 60 min. In Group II, the mean baseline VAS score was 77.14±11.31 and 7.79±14.37 at 60 min. In Group III, the mean VAS score decreased from baseline 76.89±11.92 to 6.67±10.13 after 60 min. Considering the ΔVAS scores 30-min scores differed significantly between Group I and Group III (p=0.009). Conclusion: IV paracetamol, dexketoprofen, and ibuprofen treatments did not differ significantly in acute migraine therapy. IV ibuprofen may be a first-line choice in EDs because of its immediate analgesic effect.

Keywords

• dexketoprofen
• emergency department
• ibuprofen
• migraine
• acetaminophen