Metoclopramide for Post Traumatic Headache

A Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial of IV Metoclopramide for Acute Post-traumatic Headache

Nearly 1.5 million patients present to US emergency departments annually following head trauma. Headache is a frequent symptom of victims of head trauma. The purpose of this study is to see if an intravenous medication called metoclopramide can improve the symptoms of patients with acute post-traumatic headache.

Inclusion Criteria:

Included patients will be adults who meet International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria for acute post-traumatic headache. These are as follows:

• Traumatic injury to the head has occurred
• Headache has developed within 7 days of injury to the head
• Headache is not better accounted for by another diagnosis (eg, previous history of migraine or tension-type headache)

The headache must be rated as moderate or severe in intensity at the time of initial evaluation.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients will be excluded if more than ten days have elapsed since the head trauma, if the headache has already been treated with an anti-dopaminergic medication, or for medication contra-indications including pheochromocytoma, seizure disorder, Parkinson's disease, use of MAO inhibitors, and use of anti-rejection transplant medications.