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Chronic bilateral headache responding to indomethacin
1Department of Neurology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Headache
|January 3, 2001
Summary
Indomethacin effectively treated chronic tension-type headaches in three patients, offering complete relief for extended periods. Headache recurrence after discontinuation suggests a potential subgroup responsive to this anti-inflammatory drug.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) is a prevalent neurological disorder.
- Identifying effective treatments for CTTH remains a clinical challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of indomethacin in patients diagnosed with bilateral chronic tension-type headache.
- To explore a potential subgroup of CTTH patients responsive to indomethacin.
Main Methods:
- Case study of three patients meeting International Headache Society (IHS) diagnostic criteria for CTTH.
- Treatment with indomethacin over a 2-year period.
- Administration of intravenous indomethacin to assess acute headache relief.
Main Results:
- All three patients experienced complete headache control during chronic indomethacin treatment.
- Headaches recurred within 12-26 hours after cessation of indomethacin.
- Intravenous indomethacin provided headache relief lasting 6.5-25 hours.
Conclusions:
- A distinct subgroup of patients with bilateral chronic headache, previously diagnosed as CTTH, may benefit from indomethacin.
- Indomethacin's efficacy suggests a potential inflammatory component in some CTTH cases.
- Further research is warranted to identify and characterize this indomethacin-responsive CTTH subgroup.