Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Ergotamine abuse. Do patients benefit from withdrawal?

P Tfelt-Hansen1, A Krabbe

  • 1Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|March 1, 1981
PubMed
Summary

Efforts to withdraw patients from ergotamine abuse are worthwhile, despite a 25% relapse rate. Many patients experienced significant headache reduction and relief from ergotamine toxicity symptoms.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Interictal "patchy" regional cerebral blood flow patterns in migraine patients. A single photon emission computerized tomographic study.

European journal of neurology·2013
Same author

CGRP receptor antagonist olcegepant (BIBN4096BS) does not prevent glyceryl trinitrate-induced migraine.

Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache·2010
Same author

Posterior hypoperfusion in migraine without aura?

Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache·2010
Same author

Nitroglycerin provocation in normal subjects is not a useful human migraine model?

Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache·2009
Same author

Guidelines for controlled trials of drugs in tension-type headache: second edition.

Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache·2009
Same author

Prednisolone reduces nitric oxide-induced migraine.

European journal of neurology·2009

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Ergotamine abuse is a recognized clinical issue in headache patients.
  • Previous treatment for ergotamine abuse necessitates follow-up to assess long-term outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness and success rate of ergotamine withdrawal in patients with a history of substance abuse.
  • To assess patient relapse rates and symptom improvement following cessation of ergotamine intake.

Main Methods:

  • A follow-up study involving 40 patients previously treated for ergotamine abuse.
  • Utilized butalbital as a tracer to verify patient-reported ergotamine intake.
  • Confirmed intake data through contact with family physicians.

Main Results:

  • Eleven patients (27.5%) relapsed to ergotamine abuse within a median observation period of 21 months.
  • Nineteen patients (47.5%) achieved over a 50% reduction in headache days post-withdrawal.
  • Approximately half of the participants reported relief from other symptoms associated with ergotamine toxicity.

Conclusions:

  • Withdrawal from ergotamine abuse is a beneficial intervention for headache patients.
  • Despite a notable relapse rate, the potential for significant symptom improvement supports continued withdrawal efforts.

Related Experiment Videos