An End to the Yom Kippur (and Ramadan) Headache

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Headache

• Registration Number: NCT00263094
• Lead Sponsor: Sheba Medical Center

Brief Summary

Fasting is a known trigger for headache. People who fast to comply with religious edict have been shown to be prone to headache which becomes more likely to occur with increasing length of fasting, and in people prone to headache. This has been documented as 'Yom Kippur Headache' and 'First of Ramadan Headache.' We performed a study to test the hypothesis that Rofecoxib, a pain medicine and anti-inflammatory, with a prolonged duration of action would prevent or attenuate headache when taken just prior to the complete (no food or drink) 25 hour fast of Yom Kippur.

Detailed Description

Introduction: Religious fasting is associated with headache. This has been documented as 'Yom Kippur Headache' and ' First- of - Ramadan Headache.' The Cox2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, has been reported effective in preventing perimenstrual migraine and in preventing recurrence of migraine. Given its 17 hour half-life, we undertook this study to see whether 50mg rofecoxib taken just prior to the 25 hour Yom Kippur fast would be effective in preventing headache.

Methods: We performed a double blind randomized prospective trial of rofecoxib 50mg vs placebo, taken just prior to the onset of fasting, Yom Kippur 2004. Healthy adults aged 18 - 65 were enrolled from the community and from hospital staff. Subjects completed a demographic data form and questions regarding headache history and a post-fast survey on headache during the fast, headache intensity, general ease of fasting and side effects.

Results: We sent out 170 forms of which 105 were completed and returned. Of those subjects receiving rofecoxib (n=53), ten or 18.9% vs 34 or 65.4 % of the placebo group (n=52) had headache at some point during the fast (p\<.0001). Severity of headache in the treatment group was significantly less for the treatment group (3.45 vs 6.29 on a visual analog scale of 10 (p = .009)). None of those receiving rofecoxib reported a 'more difficult than usual fast' whereas the distribution of difficult to easy fast among the placebo group was more even.

Conclusion: Rofecoxib 50mg taken prior to a twenty five hour ritual fast prevents and attenuates fasting headache.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2004-09
• Study Completion: 2004-11
• Study First Submitted: 2005-12-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2005-12-06
• Study First Posted: 2005-12-07
• Status Verified: 2006-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2006-01-25
• Last Update Posted: 2006-01-27

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 220

Inclusion Criteria

• History of fasting headache
• Age 18-65
• Intention to fast on Yom Kippur
• History of Fasting on Yom Kippur

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnant or Nursing Women
• Known allergy to NSAID type medication
• History of chronic illness including heart, kidney, liver or peptic ulcer disease, hypertension, diabetes, lung disease including asthma, or a history of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reduction in incidence of headache during fast in treatment group versus control group

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reduction in severity of headache in treatment versus control groups.
General ease of fast in treatment vs control groups

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Sheba Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Tel Hashomer, Israel