For some patients who come to the emergency department for treatment of a migraine headache, peripheral headache nerve blocks (PHNB) have proven to be an efficient and effective treatment for headache relief. Previous studies have demonstrated that adding steroids as an adjunct treatment to standard migraine treatment can reduce recurrence of headaches in the subsequent few days.
Previous studies have provided evidence that administering steroids in addition to standard migraine headache treatment in the emergency department may reduce the recurrence of the headache within 24-72 hours. The standard migraine treatments in previous studies have been varied and include 5-HT receptor agonists, dopamine antagonists, dihydroergotamine, NSAIDS, and opioid analgesics. The steroids added to the standard treatment have been prednisone and dexamethasone (both IV and oral). This is the first study to examine the combination of peripheral nerve block as the primary treatment of migraine followed by oral dexamethasone to prevent recurrence.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
84
Two 4mg pills
2 placebo pills
University Medical Center of El Paso
El Paso, Texas, United States
RECRUITINGRecurrence of headache
Subjects will be contacted 72 hrs post treatment to determine if migraine headache has recurred
Time frame: 72-96 hours post treatment
Early recurrence headache and timing
HA severity, location, time since enrollment enrollment,medications
Time frame: 72-96hrs post treatment
side effects of dexamethasone identified if any
elevation in glucose level, other symptoms associated with corticosteroids
Time frame: 72-96 hrs post treatment
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