Treatment of acute migraine attack with diclofenac sodium: a double-blind study

The efficacy of diclofenac sodium, a potent prostaglandin inhibitor, in patients with acute migraine attacks in a double-blind placebo-controlled study involving 86 migraine patients. Forty-six patients with acute migraine attacks were treated with intramuscular injection of 75 mg diclofenac sodium, and another group of forty patients with intramuscular injection of paracetamol. Partial or complete relief of pain and other symptoms of acute migraine attack was achieved within 10 minutes after treatment in the diclofenac sodium group and within 32 minutes in the paracetamol group. Complete relief of attack was achieved within 30 minutes after diclofenac sodium in 40 patients (88%) compared to 7 patients (17.5%) of the paracetamol group (P less than 0.001). Five of the patients treated with diclofenac sodium needed a second injection for complete relief of pain during the 2-to-4 hour follow-up period. Side effects were rare and minimal. In conclusion, diclofenac sodium administered intramuscularly is a very effective drug in treating acute migraine attacks.