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Efficacy and Tolerability of Metamizol in Patients With Episodic Moderate Headache

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Migraine Disorders
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT02183220
Lead Sponsor
Boehringer Ingelheim
Brief Summary

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a single peroral dose of 0.5 g and 1.0 g metamizol relative to placebo and 1.0 g acetylsalicylic acid in 2 episodes of moderate tension headache.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
417
Inclusion Criteria
  • Male and female patients between 18 and 65 years old
  • Moderate episodic tension headache according to International Headache Society (I.H.S.) classification 2.1 (2.1.1 and 2.1.2) for at least one year
  • At least two episodes of tension headache per month in the last three months prior to enrolment into this trial
  • The episodes of tension headaches were usually treated by the patient successfully with a non-opioid-analgesic
  • First episodic headache occurred at an age under 50 years
  • Written informed consent according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and local regulations
  • The patient was able to fill in the Patient's Diary
Exclusion Criteria
  • The patient usually needs for successful treatment of tension headache "Over The Counter" (OTC) analgesic in doses exceeding the doses tested here
  • The patient takes an OTC-analgesic normally at the first signs of an episode of tension headache
  • The patient has more than 15 episodes of tension headache per month
  • Female patients whose episodic tension headache is strongly correlated with the start of hormonal contraception
  • Concomitant treatment with (non-) prescriptional analgesics
  • Pre- (less than 4 weeks prior to inclusion in this trial) and/or concomitant treatment with an antidepressive and/or antipsychotic drug
  • Pre- (less than 2 weeks prior to inclusion in this trial) and/or concomitant treatment with any drug such as NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs), propanolol, metroprolol, flunarizin, cyclandelate, valproic-acid, serotonergic antagonists, ergotamine, dihydroergotamines and benzodiazepines that may influence the headache symptomatology
  • Use of benzodiazepines in the previous 24 hours to the administration of the study drug. Occasional use of benzodiazepines - up to 3 per week - is allowed
  • Use of any drug with analgesic properties in the previous 24 hours to the administration of the study drug
  • Concomitant treatment with any drug containing ASA and/or metamizol
  • Concomitant treatment with anticoagulants such as heparin or coumarin-derivatives
  • Alcohol and drug abuse according to DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders )
  • Female patients in child-bearing age not using adequate means of birth control
  • Pregnancy and/or lactation
  • Gastrointestinal ulcers
  • Liver and/or renal disease
  • Bronchial asthma
  • Relevant allergy or known hypersensitivity to the investigational drugs, its excipients and/or to other NSAIDs
  • Participation in another clinical trial within the last 4 weeks and concurrent participation in another clinical trial
  • Patients with active gastroesophageal flux disease (Amendment number 1)
  • Concomitant treatment with analgesics or any other drug that may have influenced the headache symptomatology - including metamizol or ASA -, was referred to its use during the headache episodes under evaluation. As long as appropriate wash-out periods were respected, analgesics were allowed in between the episodes of tension headache (TH) and their use as a rescue medication did not lead to the exclusion of the patient (Amendment number 2)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PlaceboASA placebo-
Metamizol low & PlaceboMetamizol-
Metamizol high & PlaceboMetamizol placebo-
Metamizol low & PlaceboMetamizol placebo-
Acetylsalicylic acid & PlaceboAcetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-
PlaceboMetamizol placebo-
Acetylsalicylic acid & PlaceboASA placebo-
Metamizol high & PlaceboMetamizol-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Time-interval weighted sum of pain intensity difference (SPID) on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)before and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after drug intake
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of patients with at least a 50% pain reduction on a VASbefore and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after drug intake
Maximum pain relief (MAXPAR) on a Verbal Rating Scale (VRS)30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after drug intake
Number of patients using rescue medication2, 3, and 4 hours after drug intake
Total pain relief (TOTPAR) on a VRS30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after drug intake
Number of patients with adverse eventsup to 2 months
Global efficacy assessment on a VRS by the patient and investigator4 hours after drug intake
Pain intensity difference (PID) on a VASbefore and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after drug intake
Maximum pain intensity difference (MAXPID) on a VASbefore and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after drug intake
Time to 50% pain intensity reduction on a VASbefore and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after drug intake
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