Propofol alleviates intractable migraine headache: a case report

Several medications have been proposed as the first line drugs in the treatment of migraine attack. However, the low efficacy, potential complications of medications and the intolerance of some patients for oral route due to nausea and vomiting establish a difficult situation in some migraine patients. This report describes a dramatic pain relief with 60 mg of intravenous propofol in a patient with migraine attack refractory to treatment with metoclopramide, promethazine, dexamethasone and meperidine. Pain relief in this patient besides earlier case reports suggests that subanesthetic doses of propofol may be an alternative to other treatment modalities for acute migraine.