Dexamethasone for Post Traumatic Headache

A Randomized Study of Dexamethasone as Adjuvant Therapy for Acute Post-traumatic Headache

This is a randomized study of intravenous metoclopramide + intravenous dexamethasone versus intravenous metoclopramide for patients with acute post-traumatic headache.

Inclusion Criteria:

Meet International Classification of Headache Disorders (3rd edition) criteria for acute post-traumatic headache 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 (e.g., migraine or tension-type headache)
• The headache must be rated as moderate or severe in intensity at the time of initial evaluation

Exclusion Criteria:

• More than ten days have elapsed since the head trauma
• Headache has already been treated with an anti-dopaminergic medication
• Medication allergies
• Contra-indications including pheochromocytoma, seizure disorder, Parkinson's disease, use of Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, and use of anti-rejection transplant medications