Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Ginger Moxibustion, A Non-pharmacological Treatment, for Diarrhea in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
03:25

Ginger Moxibustion, A Non-pharmacological Treatment, for Diarrhea in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Published on: December 27, 2024

Metoclopramide aborts cough-induced headache and ameliorates cough--a pilot study

V K Gupta1

  • 1Dubai Police Medical Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. dr_vkgupta@yahoo.com

International Journal of Clinical Practice
|June 22, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Metoclopramide (MTCL) effectively resolves cough-induced headaches and suppresses severe coughs in patients. This nonopiate agent shows potential for broader analgesic and antitussive applications, warranting further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Metoclopramide (MTCL) is known to abort migraine headaches.
  • The potential antitussive and analgesic properties of MTCL are not widely recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of parenteral Metoclopramide (MTCL) in resolving cough-induced headaches.
  • To explore the unexpected antitussive effects of MTCL in patients with severe paroxysmal cough.

Main Methods:

  • Parenteral administration of Metoclopramide (MTCL) to patients experiencing cough-induced headaches.
  • Observation of MTCL's effects on cough suppression in patients with and without headache.

Main Results:

  • Swift resolution of cough-induced headache was observed in all treated male patients.
  • Rapid suppression of severe paroxysmal cough was noted in 12 out of 14 patients (13 male, 1 female) without headache.
  • This study presents the first report of Metoclopramide's (MTCL) antitussive action.

Conclusions:

  • Metoclopramide (MTCL) demonstrates significant efficacy in treating cough-induced headaches and suppressing cough.
  • MTCL's nonopiate mechanism, potentially stimulating endogenous opiate pathways, suggests broader clinical utility for analgesia and cough suppression.
  • Further controlled studies are necessary to confirm the therapeutic role of MTCL in these conditions.

More Related Videos

Ear Plaster Therapy as a Safe and Effective Treatment for Gestational Vomiting05:33

Ear Plaster Therapy as a Safe and Effective Treatment for Gestational Vomiting

Published on: August 4, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists01:29

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists

Dopamine receptor antagonists, also known as antipsychotic agents, are critical in managing chemotherapy-induced vomiting. These antiemetic agents block dopamine receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ), inhibiting signal transmission to the vomiting center. Antipsychotic agents encompass phenothiazines (PTZ), butyrophenones, benzamides, and thienobenzodiazepines (Zyprexa), which are utilized for their antiemetic and sedative properties.
Phenothiazines, such as prochlorperazine...
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics01:23

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla.  Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by anesthetizing...
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists01:28

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists

Prokinetic agents are specialized medications that stimulate gastrointestinal (GI) motility, promoting food movement through the GI tract. Dopamine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, plays a significant role in this process, reducing GI motility and indirectly controlling the speed of digestion. Dopamine receptor antagonists, such as metoclopramide and domperidone, offer a unique advantage as prokinetic agents. By blocking the dopamine receptors, these drugs increase GI motility, improving food...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists01:27

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists

5-HT3 receptor antagonists, such as dolasetron, granisetron (Kytril), ondansetron (Zofran), and palonosetron (Axoli), are crucial in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and postoperative nausea. These drugs selectively block 5-HT3 receptors in the visceral vagal and spinal afferent nerves, chemoreceptor trigger zone, and the vomiting center. They have a rapid onset of action and can be given as a single dose before chemotherapy. Ondansetron and granisetron, in particular,...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists01:28

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists

Neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptors are distributed across the GI tract, vagal afferents, and key CNS regions including the central vomiting center and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) Chemotherapy agents stimulate enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to release large amounts of substance P (SP). SP is a neuropeptide released by specific sensory nerves in response to many different stressors, including those in the GI mucosa affected by chemotherapy.  SP binds and activates these...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids01:21

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a phytocannabinoid that primarily interacts with the CB1 receptor, a type of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) predominantly in and around the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and emetic center. THC also blocks the serotonin receptor activity in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) by inhibiting serotonin release. THC exerts its anti-emetic effects through these interactions, which are beneficial for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...