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Intravenously delivered aspirin helps relieve intense migraines
by Jamie Anderson - September 22, 2010 - comments
Aspirin pills are known to be effective in treating acute forms of migraines. However, a more intense delivery of aspirin, through an IV shot, helps provide relief from more intense migraines.
Getting an intravenous shot of aspirin can help alleviate migraines in patients hospitalized with severe symptoms, findings of a new study claim.
The migraine treatment already widely used in Europe may come up as an effective treatment for migraine patients in the United States, study researchers hope. It is safe and cost-effective.
“Intravenous Aspirin is not readily available in the United States and only on a 'named patient' basis in the United Kingdom, while it is more generally used in other parts of Europe," study’s lead author, Peter J. Goadsby, University of California researcher and a member of the American Academy of Neurology said.
"Our results show it could be a cost-effective, safe and easy to use treatment for people hospitalized for headache or migraine,” Goadsby averred.
Details of the study
For the study, Goadsby and colleagues assessed medical records of 168 people (117 women and 51 men) aged between 18 and 75 years, all of whom were hospitalized for migraines or severe headaches and given Aspirin intravenously.
All patients were required to self-rate their pain on a scale of 1-10. A score of 1-3 implied mild headaches, 4-7 moderate headaches, and 8-10 severe headaches. The self-rating was done at three stages, before treatment, during treatment, and after treatment.
The patients received aspirin via a drip, one dose being gram of Aspirin, with an average of five doses of Aspirin a day.
"It [this study] also demonstrates that migraine patients are not looking for sedation or addiction, they're looking for relief," said Goadsby. "And if you can give them relief with all of the other side effects, then they'll be fine."
Findings of the study
Twenty five percent of the participants reported a full category drop down in their pain symptoms. Severe headaches downsized to moderate, moderate to mild and mild to no headache, analysis of the self-rated pain scale revealed.
In addition, roughly 40 percent of the patients reported a "moderate" improvement in pain levels, researchers said.
However, about six percent of the patients complained of nausea, vomiting, and pain at the point of injection of the IV.
"It's important to note that participants knew they were getting treatment and a placebo was not used, although placebo-controlled trials have shown intravenous Aspirin is effective in acute migraine," said Goadsby.
"It [this study] also demonstrates that migraine patients are not looking for sedation or addiction, they're looking for relief," said Goadsby. "And if you can give them relief with all of the other side effects, then they'll be fine."
The findings of the study published Monday in the 'American Academy of Neurology.'