INTRAVENOUS CHLORPROMAZINE VERSUS INTRAMUSCULAR SUMATRIPTAN FOR ACUTEMIGRAINE

Objective-To establish whether there is any difference in the efficacy of a chlorpromazine regimen and a sumatriptan regimen for the managem ent of the pain of acute severe migraine. Setting-Two urban teaching h ospital emergency departments. Methods-Prospective, randomised, unblin ded, crossover trial. All patients received intravenous metoclopramide 10 mg and 1000 ml of normal saline over 1 h; 20 were then randomised to receive intramuscular sumatriptan 6 mg and 23 to receive intravenou s chlorpromazine, 12.5 mg increments to a maximum of 37.5 mg. Response to treatment was measured using visual analogue pain scales. Results- No difference in efficacy between the sumatriptan regimen and the chlo rpromazine regimen was found. Adverse effects were mild and equally di stributed between the groups. Conclusions-The chlorpromazine and sumat riptan regimens studied are both very effective for the relief of the headache of severe migraine.