Comparison of the effect of Metoclopramide and intravenous acetaminophen on headache

Introduction: Headache is the most common neurologic symptom among referees to the emergency department
(ED), while the best treatment has not yet been found. Therefore, in the present study pain relief effects of metoclopramide and acetaminophen were compared in patients suffered acute primary headache. Methods: This study
was a double-blind randomized clinical trial performed in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Urmia, Iran, through July to
October 2014. All adult patients, with acute primary (migraine, tension type and cluster) headache referred to the
ED were included in this study. Pain Severity was measured with 10 centimeters numeric rating scales. The patients
were randomized in to two groups of intravenous (IV) metoclopramide (10 milligrams) and acetaminophen (1
gram). Pain score, success rate, and complication of drugs were compared within administration time and 15, 30,
60, as well as 120 minutes after medication. Results: 100 patients were equally categorized in to two groups (mean
age of 32 ± 13.2 years; 51.2% male). Initial pain score in metoclopramide and acetaminophen groups were 9.1 and
9.4, respectively (p=0.46). IV metoclopramide did not have any analgesic effect at 15 minutes, but had good effect
at 30 minutes. While, the analgesic effect of acetaminophen initiated after 15 minutes. After 2 hours, both drugs
had good treatment effect on primary headaches (p