USE OF DIHYDROERGOTAMINE IN PATIENTS WITH POSTCONCUSSION SYNDROME

The experience with 34 patients who came to the Shreveport Headache Cl inic for treatment of postconcussion headache is reviewed. All had bee n suffering from postconcussion (posttraumatic) syndrome for periods r anging from one day to more than three years, and all displayed, in ad dition to headache, at least three other symptoms characteristic of th e syndrome, eg, memory problems, impaired concentration, sleep problem s, dizziness, and anxiety. After initial evaluation at the clinic, the patients were admitted to Willis Knighton Medical Center and treated with repetitive administration of intravenous dihydroergotamine (DHE) and metoclopramide. A good to excellent overall response to DHE therap y was achieved by 88% (29) of the patients. The percentages and number s of patients obtaining good to excellent relief of selected key sympt oms were: 85% (28) - headache, 91% (30) - memory problems, 94% (31) - sleep problems, and 88% (29) - dizziness. DHE was well-tolerated. and no serious or unexpected adverse reactions were reported. The most fre quently reported adverse reactions were mild nausea and brief worsenin g of headache.